Jennifer Campbell-Smith, PhD 𓄿𓃥
@jcampbellsmith.bsky.social
Behavioral ecologist, corvid expert, artist, and all around zoology/behavior nerd. I draw, hunt with pointy birds, teach, science, and explore. Views are my own. 🪶🌿🐕🔬👩🏻🏫🧭🎨
Some photos from the IEAA (International Eagle Austringer Association) “Gathering of Eagles” meet in Wyoming this past week. Birds include a golden eagle, dark morph Harlan’s/western intergrade red-tailed hawk, and a Harris’ hawk. Great people, great birds, and a great time!
November 11, 2025 at 6:04 AM
Some photos from the IEAA (International Eagle Austringer Association) “Gathering of Eagles” meet in Wyoming this past week. Birds include a golden eagle, dark morph Harlan’s/western intergrade red-tailed hawk, and a Harris’ hawk. Great people, great birds, and a great time!
I can’t, this is too good 😂
November 5, 2025 at 1:53 PM
I can’t, this is too good 😂
My son’s Derpy costume looking rather like a tiger skin rug while I was working on it last weekend.
Happy Halloween!🎃
Happy Halloween!🎃
October 31, 2025 at 11:30 PM
My son’s Derpy costume looking rather like a tiger skin rug while I was working on it last weekend.
Happy Halloween!🎃
Happy Halloween!🎃
Whelp, found my answer. Tachnid (parasitic) flies. My son is really sad, but we took it as a chance to watch a video on the flies and what we can do next summer for more butterfly success. He acknowledges that the flies wanted babies too.
He’s now happily watching hamster maze videos.
He’s now happily watching hamster maze videos.
October 19, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Whelp, found my answer. Tachnid (parasitic) flies. My son is really sad, but we took it as a chance to watch a video on the flies and what we can do next summer for more butterfly success. He acknowledges that the flies wanted babies too.
He’s now happily watching hamster maze videos.
He’s now happily watching hamster maze videos.
I suspect our monarch butterfly is dead. Does anyone know if this is likely a tachnid fly parasitism? Or something else, like a bacterial infection?
Plan on dissecting it with my sons for an alternative science lesson. My oldest was so excited about the butterfly, but this is nature/insects too.
Plan on dissecting it with my sons for an alternative science lesson. My oldest was so excited about the butterfly, but this is nature/insects too.
October 18, 2025 at 1:37 PM
I suspect our monarch butterfly is dead. Does anyone know if this is likely a tachnid fly parasitism? Or something else, like a bacterial infection?
Plan on dissecting it with my sons for an alternative science lesson. My oldest was so excited about the butterfly, but this is nature/insects too.
Plan on dissecting it with my sons for an alternative science lesson. My oldest was so excited about the butterfly, but this is nature/insects too.
My 5yo’s watercolor painting of our neighbor’s tree. We love fall in this house ❤️💛🧡🍂🍁
October 17, 2025 at 3:31 AM
My 5yo’s watercolor painting of our neighbor’s tree. We love fall in this house ❤️💛🧡🍂🍁
Taking 9/10th grade students on a week-long camping/hiking/museum/field drawing adventure on the Colorado Plateau next week to study dinosaurs, focusing on dinosaur trackways.
Thought @hkluterman.bsky.social might be delighted to see one of the books we’ll be using, along with Lockley’s 1995 book.
Thought @hkluterman.bsky.social might be delighted to see one of the books we’ll be using, along with Lockley’s 1995 book.
October 14, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Taking 9/10th grade students on a week-long camping/hiking/museum/field drawing adventure on the Colorado Plateau next week to study dinosaurs, focusing on dinosaur trackways.
Thought @hkluterman.bsky.social might be delighted to see one of the books we’ll be using, along with Lockley’s 1995 book.
Thought @hkluterman.bsky.social might be delighted to see one of the books we’ll be using, along with Lockley’s 1995 book.
I FINALLY saw a wild ringtail with my own eyes. I was unreasonably excited and it was amazing and it was so cute!
