Dr Christina N. Zdenek
@cnzdenek.bsky.social
Ecologist and Herpetologist. Urban Birds Program Coordinator (BirdLife AUS), Ass. Researcher, People For Wildlife. Co-owner, AUS Reptile Academy. Fulbright alumna. Inspiring Australia Ambassador (Qld). #PalmCockatooProject. Ex UofCaliforniaIrvine / ANU
Another cracking snake-handling course on the weekend! This time for 15 students: a large-property owner, zookeeper, future snake-catchers, 3 school grounds persons, and even a journalist from @theguardian.com ! Our next course is 29Nov (near Gatton, Qld). DM if interested. #OzReptileAcademy
November 11, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Another cracking snake-handling course on the weekend! This time for 15 students: a large-property owner, zookeeper, future snake-catchers, 3 school grounds persons, and even a journalist from @theguardian.com ! Our next course is 29Nov (near Gatton, Qld). DM if interested. #OzReptileAcademy
A Bearded Dragon (Pagona barbata) 🤯🥹
September 30, 2025 at 1:36 AM
A Bearded Dragon (Pagona barbata) 🤯🥹
Whose terms of reference do we privilege in science? Dr Coen Hird discusses the contested space of contemporary science and Indigenous teachings/understandings. Diving into theory, not just methods, @uq-cbcs.bsky.social’s packed seminar today at UQ St Lucia. What’s your knowledge lens?
September 30, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Whose terms of reference do we privilege in science? Dr Coen Hird discusses the contested space of contemporary science and Indigenous teachings/understandings. Diving into theory, not just methods, @uq-cbcs.bsky.social’s packed seminar today at UQ St Lucia. What’s your knowledge lens?
1.5 years apart before-after comparison of my made-from-scratch native habitat garden (rainforest plant community section). Supporting #UrbanBirds with @birdlifeoz.bsky.social, #UrbanFrogs, and #UrbanLizards! 🥹 AND household mental well-being, especially on wfh days 💃🤓! Lawns are so boring, agreed?
September 25, 2025 at 9:47 PM
1.5 years apart before-after comparison of my made-from-scratch native habitat garden (rainforest plant community section). Supporting #UrbanBirds with @birdlifeoz.bsky.social, #UrbanFrogs, and #UrbanLizards! 🥹 AND household mental well-being, especially on wfh days 💃🤓! Lawns are so boring, agreed?
And it’s a hit! My #SnakeWheelOfFortune poster game has been played by dozens (possibly 100s) of kids & adults across Qld for #NationalScienceWeek & beyond, & they’ve all left with a far greater appreciation & respect for snakes. Education shapes perceptions, & perceptions shape behaviour 🤓🐍💚!
September 5, 2025 at 2:51 AM
And it’s a hit! My #SnakeWheelOfFortune poster game has been played by dozens (possibly 100s) of kids & adults across Qld for #NationalScienceWeek & beyond, & they’ve all left with a far greater appreciation & respect for snakes. Education shapes perceptions, & perceptions shape behaviour 🤓🐍💚!
Introducing the #SnakeWheelOfFortune poster! In working w/ dozens of snake educators from over 23 countries, I saw a major gap in our education re snakes. We all needed a simple, powerful visual to explain the many benefits of snakes to people. After 1yr of design & peer-review, it is now published!
September 5, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Introducing the #SnakeWheelOfFortune poster! In working w/ dozens of snake educators from over 23 countries, I saw a major gap in our education re snakes. We all needed a simple, powerful visual to explain the many benefits of snakes to people. After 1yr of design & peer-review, it is now published!
#NationalScienceWeek was a super success! Such a privilege to be able to engage w/ communities in rural/remote/regional Queensland as Inspiring Australia’s ambassador this year. These folks often miss out on #STEMed, but not this year! Thanks to Dr. Anita Milroy for her connections and vision.
September 5, 2025 at 2:09 AM
#NationalScienceWeek was a super success! Such a privilege to be able to engage w/ communities in rural/remote/regional Queensland as Inspiring Australia’s ambassador this year. These folks often miss out on #STEMed, but not this year! Thanks to Dr. Anita Milroy for her connections and vision.
Time to vote for Australia’s most underrated animal!! And the clear choice is the Palm Cockatoo, of course. Vote in the next 24hrs here:
www.abc.net.au/news/science...
www.abc.net.au/news/science...
