Kris Gates
@krismgates.bsky.social
Scientist, atheist, educator. Proud PNW liberal; Oregon.
Striving to be a part of our more perfect union. Lover of birds, cats, baking & preserving. Facts Matter.
#Bird photos are mine unless noted otherwise.
Joined 4/24 Missing Post News!
She/her/pissed
Striving to be a part of our more perfect union. Lover of birds, cats, baking & preserving. Facts Matter.
#Bird photos are mine unless noted otherwise.
Joined 4/24 Missing Post News!
She/her/pissed
become part of their winter stores, buried or hidden to be retrieved later. 🪶 Jays of all kinds also appear to test and compare weights of foraged acorns and screen them for the escape pinhole of the acorn weevil, a telltale sign that the weevil grub has already hollowed out the nutmeat.
December 3, 2025 at 2:46 PM
become part of their winter stores, buried or hidden to be retrieved later. 🪶 Jays of all kinds also appear to test and compare weights of foraged acorns and screen them for the escape pinhole of the acorn weevil, a telltale sign that the weevil grub has already hollowed out the nutmeat.
2nd acorn. These closeups capture this behavior; you can also see it (by zooming in) in this treetop view of a separate #bird. Of course, jays don’t swallow acorns whole but use their strong bills to crack them open for the seed kernels inside. In autumn, chances are that both these acorns would
December 3, 2025 at 2:46 PM
2nd acorn. These closeups capture this behavior; you can also see it (by zooming in) in this treetop view of a separate #bird. Of course, jays don’t swallow acorns whole but use their strong bills to crack them open for the seed kernels inside. In autumn, chances are that both these acorns would
But its acorns are much rounder & squatter than the slender pointed acorns of the valley oaks of the Carmel Valley. As such, this California STJA has managed a clever trick. What might look like the #bird’s tongue is an acorn stored in the throat deeply enough that the tip of the beak can grasp a
December 3, 2025 at 2:46 PM
But its acorns are much rounder & squatter than the slender pointed acorns of the valley oaks of the Carmel Valley. As such, this California STJA has managed a clever trick. What might look like the #bird’s tongue is an acorn stored in the throat deeply enough that the tip of the beak can grasp a
#Bird of the Day: Steller’s Jay (STJA)
The other day, I shared an Acorn Woodpecker community stashing acorns in the devices topping utility poles. But of course woodpeckers aren’t the only birds who use acorns as an important food source. I have STJA in my own yard, with my own pin oak & its acorns.
The other day, I shared an Acorn Woodpecker community stashing acorns in the devices topping utility poles. But of course woodpeckers aren’t the only birds who use acorns as an important food source. I have STJA in my own yard, with my own pin oak & its acorns.
December 3, 2025 at 2:46 PM
#Bird of the Day: Steller’s Jay (STJA)
The other day, I shared an Acorn Woodpecker community stashing acorns in the devices topping utility poles. But of course woodpeckers aren’t the only birds who use acorns as an important food source. I have STJA in my own yard, with my own pin oak & its acorns.
The other day, I shared an Acorn Woodpecker community stashing acorns in the devices topping utility poles. But of course woodpeckers aren’t the only birds who use acorns as an important food source. I have STJA in my own yard, with my own pin oak & its acorns.
The amaryllis bulbs are just showing leaves and will be perfect for gifting in two weeks. But the paperwhite narcissus are shooting up so fast that I’ve been making special early deliveries to the recipients! I planted both types only 17 days ago!
December 2, 2025 at 10:38 PM
The amaryllis bulbs are just showing leaves and will be perfect for gifting in two weeks. But the paperwhite narcissus are shooting up so fast that I’ve been making special early deliveries to the recipients! I planted both types only 17 days ago!
clustered around her feet. In another spot, a fellow with a take-out container of french fries was feeding them to the gulls/squirrels. He convinced parents to let their small child do the same. The whole time he was talking to them, he was calling the gulls "pelicans". I was silently judging them!
December 2, 2025 at 6:18 PM
clustered around her feet. In another spot, a fellow with a take-out container of french fries was feeding them to the gulls/squirrels. He convinced parents to let their small child do the same. The whole time he was talking to them, he was calling the gulls "pelicans". I was silently judging them!
PSA: Wild animals shouldn't be fed like this.
I was surprised by a lack of signage discouraging it. These ground squirrel populations are vigorous & bold, as are the gulls. A couple I could subtly photograph: a woman letting the squirrels take pumpkin seeds from her fingers. At one point she had ~6
I was surprised by a lack of signage discouraging it. These ground squirrel populations are vigorous & bold, as are the gulls. A couple I could subtly photograph: a woman letting the squirrels take pumpkin seeds from her fingers. At one point she had ~6
December 2, 2025 at 6:18 PM
PSA: Wild animals shouldn't be fed like this.
