Martin Stervander 🏳️🌈🇸🇪🏴🏛️🦉🦤🪶
@stervander.com
Singing evolutionary biologist, ornithologist, insulaphile. PhD. Senior Curator of #Birds @ntlmuseumsscot.bsky.social, Scientific Assoc @nhm-london.bsky.social, Assoc Editor Ibis & Ornis Svecica, ~Sequencer AviList. [Views obvs my own; ex-X-@nesospiza]
Pinned
Hi all new followers & other folks! In National Museums Scotland's #birds collections, our amazing volunteers are digitising specimen label data to make the #museum collection accessible for #research. Today colourful pittas (Pittidae) and Whimbrels (Numenius phaeopus).
#Ornithology 🪶🧪🏴
#Ornithology 🪶🧪🏴
Reposted by Martin Stervander 🏳️🌈🇸🇪🏴🏛️🦉🦤🪶
Well, it's official. After our paper last year (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....), the Slender-billed Curlew is officially declared Extinct today.
Scientists dream of describing new species, not writing their obituary and epitaph, knowing that they are gone forever #ornithology
Scientists dream of describing new species, not writing their obituary and epitaph, knowing that they are gone forever #ornithology
October 10, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Well, it's official. After our paper last year (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....), the Slender-billed Curlew is officially declared Extinct today.
Scientists dream of describing new species, not writing their obituary and epitaph, knowing that they are gone forever #ornithology
Scientists dream of describing new species, not writing their obituary and epitaph, knowing that they are gone forever #ornithology
I've been silent a while, as I've struggled to keep up with *most* things, due to accumulated stress from hubby's 5-month unemployment, teenager+school+drama, challenging relatives & whatnot. #Birding gives me relief when #MentalHealth is so-so: recent Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini) = golden band-aid!
October 7, 2025 at 4:07 PM
I've been silent a while, as I've struggled to keep up with *most* things, due to accumulated stress from hubby's 5-month unemployment, teenager+school+drama, challenging relatives & whatnot. #Birding gives me relief when #MentalHealth is so-so: recent Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini) = golden band-aid!
A good 6 hours and 6 minutes left to apply! Don't be shy.
Join us as Assistant #Curator of Vertebrates @ 🏴NMS! Large collections of #birds & #mammals + very active specimen prep = cool place! The ad doesn't say, but I say there's a good chance of prolongation beyond 1y. Hurry up and apply/spread the word: careers.nms.ac.uk/job/748553!
🪶🧪 #museumjobs #job
🪶🧪 #museumjobs #job
August 31, 2025 at 4:54 PM
A good 6 hours and 6 minutes left to apply! Don't be shy.
Reposted by Martin Stervander 🏳️🌈🇸🇪🏴🏛️🦉🦤🪶
The most chilling science video ever shot
www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...
www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...
Whelks overwhelm and consume lobsters
YouTube video by Christie Wilcox
www.youtube.com
August 25, 2025 at 4:33 PM
The most chilling science video ever shot
www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...
www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...
Great news, the new application deadline is 31 August. 9 more days for you all to spread the word or/and submit your application for our position as Assistant Curator of Vertebrates!
Again, in reality this should be a longer-term position despite what the ad says.
Happy to chat/answer questions!
Again, in reality this should be a longer-term position despite what the ad says.
Happy to chat/answer questions!
Join us as Assistant #Curator of Vertebrates @ 🏴NMS! Large collections of #birds & #mammals + very active specimen prep = cool place! The ad doesn't say, but I say there's a good chance of prolongation beyond 1y. Hurry up and apply/spread the word: careers.nms.ac.uk/job/748553!
🪶🧪 #museumjobs #job
🪶🧪 #museumjobs #job
August 22, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Great news, the new application deadline is 31 August. 9 more days for you all to spread the word or/and submit your application for our position as Assistant Curator of Vertebrates!
Again, in reality this should be a longer-term position despite what the ad says.
Happy to chat/answer questions!
Again, in reality this should be a longer-term position despite what the ad says.
Happy to chat/answer questions!