October 8, 2025 at 2:30 AM
I FINALLY saw a wild ringtail with my own eyes. I was unreasonably excited and it was amazing and it was so cute!
I’m reminded of this @adamtots.bsky.social comic. So freaking true.
October 6, 2025 at 1:18 AM
I’m reminded of this @adamtots.bsky.social comic. So freaking true.
My field assistants helping investigate the stomach contents, and therefore the diet, of the modern pygmy Allosaurus. These small theropods seem to have a pretty varied diet!
October 5, 2025 at 7:58 PM
My field assistants helping investigate the stomach contents, and therefore the diet, of the modern pygmy Allosaurus. These small theropods seem to have a pretty varied diet!
My friend Todd’s paper on cassowary casques was published in @amornith.bsky.social’s journal Ornithology, “Species-specific casque shapes in the genus Casuarius and implications for visual display.” He had me do the scientific illustrations for the paper 😊
academic.oup.com/auk/advance-...
academic.oup.com/auk/advance-...
October 4, 2025 at 11:30 PM
My friend Todd’s paper on cassowary casques was published in @amornith.bsky.social’s journal Ornithology, “Species-specific casque shapes in the genus Casuarius and implications for visual display.” He had me do the scientific illustrations for the paper 😊
academic.oup.com/auk/advance-...
academic.oup.com/auk/advance-...
See the alt text for each number's name and some short descriptions.
October 3, 2025 at 2:24 PM
See the alt text for each number's name and some short descriptions.
"I Contain Multitudes"
This digitally painted piece honors coyote by tracing its lineage from the first cells of life to the animal trotting our cities and the wilderness today.
The thread gives descriptions of all the extinct organisms shown in this piece (not to scale)
This digitally painted piece honors coyote by tracing its lineage from the first cells of life to the animal trotting our cities and the wilderness today.
The thread gives descriptions of all the extinct organisms shown in this piece (not to scale)
October 3, 2025 at 2:24 PM
"I Contain Multitudes"
This digitally painted piece honors coyote by tracing its lineage from the first cells of life to the animal trotting our cities and the wilderness today.
The thread gives descriptions of all the extinct organisms shown in this piece (not to scale)
This digitally painted piece honors coyote by tracing its lineage from the first cells of life to the animal trotting our cities and the wilderness today.
The thread gives descriptions of all the extinct organisms shown in this piece (not to scale)
My 40th birthday present to myself, because I’m an adult and I can buy myself cool dinosaur figures.
September 27, 2025 at 1:05 AM
My 40th birthday present to myself, because I’m an adult and I can buy myself cool dinosaur figures.
Last weekend I went fishing with some friends. I took both of the boys and…some fishing DID occur. My friend did a sketch of how it went.
One son was flinging sticks and one was VERY mad I wouldn’t let him get in the deep, cold lake, clothed.
Thank you so much @spainimation.bsky.social 😂😂
One son was flinging sticks and one was VERY mad I wouldn’t let him get in the deep, cold lake, clothed.
Thank you so much @spainimation.bsky.social 😂😂
September 26, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Last weekend I went fishing with some friends. I took both of the boys and…some fishing DID occur. My friend did a sketch of how it went.
One son was flinging sticks and one was VERY mad I wouldn’t let him get in the deep, cold lake, clothed.
Thank you so much @spainimation.bsky.social 😂😂
One son was flinging sticks and one was VERY mad I wouldn’t let him get in the deep, cold lake, clothed.
Thank you so much @spainimation.bsky.social 😂😂
“Prairie Life”
An older piece with even older origins. My undergraduate years included significant research and exploration time in short-grass prairie ecosystems. These are the organisms and places I still love and cherish from a formative time in my scientific journey. Sacred. (Check alt text)
An older piece with even older origins. My undergraduate years included significant research and exploration time in short-grass prairie ecosystems. These are the organisms and places I still love and cherish from a formative time in my scientific journey. Sacred. (Check alt text)
September 21, 2025 at 3:13 PM
“Prairie Life”
An older piece with even older origins. My undergraduate years included significant research and exploration time in short-grass prairie ecosystems. These are the organisms and places I still love and cherish from a formative time in my scientific journey. Sacred. (Check alt text)
An older piece with even older origins. My undergraduate years included significant research and exploration time in short-grass prairie ecosystems. These are the organisms and places I still love and cherish from a formative time in my scientific journey. Sacred. (Check alt text)
I don’t post a lot about what I do professionally, which I should probably change because, dammit, I’m a good teacher.