August 13, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Time to vote for Australia’s most underrated animal!! And the clear choice is the Palm Cockatoo, of course. Vote in the next 24hrs here:
www.abc.net.au/news/science...
www.abc.net.au/news/science...
I have been leading loads of Palm Cockatoo conservation research and management up Cape York way this past month! Doing everything we can (given financial constraints) to save this endangered species. #PalmCockatooProject
August 2, 2025 at 2:50 AM
I have been leading loads of Palm Cockatoo conservation research and management up Cape York way this past month! Doing everything we can (given financial constraints) to save this endangered species. #PalmCockatooProject
Omg yes! Delma torquata are the cUtest! So handsome 🤤. Happy to help photograph one with u someday 🤓. Here’s Delma plebia 🥹 we found in Whiterock last summer that I photographed.
July 9, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Omg yes! Delma torquata are the cUtest! So handsome 🤤. Happy to help photograph one with u someday 🤓. Here’s Delma plebia 🥹 we found in Whiterock last summer that I photographed.
This detailed study, led by Lachlan Bourke, builds a foundation for future characterisation of their unique pitviper venom activities & phylogenetic placement of Bothrocophias species. We hope our work is utilised for evidence-based design of clinical management strategies for the envenomed patient.
July 9, 2025 at 1:09 PM
This detailed study, led by Lachlan Bourke, builds a foundation for future characterisation of their unique pitviper venom activities & phylogenetic placement of Bothrocophias species. We hope our work is utilised for evidence-based design of clinical management strategies for the envenomed patient.
Here are some sneak peaks of the results and figures from the paper, which we think provides evolutionary insights into the phylogenetic position of the procoagulant venom trait seen in Bothrops (lance-head pit vipers)
July 9, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Here are some sneak peaks of the results and figures from the paper, which we think provides evolutionary insights into the phylogenetic position of the procoagulant venom trait seen in Bothrops (lance-head pit vipers)
The Ecuadorian Bothrocophias venoms (B. campbelli, B. lojanus, and B. microphthalmus) were compared to Bothrops pictus regarding their coagulotoxic nature and neutralisation by two antivenoms (PoliVal-ICP (Instituto Clodomiro Picado) and Soro Antibotr opico (Instituto Butantan)). (2/4…👇)
July 9, 2025 at 1:09 PM
The Ecuadorian Bothrocophias venoms (B. campbelli, B. lojanus, and B. microphthalmus) were compared to Bothrops pictus regarding their coagulotoxic nature and neutralisation by two antivenoms (PoliVal-ICP (Instituto Clodomiro Picado) and Soro Antibotr opico (Instituto Butantan)). (2/4…👇)
New paper! We studied venom coagulation of 🐍 from the understudied pit viper genus Bothrocophias. This genus of pit-vipers, sister genus to the more well-known Bothrops, has 9 recognised species, & are relatively restricted in range, occupying Andean South America & equatorial Brazil…(1/4 posts 👇)
July 9, 2025 at 1:09 PM
New paper! We studied venom coagulation of 🐍 from the understudied pit viper genus Bothrocophias. This genus of pit-vipers, sister genus to the more well-known Bothrops, has 9 recognised species, & are relatively restricted in range, occupying Andean South America & equatorial Brazil…(1/4 posts 👇)
#PalmCockatooProject conservation work is ramping up again this year 🥹🤓.
July 2, 2025 at 10:55 AM
#PalmCockatooProject conservation work is ramping up again this year 🥹🤓.