#EOU2025 #ornithology folks and friends liking #birds and #mammals, this is the position I just highlighted. Join us! Cool collection and very active continuous preparation of new specimens. Deadline soon...
Happy to chat with anyone curious today!
Happy to chat with anyone curious today!
Join us as Assistant #Curator of Vertebrates @ 🏴NMS! Large collections of #birds & #mammals + very active specimen prep = cool place! The ad doesn't say, but I say there's a good chance of prolongation beyond 1y. Hurry up and apply/spread the word: careers.nms.ac.uk/job/748553!
🪶🧪 #museumjobs #job
🪶🧪 #museumjobs #job
August 22, 2025 at 9:16 AM
#EOU2025 #ornithology folks and friends liking #birds and #mammals, this is the position I just highlighted. Join us! Cool collection and very active continuous preparation of new specimens. Deadline soon...
Happy to chat with anyone curious today!
Happy to chat with anyone curious today!
Join us as Assistant #Curator of Vertebrates @ 🏴NMS! Large collections of #birds & #mammals + very active specimen prep = cool place! The ad doesn't say, but I say there's a good chance of prolongation beyond 1y. Hurry up and apply/spread the word: careers.nms.ac.uk/job/748553!
🪶🧪 #museumjobs #job
🪶🧪 #museumjobs #job
August 12, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Join us as Assistant #Curator of Vertebrates @ 🏴NMS! Large collections of #birds & #mammals + very active specimen prep = cool place! The ad doesn't say, but I say there's a good chance of prolongation beyond 1y. Hurry up and apply/spread the word: careers.nms.ac.uk/job/748553!
🪶🧪 #museumjobs #job
🪶🧪 #museumjobs #job
Reposted by Martin Stervander 🏳️🌈🇸🇪🏴🏛️🦉🦤🪶
Either you recognize a state or you don't. If you do, that sovereignty shouldn't be any less, depending on a third party. This is like telling someone you're their friend unless their neighbor stops parking in their driveway. Where's the integrity? Where's the spine? #KeirStarmer #palestine #israel
UK to recognise state of Palestine in September unless Israel holds to ceasefire
Cabinet agrees to support Middle East roadmap at emergency meeting called amid humanitarian crisis in Gaza
www.theguardian.com
August 3, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Either you recognize a state or you don't. If you do, that sovereignty shouldn't be any less, depending on a third party. This is like telling someone you're their friend unless their neighbor stops parking in their driveway. Where's the integrity? Where's the spine? #KeirStarmer #palestine #israel
Reposted by Martin Stervander 🏳️🌈🇸🇪🏴🏛️🦉🦤🪶
Are you an early-career biologist or ecologist who would benefit from an invited seminar? Would you like to come to UMaine next fall or spring to give a talk? Leave a brief comment with some info about what you do. I'm co-hosting our seminar series again, and am filling out our rosters.
July 30, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Are you an early-career biologist or ecologist who would benefit from an invited seminar? Would you like to come to UMaine next fall or spring to give a talk? Leave a brief comment with some info about what you do. I'm co-hosting our seminar series again, and am filling out our rosters.
Reposted by Martin Stervander 🏳️🌈🇸🇪🏴🏛️🦉🦤🪶
1. Here's a fish swimming upstream. Nothing unusual about that.
What's unusual is that this particular fish is *dead*. Vortices in the water as it flows past the fish cause the fish's body to flex, maintaining orientation and actually propelling it forward.
(D. N. Beal et al 2006 J. Fluid. Mech.)
What's unusual is that this particular fish is *dead*. Vortices in the water as it flows past the fish cause the fish's body to flex, maintaining orientation and actually propelling it forward.
(D. N. Beal et al 2006 J. Fluid. Mech.)
July 26, 2025 at 7:34 AM
1. Here's a fish swimming upstream. Nothing unusual about that.
What's unusual is that this particular fish is *dead*. Vortices in the water as it flows past the fish cause the fish's body to flex, maintaining orientation and actually propelling it forward.
(D. N. Beal et al 2006 J. Fluid. Mech.)
What's unusual is that this particular fish is *dead*. Vortices in the water as it flows past the fish cause the fish's body to flex, maintaining orientation and actually propelling it forward.