I was surprised by a lack of signage discouraging it. These ground squirrel populations are vigorous & bold, as are the gulls. A couple I could subtly photograph: a woman letting the squirrels take pumpkin seeds from her fingers. At one point she had ~6
I was surprised by a lack of signage discouraging it. These ground squirrel populations are vigorous & bold, as are the gulls. A couple I could subtly photograph: a woman letting the squirrels take pumpkin seeds from her fingers. At one point she had ~6
as their plumage changes, and juvenile birds have these dark eyes. Like cormorants, loons are diving #birds and COLO have backward-facing prongs on the roof of their bills to keep fish and other slippery prey from wriggling out of their grasp.
December 2, 2025 at 4:06 PM
as their plumage changes, and juvenile birds have these dark eyes. Like cormorants, loons are diving #birds and COLO have backward-facing prongs on the roof of their bills to keep fish and other slippery prey from wriggling out of their grasp.
in breeding coloration is a geometric marvel—one I have yet to see in person but I hope to see—and hear-- one someday. They also have deep red eyes, while the #birds in these photos have dark eyes and a less-defined checkered pattern. Their eye colors also vary with the season
December 2, 2025 at 4:06 PM
in breeding coloration is a geometric marvel—one I have yet to see in person but I hope to see—and hear-- one someday. They also have deep red eyes, while the #birds in these photos have dark eyes and a less-defined checkered pattern. Their eye colors also vary with the season
they were sharing the waters. Both #birds were seen on a misty, overcast day. The combination of the grey water reflecting the grey sky and the COLO in non-breeding plumage makes these images look like pencil sketches. It’s almost hard to believe I’m not shooting in black and white! An adult loon
December 2, 2025 at 4:06 PM
they were sharing the waters. Both #birds were seen on a misty, overcast day. The combination of the grey water reflecting the grey sky and the COLO in non-breeding plumage makes these images look like pencil sketches. It’s almost hard to believe I’m not shooting in black and white! An adult loon
#Bird of the Day: Common Loon (COLO)
Despite its name, this bird is anything but common to me. I’ve only seen a loon once before (off the coast of Mexico), so was absolutely thrilled to have two sightings on my recent trip. It would have been easy to miss them among the many cormorants with which
Despite its name, this bird is anything but common to me. I’ve only seen a loon once before (off the coast of Mexico), so was absolutely thrilled to have two sightings on my recent trip. It would have been easy to miss them among the many cormorants with which
December 2, 2025 at 4:06 PM
#Bird of the Day: Common Loon (COLO)
Despite its name, this bird is anything but common to me. I’ve only seen a loon once before (off the coast of Mexico), so was absolutely thrilled to have two sightings on my recent trip. It would have been easy to miss them among the many cormorants with which
Despite its name, this bird is anything but common to me. I’ve only seen a loon once before (off the coast of Mexico), so was absolutely thrilled to have two sightings on my recent trip. It would have been easy to miss them among the many cormorants with which
Block party invitation.
December 2, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Block party invitation.
Thanks @rescuerofcritters.bsky.social! You're a detective! That's definitely it & I'll follow that lead. This is what my platter looks like. I like this sort of vintage kitsch & have been using this with gourds for an autumn table setting. My mom remembers it from childhood. Her mom was from Kansas.
December 1, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Thanks @rescuerofcritters.bsky.social! You're a detective! That's definitely it & I'll follow that lead. This is what my platter looks like. I like this sort of vintage kitsch & have been using this with gourds for an autumn table setting. My mom remembers it from childhood. Her mom was from Kansas.
This torpor adaptation is not common among #birds, but some hummingbirds also use this technique, as do some swifts & nighthawks. The BCCH is well-documented for its amazing memory for cached foods; it will energetically stash sunflower seeds, still in the husk, when supplies are plentiful.
December 1, 2025 at 4:29 PM
This torpor adaptation is not common among #birds, but some hummingbirds also use this technique, as do some swifts & nighthawks. The BCCH is well-documented for its amazing memory for cached foods; it will energetically stash sunflower seeds, still in the husk, when supplies are plentiful.
CBCH is confined to a narrow strip along the continent’s west coast. 🦉 Chickadees can enter a state of regulated hypothermia called torpor to survive extremely cold nighttime temperatures. This allows them to significantly lower their body temperature & slow their heart rate to conserve calories.
December 1, 2025 at 4:29 PM
CBCH is confined to a narrow strip along the continent’s west coast. 🦉 Chickadees can enter a state of regulated hypothermia called torpor to survive extremely cold nighttime temperatures. This allows them to significantly lower their body temperature & slow their heart rate to conserve calories.
