Donna Giberson (Elbows UP!) 🇨🇦🇺🇦
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donnag.bsky.social
Donna Giberson (Elbows UP!) 🇨🇦🇺🇦
@donnag.bsky.social
1.9K followers 460 following 490 posts
Aquatic entomologist, kayaker, naturalist
Ed: Newsletter of the Biol. Surv. Canada & Mayfly Newsletter
born at 314 ppm
Professor Emerita at UPEI, Fellow of the ESC
Retired home to BC's spectacular Sunshine Coast
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donnag.bsky.social
Mine might not be high enough quality, but they do show habitat as well... (I love common yellowthroats!)
A common yellowthroat warbler perching on a branch above a wetland. The bird is a tan colour, with a striking black face with white above, and a bright yellow throat. Photo from Sechelt Marsh, southwestern British Columbia. A common yellowthroat warbler perching on a branch above a wetland. The bird is a tan colour, with a striking black face with white above, and a bright yellow throat. Photo from Smuggler Cove Provincial Park, southwestern British Columbia.
November 5, 2025 at 8:59 PM
donnag.bsky.social
Cool news about moss species on Haida Gwaii (islands off the coast of British Columbia, Canada), from the "Gwaii Haanas - Islands of Beauty" facebook site
Our terrestrial team partnered with UBC bryologists to complete a flurry of surveys for rare and endemic mosses in central Gwaii Haanas. The primary focus of the fieldwork was a set of detailed surveys for an endangered species, Dalton’s moss, whose entire Canadian population is found within a single inlet in Gwaii Haanas. We found several new populations of the moss and the information from the survey will be vital in defining its critical habitat in the upcoming federal recovery strategy. In addition, new populations of several critically imperilled, red-listed and endemic species were located. Data will be used in part to support species-at-risk listing processes, taxonomic science, and add weight to the formal designation of Haida Gwaii as a “Key Biodiversity Area” in Canada. British Columbia is a renowned global hotspot for moss diversity, recognized with areas such as Southeast Asia, the Northern Andes, and the African Highlands (among others) as being globally significant. Within BC, Haida Gwaii is a vital and rich part of that provincial diversity, with many rare and unique species making their home in our forests. A well-known example is our lush mats of Takakia, considered by many to be the most ancient land plant on earth. Other examples include species that are found only on Haida Gwaii and in the Himalayas; some that only live on Haida Gwaii and in Northern Europe; some species are only found on Haida Gwaii and in the tropics; Some species are endemic and found nowhere else on earth. Four images of mosses from a survey by Gwaii Haanas parks people and UBC bryologists for rare and endemic mosses in central Gwaii Haanas.
November 1, 2025 at 5:09 PM
donnag.bsky.social
A sunny day between rainstorms on Canada's south-left coast. Clack Creek, located near Robert's Creek, BC, is flowing well after all the rain.
A side view of a waterfall, against the deep green of a Pacific northwest forest. A stream flowing around rocks and fallen trees, against the backdrop of a deep green Pacific Northwest forest.
October 28, 2025 at 2:34 AM
donnag.bsky.social
If you need to see something beautiful today, here is a leucistic Anna's Hummingbird from a couple of summers back, from a seaside park on Canada's south-left coast (Sargeant Bay, BC).
A mostly white hummingbird perched on a branch in front of blue sky. This is a leucistic hummingbird, some some patches of darker feathers as well. A mostly white hummingbird taking off from a branch, against a blue sky. This is a leucistic hummingbird, some some patches of darker feathers as well.
October 26, 2025 at 9:25 PM
donnag.bsky.social
Now streaming (#WaterfallWednesday)
October 22, 2025 at 9:47 PM
donnag.bsky.social
I'm not sure that any image has struck me as deeply as this one of the 'frog' facing down ICE in Portland (by Nikkolas Smith), at least since this photo from the Kanehsatake reserve in Oka, Que., taken by Shaney Komulainen (Canadian Press) on Sept. 1, 1990. Chilling.
A "No Kings" protest poster featuring the art of Nikkolas Smith, showing a person in a frog costume standing in front of a large group of heavily armed soldiers representing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the U.S.A. Photo showing a Canadian soldier staring straight ahead while being faced down by a masked first nations member wearing camouflage jacket and hat, on the Kanehsatake reserve in Oka, Que., taken by Shaney Komulainen (Canadian Press) on Sept. 1, 1990.
October 18, 2025 at 7:50 PM
donnag.bsky.social
Their close cousin, the Pacific Wren, is similarly difficult to photograph! (but very rewarding when successful)
a small brown bird (a Pacific wren) is perched on a branch in the forest, with a mossy branch in the background
October 15, 2025 at 11:21 PM
donnag.bsky.social
@canentomologist.bsky.social members: I'm doing a partial clearout of my home lab & bringing some great stuff for the student auction at the ESC meeting in Calgary next week: nets, vials, malaise trap, pinning/mounting supplies, & a Wild M5 stereoscope (see photo)! Also books!
#ESCmeeting #ESCJAM
an image of a person examining an insect using a Wild M5 stereoscopic dissecting microscope. He is peering down the eyepieces of the microscope. Two packages of glass vials, each package holding about 12 dozen vials.
October 3, 2025 at 10:57 PM
donnag.bsky.social
A bird with three or more colours? How about a stately Northern Flicker?
