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shaunahaymond.bsky.social
Shauna
@shaunahaymond.bsky.social
1K followers 2.6K following 150 posts
I'd rather be outdoors - Wildlife Biologist - health and education should be free - get a library card - clean the air-playing my ukulele-she/her
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shaunahaymond.bsky.social
My phone camera was able to pick up just a hint of the pink and green of the Northern Lights over Virginia tonight.
10 second exposure
Night sky on a river with pale pink and green of the Northern Lights. Lights from houses shine on the horizon.
November 13, 2025 at 3:45 AM
shaunahaymond.bsky.social
November 8, 2025 at 3:46 AM
shaunahaymond.bsky.social
Moss? Idk. found on the ground in Virginia USA at St Mary’s Wilderness near the falls #nature
This is a close-up image of what appears to be a patch of moss or a similar bryophyte. The majority of the texture consists of densely packed, light green to yellow-green, small, and curly or winding plant structures. Interspersed among these are several clusters of paler, almost white or light beige shoots that look like they are emerging or growing upright, providing a contrast in color and form. The overall texture is very intricate and rough.
October 21, 2025 at 2:14 AM
shaunahaymond.bsky.social
This is an oldie that I found on my camera roll but still find it so calming. #nature #leaves
A dark green leaf with serrated margins that have yellowed, on a blurred background
October 2, 2025 at 2:24 AM
shaunahaymond.bsky.social
Lots of mushrooms popping up after all the rain.
Picture of a tan colored mushroom taken from below, looking up at the gills, in afternoon sunlight. Blue skies in the background.
September 22, 2025 at 2:17 AM
shaunahaymond.bsky.social
A new species for me- a short-tailed shrew, i think. It could be either the N. or S. species. Rare for mammals it has a venomous bite. Carnivorous. I found it scavenging around in seed the birds dropped, probably looking for worms and insects. It uses ultrasonic clicks to help it navigate. #mammals
Nighttime trail-cam image of a Short-tailed shrew. It's on the ground amongst sparsely leafed shrubs and grasses. There is a red circle around it for ease of visibility.
September 14, 2025 at 11:03 PM
shaunahaymond.bsky.social
Meanwhile, I can't even get one before it's pulled.
Screenshot from Walgreens.com vaccine scheduling site. It states "COVID-19 vaccination appointments are currently unavailable pending approval of updated vaccines for 2025-2026. Once the new vaccines are approved, appointments will be available again. Check back soon." At the bottom of the webpage it also states "The CDC Bridge Access Program, which previously covered the cost of the COVID-19 vaccine for uninsured and underinsured people, has been terminated as of August 31st, 2024."
August 25, 2025 at 8:16 PM
shaunahaymond.bsky.social
They’re here! #pollinators
Two monarch butterflies still dangling from the remains of the chrysales, inside a white mesh enclosure.
August 22, 2025 at 3:42 PM
shaunahaymond.bsky.social
Any minute now these beauties will have their wings and another generation will continue the migration to Mexico. #butterflies #MonarchButterfly #invertebrates #arthropods #pollinators
Two monarch butterflies almost ready to emerge. The black and orange wings are visible through the transparent chrysalises hanging in a white mesh enclosure.
August 22, 2025 at 1:03 PM
shaunahaymond.bsky.social
doing fieldwork on bats in the southwestern deserts often meant working in the middle of nowhere at night.

bears? fine. coyotes? fine. rattlesnakes? fine.

but headlights on a dirt road in the distance? terrifying.

