Ryan Michalesko
@ryanmichalesko.bsky.social
📍madison, wisconsin, usa 🌍conservation comms @savingcranes.bsky.social 📷photojournalist 🐦birder 📰 formerly @dallasnews.com @stltoday.com 🏳️🌈protect trans people
Pinned
I am buzzing with excitement just back from another trip to see this spectacle! There is something profound about the great Sandhill Crane migration at the Platte River. Each morning is like tuning in live to nature’s crescendo—soft purrs in low light transform into a booming, prehistoric orchestra.
🐣 WATCH as an Endangered Whooping Crane egg hatches! I had a ton of fun putting together this timelapse for @savingcranes.bsky.social. This is chick #13-435 aka "Petrie," named after the "Land Before Time" character. After a few months of care under our team, Petrie will be released into the wild.
WATCH: Endangered Whooping Crane Chick Hatches
YouTube video by International Crane Foundation
www.youtube.com
June 4, 2025 at 10:11 PM
🐣 WATCH as an Endangered Whooping Crane egg hatches! I had a ton of fun putting together this timelapse for @savingcranes.bsky.social. This is chick #13-435 aka "Petrie," named after the "Land Before Time" character. After a few months of care under our team, Petrie will be released into the wild.
In March, I had the great honor of showing my bird-nerd friend @rachelpoke.bsky.social the great Sandhill Crane migration for the first time, as documented in this short by @hannahthewild.bsky.social and I for @savingcranes.bsky.social. Do watch! 🪶
Magic of Migration
YouTube video by International Crane Foundation
www.youtube.com
May 22, 2025 at 2:46 PM
In March, I had the great honor of showing my bird-nerd friend @rachelpoke.bsky.social the great Sandhill Crane migration for the first time, as documented in this short by @hannahthewild.bsky.social and I for @savingcranes.bsky.social. Do watch! 🪶
Very thrilled to see Crane Lake wine has replaced the Great Blue Heron on their label with an actual crane. It’s the little things these days…
May 14, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Very thrilled to see Crane Lake wine has replaced the Great Blue Heron on their label with an actual crane. It’s the little things these days…
Today I'm trying to see how many bird species I can find in my county in 24hrs as part of the WI NRF Birdathon to raise money for the Bird Protection
Fund and the Madison Feminist Bird Club. Please consider pledging. Your support means a lot to me—and the
birds. charity.pledgeit.org/WIBirdathon2...
Fund and the Madison Feminist Bird Club. Please consider pledging. Your support means a lot to me—and the
birds. charity.pledgeit.org/WIBirdathon2...
Support Ryan Michalesko - Great Wisconsin Birdathon 2025
Birds need our help! North America has lost over 3 billion birds since the 1970s, but we can help #BringBirdsBack. By donating to my page, you're supporting not only the Natural Resources Foundation o...
charity.pledgeit.org
May 10, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Today I'm trying to see how many bird species I can find in my county in 24hrs as part of the WI NRF Birdathon to raise money for the Bird Protection
Fund and the Madison Feminist Bird Club. Please consider pledging. Your support means a lot to me—and the
birds. charity.pledgeit.org/WIBirdathon2...
Fund and the Madison Feminist Bird Club. Please consider pledging. Your support means a lot to me—and the
birds. charity.pledgeit.org/WIBirdathon2...
Reposted by Ryan Michalesko
How can #birding be more accessible to people with #disability? See our research on constraints and facilitators!
Accessible birding in the United States: constraints to and facilitators of birding with disabilities
While approximately one-quarter of the U.S. population has a disability, many people with disabilities remain excluded from equitable participation in birding. In this study, we compared the constr...
www.tandfonline.com
January 11, 2025 at 7:48 PM
How can #birding be more accessible to people with #disability? See our research on constraints and facilitators!
Reposted by Ryan Michalesko
🌎 Stand up for the Endangered Species Act this Earth Day—submit public comments opposing the rule by May 19! Learn how you can help ⬇️ 🪶
Stand Up for the Endangered Species Act - International Crane Foundation
The International Crane Foundation provides critical news and resources in the world of Cranes and Conservation. Stand Up for the Endangered Species Act
bit.ly
April 22, 2025 at 9:24 PM
🌎 Stand up for the Endangered Species Act this Earth Day—submit public comments opposing the rule by May 19! Learn how you can help ⬇️ 🪶
This #EarthDay, I am standing up for the Endangered Species Act, which is under attack. Signed to law in 1973—the same year @savingcranes.bsky.social was established—the ESA is a keystone of conservation success and credited with saving 99% of the species it protects. Submit public comments by 5/19.
Stand Up for the Endangered Species Act - International Crane Foundation
The International Crane Foundation provides critical news and resources in the world of Cranes and Conservation. Stand Up for the Endangered Species Act
savingcranes.org
April 22, 2025 at 9:54 PM
This #EarthDay, I am standing up for the Endangered Species Act, which is under attack. Signed to law in 1973—the same year @savingcranes.bsky.social was established—the ESA is a keystone of conservation success and credited with saving 99% of the species it protects. Submit public comments by 5/19.