September 28, 2025 at 7:12 PM
donnag.bsky.social
Pink salmon, massing in a pool below a set of riffles and cascades, waiting for a bit more rain to head upstream. Chapman Creek, British Columbia, on Canada's southwest coast.
September 26, 2025 at 1:37 PM
donnag.bsky.social
Your name in Landsat: science.nasa.gov/specials/you...
(I picked "Mayfly")
August 28, 2025 at 1:39 PM
donnag.bsky.social
Skookumchuk Narrows is an impressive tidal rapids at the north end of Sechelt Inlet, on BC's Sunshine Coast (just north of Vancouver). Impressive whirlpools form on the outgoing tides!
August 22, 2025 at 11:46 PM
donnag.bsky.social
There comes a time in every (aquatic insect) project where one decides whether to throw away the old dirty vials or take a couple of days and clean them out. I can't bear to throw out these beautiful glass vials, so...
boxes of freshly cleaned glass vials, ready for their next project. Freshly cleaned glass vials drying after being cleaned.
August 13, 2025 at 11:37 PM
donnag.bsky.social
There is a huge wild fire S of Port Alberni on Vancouver Isl. (on Canada's SW coast). We live 80km from it (as the crow flies) & can see the smoke plume. Currently, the road into Bamfield (home of Bamfield Marine Institute) is blocked and Bamfield is without power. Thinking about them all.
A view of mountains in the distance with residential rooftops in the foreground. A large white plume of smoke rises from behind the mountains, and spreads out to the left of the photo. A view of mountains in the distance with residential rooftops in the foreground. A large reddish-brown plume of smoke rises from behind the mountains, and spreads out to the left of the photo.
August 13, 2025 at 12:21 AM
donnag.bsky.social
Doing my part to limit the seed spread of this highly aggressive invasive species on Canada's south-left coast!
A photo of a portion of a thick blackberry bramble showing a large number of juicy ripe black berries in amongst red and green berries that are not yet ripe. Six 7-cup tubs of freshly picked blackberries, showing each tub full to the brim with juicy black berries.
August 8, 2025 at 9:03 PM
donnag.bsky.social
So great to be able to spend time on the water. Sechelt Inlet, BC.
A red kayak shown approaching a rocky shore. Kayakers paddling around a rocky headland, with mountains in the background.
July 29, 2025 at 1:58 AM
donnag.bsky.social
recently came across another Ericaceae plant that I would have never have expected it to be in that family: Allotropa virgata, the Candystick plant, which gets its nutrition from fungi (no chlorphyll).
(interestingly, Allotropa is also a genus name for a parasitoid wasp!!)
July 27, 2025 at 2:34 PM
donnag.bsky.social
A great Canada Day Paddle on Canada's south-left coast!
A person in a white hat and red shirt, paddling a red and white kayak around a rocky point in Sechelt Inlet, BC. The bow of a red kayak dominates the foreground, with another kayaker in a white hat and red shirt in the distance, about to round a rocky point, Sechelt Inlet, BC.
July 1, 2025 at 11:47 PM
donnag.bsky.social
A moment of joy this morning watching the violet green swallows darting about in the sky. When at rest, their colours just pop!
A violet green swallow resting on a fence. The swallow has a brownish green head with a bright white cheek patch, green back and shoulders, and violet coloured wings and tail feathers. A violet green swallow in flight over a rocky beach. The swallow has a brownish green head with a bright white cheek patch, green back and shoulders, and violet coloured wings and tail feathers. A white patch on the bum is visible in flight.
May 9, 2025 at 5:15 PM
donnag.bsky.social
I photographed this blue dasher dragonfly at Smuggler Cove Prov. park in BC (southwestern Canada), and didn't realize I had also captured a little tree frog until I got home and viewed the photo. A nice surprize, #MySmallAct
A photo of a blue dragonfly (Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis) perched on a grass stem just behind a small tree frog.
May 2, 2025 at 4:37 PM
donnag.bsky.social
A big welcome to the Entomological Society of BC (entsocbc.bsky.social ) to Bluesky!
a beefly foraging on some forgetmenots.
April 7, 2025 at 12:49 AM
donnag.bsky.social
Interesting sight at the beach today (Southwest British Columbia) - a gull (immature gull of some sort) eating a sea cucumber that had apparently washed up on the beach.
Immature gull with a sea cucumber on a sandy beach. The gull's beak is open and it has just dropped the sea cucumber which is still in mid air. Immature gull on a sandy beach with waves in the background. The gull has a sea cucumber in its beak, as it has been pecking at it and pulling it apart to eat it.
March 30, 2025 at 3:21 AM
donnag.bsky.social
The Canadian readout... not quite the same.
March 29, 2025 at 12:46 AM
donnag.bsky.social
Post a warning
A double sign at a marina store on Canada's west coast. The top sign reads "Trespassers will be used as bait" and just below the words is a skull and crossbones. The bottom sign reads, "Marina Store - Bait now available".
March 24, 2025 at 1:36 AM
donnag.bsky.social
Agreed, and here I am, just a woman and a scientist saying that no matter what I am allowed to say about climate change, the rivers will have their say.
image of a woman wading in a river, holding a net to collect invertebrates. Trees line the sides of the river, which has a rocky bottom.
March 19, 2025 at 9:57 PM