(D. N. Beal et al 2006 J. Fluid. Mech.)
Welcome a new family of #birds, the Caribbean cave rails, Nesotrochidae! They were—surprisingly—the sisters of NZ adzebills, all sadly extinct. New #OpenAccess paper out in Avian #Systematics w Gerald Mayr, Chen Guangji & Feng Shaohong: www.avespress.com/uploads/down...
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#ornithology #taxonomy 🧪🪶
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#ornithology #taxonomy 🧪🪶
July 3, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Welcome a new family of #birds, the Caribbean cave rails, Nesotrochidae! They were—surprisingly—the sisters of NZ adzebills, all sadly extinct. New #OpenAccess paper out in Avian #Systematics w Gerald Mayr, Chen Guangji & Feng Shaohong: www.avespress.com/uploads/down...
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#ornithology #taxonomy 🧪🪶
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#ornithology #taxonomy 🧪🪶
Reposted by Martin Stervander 🏳️🌈🇸🇪🏴🏛️🦉🦤🪶
NEW JOB in #ornithology and #conservation managing two major restoration projects for #islands important for #seabirds: buff.ly/yfl1Vo2
June 19, 2025 at 3:53 PM
NEW JOB in #ornithology and #conservation managing two major restoration projects for #islands important for #seabirds: buff.ly/yfl1Vo2
🐦 It's been a while (in several aspects), so I'm extra excited to start the day with a #paper accept.
Can't wait for this to hit the press, clarifying relationships among a bunch of cool #birds and introducing a new #avian family! Which one? You'll soon see... 😉
#taxonomy #systematics 🪶🧪
Can't wait for this to hit the press, clarifying relationships among a bunch of cool #birds and introducing a new #avian family! Which one? You'll soon see... 😉
#taxonomy #systematics 🪶🧪
![[Road sign with the text "Accept"]
Accept by Nick Youngson (http://www.nyphotographic.com/) under CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) from Pix4free (https://pix4free.org/photo/2221/accept.html).](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:tqb6ne6mq5swvirjh5wghajw/bafkreicnmn6y7oyx5ej5kmjac4aa63si3rh4vnu3poh6fcb3ku6euorkiu@jpeg)
June 20, 2025 at 9:18 AM
🐦 It's been a while (in several aspects), so I'm extra excited to start the day with a #paper accept.
Can't wait for this to hit the press, clarifying relationships among a bunch of cool #birds and introducing a new #avian family! Which one? You'll soon see... 😉
#taxonomy #systematics 🪶🧪
Can't wait for this to hit the press, clarifying relationships among a bunch of cool #birds and introducing a new #avian family! Which one? You'll soon see... 😉
#taxonomy #systematics 🪶🧪
My main contribution to this monumentous project has been to shake up the linear sequence of the checklist to better reflect our current understanding of the avian evolutionary tree! Ostrich first—Saltator last no more... We go from Somali Ostrich to Blue-necked Tanager!
June 11, 2025 at 3:02 PM
My main contribution to this monumentous project has been to shake up the linear sequence of the checklist to better reflect our current understanding of the avian evolutionary tree! Ostrich first—Saltator last no more... We go from Somali Ostrich to Blue-necked Tanager!
🦅 The new unified global #avian #taxonomy #AviList has just been released at www.avilist.org! Xmas for anyone interested in #birds & checklists... The first version will be followed by annual updates, with decisions and processes aimed to be more transparent than its predecessors'. 🪶🧪
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🧵
June 11, 2025 at 2:59 PM
🦅 The new unified global #avian #taxonomy #AviList has just been released at www.avilist.org! Xmas for anyone interested in #birds & checklists... The first version will be followed by annual updates, with decisions and processes aimed to be more transparent than its predecessors'. 🪶🧪
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Life's been a bit much and I haven't logged on in a few months... But today's a good day to post. Über luck with 15-20 bottlenose #dolphin (Tursiops truncates), 2 minke #whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) & 5 (2♂ 3♀) #ORCA (Orcinus orca) in the #FirthOfForth 🏴!
Seabird count with #cetacean extras!
Seabird count with #cetacean extras!
