Not entirely sure about the nuances of photos via link, so here’s a copy with alt txt. Apparently this particular damselfly is a ‘bluet’ – azulilla, portecoupe, watersnuffel! Comparing common names across languages is a great window into how different cultures view organisms. #ArtAdventCalendar

22 days ‘til Christmas! Damselflies – caballitos del Diablo, demoiselles, juffers – are not a group I’m super familiar with taxonomically. But I do like to be pedantic when certain close family members call them dragonflies. “Actually, …”

23 days ‘til Christmas! A tree frog – rana arborícola, rainette, boomkikker – another favorite! I’m not entirely sure why I didn’t pursue some kind of tree frog science. They are the best. Ok and those French and Dutch names are also pretty great.

24 days til Christmas! A fern –helecho, fougère, varen – one of my favorite things. I love being surrounded by green, and nothing does that better than a pteridophyte! I hope to visit Opal Creek (Oregon) again soon, and see how it has recovered from a wildfire that occurred while I was away.

It was actually another Cousteau book; The Human, the Orchid, and the Octopus – which I read in college – that really moved the needle further for me in seeing the importance of using science to help people directly, rather than an abstract love for nature itself.

Hi on here and hi soon-to-be-neighbor (ish)!

Ahh I bought this and haven’t gotten to it yet - thanks for the reminder!

I haven’t used Seek too much, myself. I usually just take photos during outings, and then upload and ID later. But I’ve had much better luck getting family members (the older ones!) to use Seek rather than the raw iNat app.

I suppose it feels odd not to have mentioned coral reefs anywhere in my bio or intro post - they have been a massive part of my life and research for the past ~15 years! But I am very happy to be shifting my focus to ecosystems closer to home, soon.