🌝Sandhill Cranes cruise past a nearly full moon at the Platte River, a breathtaking show of nature in Nebraska’s dawn sky.
April 18, 2025 at 5:59 PM
🌝Sandhill Cranes cruise past a nearly full moon at the Platte River, a breathtaking show of nature in Nebraska’s dawn sky.
One of the most captivating and emblematic behaviors of cranes is their dancing. It's a way to establish social relationships, find a mate, and strengthen pair bonds. On the Platte River, these Sandhill Cranes were likely strengthening their bond in preparation to fly north to the breeding grounds.
April 11, 2025 at 12:27 AM
One of the most captivating and emblematic behaviors of cranes is their dancing. It's a way to establish social relationships, find a mate, and strengthen pair bonds. On the Platte River, these Sandhill Cranes were likely strengthening their bond in preparation to fly north to the breeding grounds.
There are so many cranes on the Platte that it can be a fight for space—as one flock takes flight, another fills in their spot. On our last morning on the river, researchers conducting aerial surveys estimated an all-time record of 736,000 Sandhill Cranes on the 80-mile stretch of the Platte River.
April 7, 2025 at 6:26 PM
There are so many cranes on the Platte that it can be a fight for space—as one flock takes flight, another fills in their spot. On our last morning on the river, researchers conducting aerial surveys estimated an all-time record of 736,000 Sandhill Cranes on the 80-mile stretch of the Platte River.
When cranes all at once take skyward, you can feel it in your bones. The sounds of their bugles fill the air as much as their numbers darken the sky. Not long after settling into our blind, before the sun’s rays would strike the Platte River, we were immersed in this fantastic flight of cranes.
April 2, 2025 at 7:16 PM
When cranes all at once take skyward, you can feel it in your bones. The sounds of their bugles fill the air as much as their numbers darken the sky. Not long after settling into our blind, before the sun’s rays would strike the Platte River, we were immersed in this fantastic flight of cranes.
I am buzzing with excitement just back from another trip to see this spectacle! There is something profound about the great Sandhill Crane migration at the Platte River. Each morning is like tuning in live to nature’s crescendo—soft purrs in low light transform into a booming, prehistoric orchestra.
March 31, 2025 at 8:45 PM
I am buzzing with excitement just back from another trip to see this spectacle! There is something profound about the great Sandhill Crane migration at the Platte River. Each morning is like tuning in live to nature’s crescendo—soft purrs in low light transform into a booming, prehistoric orchestra.
My heart is so full 🥹🥹
making this sandhill crane tattoo for @ryanmichalesko.bsky.social was absolutely heightened by the experience we had this weekend at the platte river 🥹💓 a record high number of sandies were counted in an 80-mile stretch of the river this week (736,000!!!!), it was life-changing!
March 21, 2025 at 4:38 PM
My heart is so full 🥹🥹
The GREAT migration. It was a glorious first evening on our trip to the Platte River, Nebraska, to document the great Sandhill Crane migration. There’s nothing like experiencing this much life right in front of you—it’s truly a natural marvel. @savingcranes.bsky.social #sandhillcranes #platteriver
March 14, 2025 at 1:30 AM
The GREAT migration. It was a glorious first evening on our trip to the Platte River, Nebraska, to document the great Sandhill Crane migration. There’s nothing like experiencing this much life right in front of you—it’s truly a natural marvel. @savingcranes.bsky.social #sandhillcranes #platteriver
I’ll be standing up for science in one week at the Wisconsin State Capitol. March 7, 12-3pm. Join @standupforscience.bsky.social in Madison and nationwide. #scienceforall #sciencenotsilence
February 28, 2025 at 4:10 PM
I’ll be standing up for science in one week at the Wisconsin State Capitol. March 7, 12-3pm. Join @standupforscience.bsky.social in Madison and nationwide. #scienceforall #sciencenotsilence
"Dr. Diana Boon, of @savingcranes.bsky.social, said the Sandhill Crane deaths due to #birdflu also highlight a greater concern: the risk to endangered Whooping Cranes. While there are an estimated 827,000 Sandhill Cranes, there are as few as 834 Whooping Cranes globally." — @usatoday.com
Fearing spread, volunteers clean up 1,500 Sandhill cranes killed by bird flu
Expert worry Sandhill cranes and other waterfowl will spread avian influenza to endangered whooping cranes.
www.usatoday.com
February 28, 2025 at 2:53 PM
"Dr. Diana Boon, of @savingcranes.bsky.social, said the Sandhill Crane deaths due to #birdflu also highlight a greater concern: the risk to endangered Whooping Cranes. While there are an estimated 827,000 Sandhill Cranes, there are as few as 834 Whooping Cranes globally." — @usatoday.com
These cuts are detrimental to society and the environment, and the repercussions will be devastating for generations to come.
It may seem small, but that’s their goal—to hide the quick destruction of these vital programs amongst the chaos.
It may seem small, but that’s their goal—to hide the quick destruction of these vital programs amongst the chaos.
