Laurel
@laurelfynes.bsky.social
learning from the world, my family, students, birds, trees, plants, waterways, relationships. unlearning. biophiliac. growing roots along great lake ontario. settler. she/her.
class site: https://bsky.app/profile/k2westacres.bsky.social
class site: https://bsky.app/profile/k2westacres.bsky.social
Ooh, better with sound! I love that bugal-trill of theirs. What a wonderful encounter!
November 13, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Ooh, better with sound! I love that bugal-trill of theirs. What a wonderful encounter!
Reposted by Laurel
It’s a project of joy, one way I hope to share with people around me how incredibly important this place is, how lucky we are to live in this major flyway in spite of the threats to biodiversity from all sides. A conversation starter - what lives around/beyond us? How can we effect positive change?
November 13, 2025 at 12:51 AM
It’s a project of joy, one way I hope to share with people around me how incredibly important this place is, how lucky we are to live in this major flyway in spite of the threats to biodiversity from all sides. A conversation starter - what lives around/beyond us? How can we effect positive change?
Wow… there’s no way that’s a good faith argument for the ban. 🤯
November 13, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Wow… there’s no way that’s a good faith argument for the ban. 🤯
That’ll likely be red-tailed blackbirds on cattails. They’re always the first birds to return and start singing here, though grackles usually join them within a day or so.
November 13, 2025 at 12:30 AM
That’ll likely be red-tailed blackbirds on cattails. They’re always the first birds to return and start singing here, though grackles usually join them within a day or so.
It’s why I’m cerebrating the movement of birds through this city I love in a series of tattoos. My 1st, summer: chimney swifts. Next I’ll do fall, a kettle of vultures in the mirror image flow of the swifts. Winter, likely long-tailed ducks (or goldeneyes?) diving in the icy water. Spring…
November 13, 2025 at 12:30 AM
It’s why I’m cerebrating the movement of birds through this city I love in a series of tattoos. My 1st, summer: chimney swifts. Next I’ll do fall, a kettle of vultures in the mirror image flow of the swifts. Winter, likely long-tailed ducks (or goldeneyes?) diving in the icy water. Spring…
In the same way, I’m dedicated to sharing stories of waters… the Great Lakes were in much worse condition decades ago. The success of massive efforts to change that is why we see things like the red-necked grebes moving into marinas all across our region. Daylighting buried creeks, cleaning rivers 🩵
November 13, 2025 at 12:17 AM
In the same way, I’m dedicated to sharing stories of waters… the Great Lakes were in much worse condition decades ago. The success of massive efforts to change that is why we see things like the red-necked grebes moving into marinas all across our region. Daylighting buried creeks, cleaning rivers 🩵
Ohh yes, the falcons. I was heartbroken when the female of the Islington-Bloor pair died a few years ago. Just awful. I loved going to the corner and looking WAY up to the top of those glass towers, and seeing a falcon shape. Or hearing them.
I’ve seen the odd eagle here, always in passing. Still ❤️🔥
I’ve seen the odd eagle here, always in passing. Still ❤️🔥
November 13, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Ohh yes, the falcons. I was heartbroken when the female of the Islington-Bloor pair died a few years ago. Just awful. I loved going to the corner and looking WAY up to the top of those glass towers, and seeing a falcon shape. Or hearing them.
I’ve seen the odd eagle here, always in passing. Still ❤️🔥
I’ve seen the odd eagle here, always in passing. Still ❤️🔥
Yeah. The first time I understood that painting, I stood there and wept. Ugly cry. It became important to me to witness it, like the loss of American chestnut forests, to really appreciate the history before us and the fight ahead.
It’s why I grieve a bit every year in August when the swifts leave…
It’s why I grieve a bit every year in August when the swifts leave…
November 13, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Yeah. The first time I understood that painting, I stood there and wept. Ugly cry. It became important to me to witness it, like the loss of American chestnut forests, to really appreciate the history before us and the fight ahead.
It’s why I grieve a bit every year in August when the swifts leave…
It’s why I grieve a bit every year in August when the swifts leave…
I cling to those knowing how many others are disappearing but needing to know it’s not all in vain. Witnessing their resurgence is a powerful thing.
November 13, 2025 at 12:09 AM
I cling to those knowing how many others are disappearing but needing to know it’s not all in vain. Witnessing their resurgence is a powerful thing.
I’ve also lived in this place for over 20 years. I couldn’t go out birding for hours with little kids like I can now, so it may be false positives, but… we have ravens now. Turkey vultures in big kettles, hawks aplenty. A few bald eagles have returned, a pair nested. Osprey, few but here. Some +s.
November 13, 2025 at 12:09 AM
I’ve also lived in this place for over 20 years. I couldn’t go out birding for hours with little kids like I can now, so it may be false positives, but… we have ravens now. Turkey vultures in big kettles, hawks aplenty. A few bald eagles have returned, a pair nested. Osprey, few but here. Some +s.
So, it’s weird for me. I’ve been a birder my whole life, by ear more than eye. I grew up rural, moved to Toronto in ‘90 & had to learn so many new birds. Chimney swifts, nighthawks, cliff swallows, all the winter ducks, night & green herons, egrets. And the better I get by watching the more I hear.