animals are predictable. humans with unknown intentions are not.
#fieldwork
heads lights in the distance with a black sky and lit up road
August 1, 2025 at 3:02 AM
shaunahaymond.bsky.social
Yellow aphids on milkweed in the garden. Where are the ladybugs?
A multitude of yellow aphids with short, thin black legs on green milkweed stem
July 27, 2025 at 3:17 PM
shaunahaymond.bsky.social
Fun find in the garden today -- Bird Nest Fungus! #fungi
A cluster of tan, tiny, cup-shaped Bird’s Nest Fungi nestled in brown garden mulch, each resembling a miniature bird's nest filled with about 5 silvery eggs. The woody cups are about the size of a pencil eraser.
July 24, 2025 at 11:10 PM
shaunahaymond.bsky.social
New set of wings #pollinators #butterflies
Monarch butterfly newly emerged from the chrysalis rests briefly on a hand with its wings spread out showing the male pheromone sacs (dark spots on the hind wings). There is a wooden deck in the background and a potted plant to the upper left
July 22, 2025 at 9:33 AM
shaunahaymond.bsky.social
The monarch butterflies have been visiting. I haven’t seen any flying around the garden but they left me some treasures. #butterflies #nature
View from above of a green chrysalis with a delicate gold band circling the upper part hangs between stalks and leaves of a green swamp milkweed plant. The black cremaster and silk button are visible where the chrysalis anchored to the plant. View from the side of a green chrysalis with a delicate gold band circling the upper part, hangs between stalks and leaves of a green swamp milkweed plant. The black cremaster and silk button are visible where the chrysalis anchored to the leaf.
July 11, 2025 at 10:36 PM
shaunahaymond.bsky.social
When I step out onto the deck and catch a whiff of fennel I know the caterpillars have been busy munching on the herbs #pollinators #backyardwildlife #butterflies
Eastern swallowtail caterpillar on a fennel stem
July 4, 2025 at 1:41 PM
shaunahaymond.bsky.social
“I don’t think people should take medical advice from me” RFK Jr
May 28, 2025 at 3:59 AM
shaunahaymond.bsky.social
Trail cam picked up this beauty of a brown thrasher. #birds
A trail cam caught a BrownThrasher as it stood still for a moment in the green grass showing off its yellow eye and brown speckled breast and belly, looking off to the right of the frame.
May 6, 2025 at 7:59 PM
shaunahaymond.bsky.social
The camera tipped over, so I missed the big moment when the goslings hatched but once the family moved out, I reset the camera to film the one non-viable egg. I figured something would come along for an easy snack. Sure enough on night two a determined little masked bandit showed up. #mammals #birds
April 29, 2025 at 7:31 PM
shaunahaymond.bsky.social
So far 4 Canada goose goslings have been spotted out and about. Looks like there was one dud. #birds
A single unhatched Canada goose egg in a downy nest among green leafy plants. A few eggshells from hatched eggs can be seen.
April 27, 2025 at 3:34 PM
shaunahaymond.bsky.social
Brand new baby bluebirds born today with #4 hatching moments ago. I saw Momma bird eat the eggshell! she’s already busy bringing food back. We’ll see if #5 hatches too. Any ornithologists out there know why they eat the eggshell? For calcium or anti predator reasons or something else? #birds
nest cam image showing an Eastern Bluebird sitting in a nest made of pine needles and dried grass. The adult bird is facing away from the camera, covering most of the nest. A newly hatched chick is visible on the left side, still wet and fragile, nestled beside the parent. A nest cam image showing four newly hatched Eastern Bluebird chicks in a nest. The chicks are huddled together with their mouths wide open, waiting to be fed. In the lower part of the nest, a fifth egg remains unhatched.
April 21, 2025 at 10:35 PM
shaunahaymond.bsky.social
I caught a glimpse of the nest when mamma eastern bluebird left to grab a bite of food. There are 5 eggs! #birds
Five smooth, sky-blue eastern bluebird eggs resting cozily in a nest woven with pine needles. Caught on a remote bird box camera.
April 13, 2025 at 5:27 PM
shaunahaymond.bsky.social
4 eggs now!
Eastern bluebird nest with 4 eggs
April 7, 2025 at 12:50 PM
shaunahaymond.bsky.social
Bluebird watch has begun. Check back in about 12 days #birds
A view from an eastern bluebird box camera showing a nest with three pale blue eggs nestled in a bed of pine needles
April 6, 2025 at 2:05 PM
shaunahaymond.bsky.social
Spring is here so it’s time for Operation Gosling Watch. I didn’t want to disturb my friend on its nest so I’ll have to wait to check the trail cam. And I couldn’t get it to connect remotely so I’ll need to do some troubleshooting when she goes to feed. #birds
A Canada goose with a black head and white cheek markings is sitting on a nest among tall grass and plants near the edge of a pond. The goose is looking directly at the camera. In the foreground, there is a gallon jug of water with a white lid partially obscured by vegetation that has a trail camera strapped to it. The background consists of calm water and small green shrubs
March 31, 2025 at 8:05 PM
shaunahaymond.bsky.social
My bracket is absolutely wrecked after last night. I was on the edge of my seat! The chaos continues tonight with the Elite Trait battles—who will claw, charge, or photosynthesize their way to victory? May the fittest eukaryote win!
#2025MMM #IfYou’reLearningYou’reWinning
That cartoon head giraffe yelling “Eliminated!”
March 27, 2025 at 12:47 PM