I know it's small in the whole scheme of things, but the bloodbath at NPS in Hawaii is almost certainly going to lead directly to the extinctions of no fewer than 4 native Hawaiian songbirds in the next 4-5 years.
February 18, 2025 at 5:11 PM
These cuts are detrimental to society and the environment, and the repercussions will be devastating for generations to come.
It may seem small, but that’s their goal—to hide the quick destruction of these vital programs amongst the chaos.
It may seem small, but that’s their goal—to hide the quick destruction of these vital programs amongst the chaos.
Wisconsin groups pivot to protect wild birds from bird flu — “Most of them die,” said veterinarian Diana Boon, director of conservation medicine at the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo. “And there’s really no cure or treatment for this disease except for supportive care.”
Wisconsin groups pivot to protect wild birds from bird flu
The recent uptick in avian flu is not only affecting industrial chickens, eggs and cattle. It’s also harming wild birds.
www.wpr.org
February 18, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Wisconsin groups pivot to protect wild birds from bird flu — “Most of them die,” said veterinarian Diana Boon, director of conservation medicine at the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo. “And there’s really no cure or treatment for this disease except for supportive care.”
#BirdFlu: Wondering if you can still use your bird feeders? What should you do if you find a dead bird? Check out @savingcranes.bsky.social avian influenza resource page for more frequently asked questions and our recent expert webinar on HPAI.
Avian Influenza Updates & Resources - International Crane Foundation
The International Crane Foundation provides critical news and resources in the world of Cranes and Conservation. Avian Influenza Updates & Resources
bit.ly
February 17, 2025 at 9:13 PM
#BirdFlu: Wondering if you can still use your bird feeders? What should you do if you find a dead bird? Check out @savingcranes.bsky.social avian influenza resource page for more frequently asked questions and our recent expert webinar on HPAI.
Reposted by Ryan Michalesko
With death knocking on the EPA’s door, I’m reminded of this collection. In its early days, the agency enlisted photographers to document the state of the country’s environmental problems. “Back then, New York City’s air pollution was so thick that you often couldn’t see the city’s iconic bridges.”
This is what America looked like before the EPA cleaned it up
A snapshot from America before the impact of the EPA and the effects of rules regulating clean water and air were felt.
www.popsci.com
February 15, 2025 at 8:14 PM
With death knocking on the EPA’s door, I’m reminded of this collection. In its early days, the agency enlisted photographers to document the state of the country’s environmental problems. “Back then, New York City’s air pollution was so thick that you often couldn’t see the city’s iconic bridges.”
Woah! Look at those beautiful birds dance 🕺🏻🪩💃
Dr. Tran Triet, our Southeast Asia Program Director, recently had an exciting visit to Bajah Lake, a beautiful wetland stretching across the India-Nepal border, and spotted up to 200 #saruscranes = 30% of Nepal's population! #birds #birding 🪶
📷 Dr. Tran Triet/International Crane Foundation
📷 Dr. Tran Triet/International Crane Foundation
February 13, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Woah! Look at those beautiful birds dance 🕺🏻🪩💃
Curious about the status of #birdflu? The @savingcranes.bsky.social has compiled an excellent Avian Influenza Resource Page, including links for all 50 states' agencies with info on the virus: bit.ly/avianflureso...
Avian Influenza Updates & Resources - International Crane Foundation
The International Crane Foundation provides critical news and resources in the world of Cranes and Conservation. Avian Influenza Updates & Resources
bit.ly
February 12, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Curious about the status of #birdflu? The @savingcranes.bsky.social has compiled an excellent Avian Influenza Resource Page, including links for all 50 states' agencies with info on the virus: bit.ly/avianflureso...
Reposted by Ryan Michalesko
Obsessed with this graphic from a four+ decades old paper about Long-eared Owls 🦉
(they really looked at a Saw-whet and said “🥔” 😭)
(they really looked at a Saw-whet and said “🥔” 😭)
February 9, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Obsessed with this graphic from a four+ decades old paper about Long-eared Owls 🦉
(they really looked at a Saw-whet and said “🥔” 😭)
(they really looked at a Saw-whet and said “🥔” 😭)
Reposted by Ryan Michalesko
"The International Crane Foundation applauds this initiative of the Governor’s office to support farmers experiencing crop damage. This budget proposal is an excellent step towards making this effective seed treatment more accessible.” ~ Dr. Rich Beilfuss, President & CEO #sandhillcrane 🌎 🪶
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers proposes $3.75 million in funding for Wisconsin’s farmers to prevent crop damage by cranes - International Crane Foundation
The International Crane Foundation provides critical news and resources in the world of Cranes and Conservation. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers proposes $3.75 million in funding for Wisconsin’s farmers...
bit.ly
February 6, 2025 at 3:40 PM
"The International Crane Foundation applauds this initiative of the Governor’s office to support farmers experiencing crop damage. This budget proposal is an excellent step towards making this effective seed treatment more accessible.” ~ Dr. Rich Beilfuss, President & CEO #sandhillcrane 🌎 🪶