November 13, 2025 at 12:09 AM
So, it’s weird for me. I’ve been a birder my whole life, by ear more than eye. I grew up rural, moved to Toronto in ‘90 & had to learn so many new birds. Chimney swifts, nighthawks, cliff swallows, all the winter ducks, night & green herons, egrets. And the better I get by watching the more I hear.
That’s 💔
I feel it, deeply… near me there’s a mural by the beach (my banner photo) that reads “HOME” with colourful pigeons on branches through the letters. They’re passenger pigeons, once so numerous they blotted out the sun when they flew in massive flocks. An unfathomable loss… it haunts me.
I feel it, deeply… near me there’s a mural by the beach (my banner photo) that reads “HOME” with colourful pigeons on branches through the letters. They’re passenger pigeons, once so numerous they blotted out the sun when they flew in massive flocks. An unfathomable loss… it haunts me.
November 13, 2025 at 12:00 AM
That’s 💔
I feel it, deeply… near me there’s a mural by the beach (my banner photo) that reads “HOME” with colourful pigeons on branches through the letters. They’re passenger pigeons, once so numerous they blotted out the sun when they flew in massive flocks. An unfathomable loss… it haunts me.
I feel it, deeply… near me there’s a mural by the beach (my banner photo) that reads “HOME” with colourful pigeons on branches through the letters. They’re passenger pigeons, once so numerous they blotted out the sun when they flew in massive flocks. An unfathomable loss… it haunts me.
Ooh, that’s a big beauty… the street trees are smaller than yours, all planted a little before I moved here (nearly 25 years ago). But a few blocks away there are houses with nice golden giants like yours. Alas, a few are also in fruit. 😵💫🤢
November 12, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Ooh, that’s a big beauty… the street trees are smaller than yours, all planted a little before I moved here (nearly 25 years ago). But a few blocks away there are houses with nice golden giants like yours. Alas, a few are also in fruit. 😵💫🤢
Squirrel up close in falling snow, a view of the birds in the shallow water, and gulls out over the waves. All beside the little spit.
November 12, 2025 at 4:07 AM
Squirrel up close in falling snow, a view of the birds in the shallow water, and gulls out over the waves. All beside the little spit.
Beach scenes from the east side of the spit.
It’s really early for snow that sticks round.
It’s really early for snow that sticks round.
November 12, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Beach scenes from the east side of the spit.
It’s really early for snow that sticks round.
It’s really early for snow that sticks round.
It was ridiculously picturesque though I wasn’t going to step out on the last rocks to take in the full view. Slippery and jagged out at the end.
November 12, 2025 at 3:52 AM
It was ridiculously picturesque though I wasn’t going to step out on the last rocks to take in the full view. Slippery and jagged out at the end.
Well, not ALL of us… 😭
November 12, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Well, not ALL of us… 😭
I’m very lucky to teach. They’re my favourite age & teach me as much as I teach them, honestly. When my mom was progressing through dementia, my dad once asked how I knew to talk to her the way I did.
It was 💔 but also affirming. My job needs me to listen, affirm emotions, set boundaries, be kind.
It was 💔 but also affirming. My job needs me to listen, affirm emotions, set boundaries, be kind.
November 12, 2025 at 1:24 AM
I’m very lucky to teach. They’re my favourite age & teach me as much as I teach them, honestly. When my mom was progressing through dementia, my dad once asked how I knew to talk to her the way I did.
It was 💔 but also affirming. My job needs me to listen, affirm emotions, set boundaries, be kind.
It was 💔 but also affirming. My job needs me to listen, affirm emotions, set boundaries, be kind.
The best feet. And adorable little sounds. And ridiculously small heads. And when they dive they pop up like corks. And they have red eyes. And they fight like little monsters.
I LOVE COOTS! I see them rarely here so I drive west to a favourite park on Hamilton Harbour and just soak up the cootness.
I LOVE COOTS! I see them rarely here so I drive west to a favourite park on Hamilton Harbour and just soak up the cootness.
November 12, 2025 at 1:08 AM
The best feet. And adorable little sounds. And ridiculously small heads. And when they dive they pop up like corks. And they have red eyes. And they fight like little monsters.
I LOVE COOTS! I see them rarely here so I drive west to a favourite park on Hamilton Harbour and just soak up the cootness.
I LOVE COOTS! I see them rarely here so I drive west to a favourite park on Hamilton Harbour and just soak up the cootness.
I have absolutely, embarrassingly yelled “water chickens!” upon seeing coots show up in my local waters… and then became aware of the looks from the birders and dog walkers in earshot.
I’m sure at least a few of the birders found it amusing.
I’m sure at least a few of the birders found it amusing.
November 12, 2025 at 1:03 AM
I have absolutely, embarrassingly yelled “water chickens!” upon seeing coots show up in my local waters… and then became aware of the looks from the birders and dog walkers in earshot.
I’m sure at least a few of the birders found it amusing.
I’m sure at least a few of the birders found it amusing.