but similar (and smaller) chestnut-backed chickadee. But in the Carmel Valley/Monterey ecosystem of California, BCCH are a rarity, and it’s the CBCH that are the norm.🪶 Of the two, the BCCH has a much larger range that covers a wide swath of North America (northern US & southern Canada) while the
December 1, 2025 at 4:29 PM
but similar (and smaller) chestnut-backed chickadee. But in the Carmel Valley/Monterey ecosystem of California, BCCH are a rarity, and it’s the CBCH that are the norm.🪶 Of the two, the BCCH has a much larger range that covers a wide swath of North America (northern US & southern Canada) while the
#Bird of the Day: Black-capped Chickadee (BCCH)
As I travel for birding, it’s always amusing to see what common birds (in my experience) are rare elsewhere. BCCH are everyday birds for me, in our neighborhood gardens & at our feeders year-round & often they are in mixed flocked with the less-common
As I travel for birding, it’s always amusing to see what common birds (in my experience) are rare elsewhere. BCCH are everyday birds for me, in our neighborhood gardens & at our feeders year-round & often they are in mixed flocked with the less-common
December 1, 2025 at 4:29 PM
#Bird of the Day: Black-capped Chickadee (BCCH)
As I travel for birding, it’s always amusing to see what common birds (in my experience) are rare elsewhere. BCCH are everyday birds for me, in our neighborhood gardens & at our feeders year-round & often they are in mixed flocked with the less-common
As I travel for birding, it’s always amusing to see what common birds (in my experience) are rare elsewhere. BCCH are everyday birds for me, in our neighborhood gardens & at our feeders year-round & often they are in mixed flocked with the less-common
I tried to do an image search for this mark on an old platter and it told me I had melanoma.
December 1, 2025 at 4:20 AM
I tried to do an image search for this mark on an old platter and it told me I had melanoma.
Bouquet of the Day
These are the seedpods of the Clerodendrum tree, also known as Harlequin Glorybower for reasons that should be obvious here.
These are the seedpods of the Clerodendrum tree, also known as Harlequin Glorybower for reasons that should be obvious here.
November 30, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Bouquet of the Day
These are the seedpods of the Clerodendrum tree, also known as Harlequin Glorybower for reasons that should be obvious here.
These are the seedpods of the Clerodendrum tree, also known as Harlequin Glorybower for reasons that should be obvious here.
the OCWA always has yellow undertail coverts 🪶 instead of the whitish ones seen on the TEWA.
November 30, 2025 at 3:48 PM
the OCWA always has yellow undertail coverts 🪶 instead of the whitish ones seen on the TEWA.
ornamental crimson bottlebrush plant (in the genus Callistemon) is not native to the US (but rather Australia) & these North American warblers wouldn’t necessarily feed on it-- although that didn’t keep the butterflies & humming #birds from sipping its nectar. Closely related to Tennessee Warblers,
November 30, 2025 at 3:48 PM
ornamental crimson bottlebrush plant (in the genus Callistemon) is not native to the US (but rather Australia) & these North American warblers wouldn’t necessarily feed on it-- although that didn’t keep the butterflies & humming #birds from sipping its nectar. Closely related to Tennessee Warblers,
"hidden". As I watched them among these blossoms, I assumed they were feeding on nectar. But once I had my photos to process, I realized I had several shots in which the #birds emerged from the flowers or leaves with small caterpillars. You can see one here. That does make more sense, as this
November 30, 2025 at 3:48 PM
"hidden". As I watched them among these blossoms, I assumed they were feeding on nectar. But once I had my photos to process, I realized I had several shots in which the #birds emerged from the flowers or leaves with small caterpillars. You can see one here. That does make more sense, as this
alarmed, raises the feathers on its head. As these individuals were calmly feeding on flowering shrubs, I never saw it. And I've yet to ever see it, even though these #birds are year-round residents in my part of Oregon. Perhaps that’s why the species name is celatus which in Latin means "secret" or
November 30, 2025 at 3:48 PM
alarmed, raises the feathers on its head. As these individuals were calmly feeding on flowering shrubs, I never saw it. And I've yet to ever see it, even though these #birds are year-round residents in my part of Oregon. Perhaps that’s why the species name is celatus which in Latin means "secret" or
#Bird of the Day: Orange-crowned Warbler (OCWA)
This is one of those bird names that I find so aggravating! The OCWA overall is a dull yellow color with typical small warbler size & thin, pointed bill. But the eponymous orange crown is rarely to be seen! It only appears when the bird, excited or
This is one of those bird names that I find so aggravating! The OCWA overall is a dull yellow color with typical small warbler size & thin, pointed bill. But the eponymous orange crown is rarely to be seen! It only appears when the bird, excited or
November 30, 2025 at 3:48 PM
#Bird of the Day: Orange-crowned Warbler (OCWA)
This is one of those bird names that I find so aggravating! The OCWA overall is a dull yellow color with typical small warbler size & thin, pointed bill. But the eponymous orange crown is rarely to be seen! It only appears when the bird, excited or
This is one of those bird names that I find so aggravating! The OCWA overall is a dull yellow color with typical small warbler size & thin, pointed bill. But the eponymous orange crown is rarely to be seen! It only appears when the bird, excited or
Buttermilk Biscuits! Alton Brown’s recipe, using some of the lard I rendered last week.
November 30, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Buttermilk Biscuits! Alton Brown’s recipe, using some of the lard I rendered last week.