Woogaroo Forest in SE Qld a case study by Margaret Castles of UniAdelaide for: “Native veg never intrinsically valued in Australia. It’s been viewed as a resource to be exploited & used to progress human interests, regardless of the real cost. Our legislation ❌ make net ➕ve 4nature. #ICCB2025
June 18, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Woogaroo Forest in SE Qld a case study by Margaret Castles of UniAdelaide for: “Native veg never intrinsically valued in Australia. It’s been viewed as a resource to be exploited & used to progress human interests, regardless of the real cost. Our legislation ❌ make net ➕ve 4nature. #ICCB2025
This morning near Springfield Central Station (far south side). A good reason to write to local councils to pressure them to plant shrubs for shelter for these poor buggers that enrich our lives 🥹
June 17, 2025 at 2:18 PM
This morning near Springfield Central Station (far south side). A good reason to write to local councils to pressure them to plant shrubs for shelter for these poor buggers that enrich our lives 🥹
A new sustainability standard has been set for conference lanyards! This #ICCB2025 one is compostable & plantable! Native seeds r embedded into the name tag so local delegates encouraged to plant it for habitat. How good?! As paying delegates, we can and should ask for sustainability like this 😎💃
June 17, 2025 at 2:16 PM
A new sustainability standard has been set for conference lanyards! This #ICCB2025 one is compostable & plantable! Native seeds r embedded into the name tag so local delegates encouraged to plant it for habitat. How good?! As paying delegates, we can and should ask for sustainability like this 😎💃
Wow. In USA, 1.5 Billion birds are killed by cats 😳😡. Up to 2 Billion birds r killed by building strike 😭 (there are window solutions to this). Of 92,000 records of building strikes: 56% die by Low Rises; 44% Residential; High Rises <1%. Presented by Nicholas Liadis @iccb2025.bsky.social #ICCB2025
June 17, 2025 at 5:54 AM
Wow. In USA, 1.5 Billion birds are killed by cats 😳😡. Up to 2 Billion birds r killed by building strike 😭 (there are window solutions to this). Of 92,000 records of building strikes: 56% die by Low Rises; 44% Residential; High Rises <1%. Presented by Nicholas Liadis @iccb2025.bsky.social #ICCB2025
Liz Gould of Connect4Conservation and Birdlife demonstrates the power of community engagement, intel, and private properties for the conservation of a threatened (and adorable), legless lizard in SEQueensland: Delma torquata 🥹. @iccb2025.bsky.social #ICCB2025
June 17, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Liz Gould of Connect4Conservation and Birdlife demonstrates the power of community engagement, intel, and private properties for the conservation of a threatened (and adorable), legless lizard in SEQueensland: Delma torquata 🥹. @iccb2025.bsky.social #ICCB2025
A/Prof Dominique Potvin presented her work on Greater Glider diet today @iccb2025.bsky.social via analysing their 💩. They ate 18 species of eucalyptus and casuarina! ‘It’s 2025 and we still don’t know basic biology of large, charismatic Australian species’. #ICCB2025
June 16, 2025 at 6:23 AM
A/Prof Dominique Potvin presented her work on Greater Glider diet today @iccb2025.bsky.social via analysing their 💩. They ate 18 species of eucalyptus and casuarina! ‘It’s 2025 and we still don’t know basic biology of large, charismatic Australian species’. #ICCB2025
Dr April Reside convinces us at #ICCB2025 that microbats are the best crop-pest eaters! Eating their body weight in insects every night 😳. They indeed forage in veggie crop farms, but can we do better to lure more microbat species to do more crop-protecting help? @iccb2025.bsky.social
June 16, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Dr April Reside convinces us at #ICCB2025 that microbats are the best crop-pest eaters! Eating their body weight in insects every night 😳. They indeed forage in veggie crop farms, but can we do better to lure more microbat species to do more crop-protecting help? @iccb2025.bsky.social
Plenary III @iccb2025.bsky.social today: Deborah Tabart of Aus Koala Foundation: “This planet is in trouble, and if we can’t save the koala, you can’t save anything.” We need to be better than great scientists; we need to be great communicators.“
June 16, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Plenary III @iccb2025.bsky.social today: Deborah Tabart of Aus Koala Foundation: “This planet is in trouble, and if we can’t save the koala, you can’t save anything.” We need to be better than great scientists; we need to be great communicators.“
Plenary II today @iccb2025.bsky.social : A/Prof Binbin Li. “Are protected areas prohibiting local progress?” ‘No’ b/c of co-benefits (eg reduced landslides & more flavourful tea). For effective conservation, enter community via the community, not via the elite. & ensure a return on time investment.
June 15, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Plenary II today @iccb2025.bsky.social : A/Prof Binbin Li. “Are protected areas prohibiting local progress?” ‘No’ b/c of co-benefits (eg reduced landslides & more flavourful tea). For effective conservation, enter community via the community, not via the elite. & ensure a return on time investment.
Plenary @iccb2025.bsky.social : Ricky Archer, Director of Nat’l Parks (based in Northern Territory). “Dept.s come and go, but Traditional Owners remain the same: looking after Country into the future.” #ICCB2025
June 15, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Plenary @iccb2025.bsky.social : Ricky Archer, Director of Nat’l Parks (based in Northern Territory). “Dept.s come and go, but Traditional Owners remain the same: looking after Country into the future.” #ICCB2025