Anyway, I’ve made myself way too amused by one of my Paleo Class slides (about the Archean) and need to share it for other science dorks to (maybe) get a chuckle.
Anyway, I’ve made myself way too amused by one of my Paleo Class slides (about the Archean) and need to share it for other science dorks to (maybe) get a chuckle.
September 19, 2025 at 7:05 PM
I don’t post a lot about what I do professionally, which I should probably change because, dammit, I’m a good teacher.
Anyway, I’ve made myself way too amused by one of my Paleo Class slides (about the Archean) and need to share it for other science dorks to (maybe) get a chuckle.
Anyway, I’ve made myself way too amused by one of my Paleo Class slides (about the Archean) and need to share it for other science dorks to (maybe) get a chuckle.
I love my bird feeder camera, it’s a great way to see close up behaviors and the variety of species we get.
What I /particularly/ love are the really awful AI identifications.
Behold, a majestic common raven.
What I /particularly/ love are the really awful AI identifications.
Behold, a majestic common raven.
August 29, 2025 at 2:53 AM
I love my bird feeder camera, it’s a great way to see close up behaviors and the variety of species we get.
What I /particularly/ love are the really awful AI identifications.
Behold, a majestic common raven.
What I /particularly/ love are the really awful AI identifications.
Behold, a majestic common raven.
A personal sketch I may try to finish someday.
The quagmire of depression. It’s hard to get out of, and hard to really want to when the mud feels like a comfort.
(I’m doing okay right now. I have a healthy support system. Sometimes you just need to art about it.)
The quagmire of depression. It’s hard to get out of, and hard to really want to when the mud feels like a comfort.
(I’m doing okay right now. I have a healthy support system. Sometimes you just need to art about it.)
August 27, 2025 at 3:24 AM
A personal sketch I may try to finish someday.
The quagmire of depression. It’s hard to get out of, and hard to really want to when the mud feels like a comfort.
(I’m doing okay right now. I have a healthy support system. Sometimes you just need to art about it.)
The quagmire of depression. It’s hard to get out of, and hard to really want to when the mud feels like a comfort.
(I’m doing okay right now. I have a healthy support system. Sometimes you just need to art about it.)
Doodle
August 26, 2025 at 4:33 AM
Doodle
Wilson’s plover and her chick, about to enjoy a crab meal 🦀 This was a thank you gift for a friend who studies shorebirds ☺️
August 24, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Wilson’s plover and her chick, about to enjoy a crab meal 🦀 This was a thank you gift for a friend who studies shorebirds ☺️
A golden eagle piece I did a few years ago.
August 23, 2025 at 10:24 PM
A golden eagle piece I did a few years ago.
Canid is going to canid. Jake found something to roll in. My rule is that as long as I can’t smell it with a human nose, he can go nuts 😂
August 21, 2025 at 4:25 AM
Canid is going to canid. Jake found something to roll in. My rule is that as long as I can’t smell it with a human nose, he can go nuts 😂
At the moment I don’t have any memorials to share. I enjoy the painting and making something meaningful for people mourning, but I’m grateful beloved animal deaths crossing my path are at a lull.
This is another style I do…swirly style? I don’t have a good name for it. Enjoy a white-tailed deer ☺️
This is another style I do…swirly style? I don’t have a good name for it. Enjoy a white-tailed deer ☺️
August 20, 2025 at 5:34 PM
At the moment I don’t have any memorials to share. I enjoy the painting and making something meaningful for people mourning, but I’m grateful beloved animal deaths crossing my path are at a lull.
This is another style I do…swirly style? I don’t have a good name for it. Enjoy a white-tailed deer ☺️
This is another style I do…swirly style? I don’t have a good name for it. Enjoy a white-tailed deer ☺️