2 June. A Forth Seabird Group count day off North Berwick ended up with the amazing spectacle of 4 Orcas midway to the Isle of May. Too close for my 400m at times!
June 2, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Life's been a bit much and I haven't logged on in a few months... But today's a good day to post. Über luck with 15-20 bottlenose #dolphin (Tursiops truncates), 2 minke #whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) & 5 (2♂ 3♀) #ORCA (Orcinus orca) in the #FirthOfForth 🏴!
Seabird count with #cetacean extras!
Seabird count with #cetacean extras!
Happy New Year's Day from Portobello beach, #Edinburgh! 🏴
January 1, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Happy New Year's Day from Portobello beach, #Edinburgh! 🏴
Reposted by Martin Stervander 🏳️🌈🇸🇪🏴🏛️🦉🦤🪶
I'm recruiting a PhD student to join my lab at the University of New Orleans starting in Fall 2025. Research topics will focus on building and using phylogenies to study the diversification of birds, with an emphasis on Neotropical bird radiations. Contact me if interested.
November 16, 2024 at 2:38 AM
I'm recruiting a PhD student to join my lab at the University of New Orleans starting in Fall 2025. Research topics will focus on building and using phylogenies to study the diversification of birds, with an emphasis on Neotropical bird radiations. Contact me if interested.
🪶Help me out, #ornithology folks of #BirdSky! Curating @ntlmuseumsscot.bsky.social collections for digitisation, I found this labeled Stripe-tailed Yellow Finch (Sicalis citrina), which it's NOT. #SouthAmerican #birds ≠ my forte: is this a Blue-black Grassquit (Volatinia jacarina) or something else?
December 17, 2024 at 11:39 AM
🪶Help me out, #ornithology folks of #BirdSky! Curating @ntlmuseumsscot.bsky.social collections for digitisation, I found this labeled Stripe-tailed Yellow Finch (Sicalis citrina), which it's NOT. #SouthAmerican #birds ≠ my forte: is this a Blue-black Grassquit (Volatinia jacarina) or something else?
Reposted by Martin Stervander 🏳️🌈🇸🇪🏴🏛️🦉🦤🪶
Sometimes an insect specimen will have me thinking: HOW ARE YOU EVEN REAL?!
Today, that was the Oleander Hawk-moth (Daphnis nerii)
#Museums #Invertebrates 🧪
Today, that was the Oleander Hawk-moth (Daphnis nerii)
#Museums #Invertebrates 🧪
December 4, 2024 at 8:43 PM
Sometimes an insect specimen will have me thinking: HOW ARE YOU EVEN REAL?!
Today, that was the Oleander Hawk-moth (Daphnis nerii)
#Museums #Invertebrates 🧪
Today, that was the Oleander Hawk-moth (Daphnis nerii)
#Museums #Invertebrates 🧪
Reposted by Martin Stervander 🏳️🌈🇸🇪🏴🏛️🦉🦤🪶
Mineral science and mineral collections are becoming more important than ever – 34 raw materials now deemed ‘critical’ by the UK government.
I hate having to justify science with the language of capitalism, but we have to, and these reports can be very useful for promoting continued support. ⛏️💎
I hate having to justify science with the language of capitalism, but we have to, and these reports can be very useful for promoting continued support. ⛏️💎
The UK 2024 Criticality Assessment is now live!
The latest assessment, produced by the BGS-led UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre, shows that growing diversification brings an increasing vulnerability in terms of disruption to supply.
www.bgs.ac.uk/news/uk-2024...
The latest assessment, produced by the BGS-led UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre, shows that growing diversification brings an increasing vulnerability in terms of disruption to supply.
www.bgs.ac.uk/news/uk-2024...
November 28, 2024 at 9:27 AM
Mineral science and mineral collections are becoming more important than ever – 34 raw materials now deemed ‘critical’ by the UK government.
I hate having to justify science with the language of capitalism, but we have to, and these reports can be very useful for promoting continued support. ⛏️💎
I hate having to justify science with the language of capitalism, but we have to, and these reports can be very useful for promoting continued support. ⛏️💎
Reposted by Martin Stervander 🏳️🌈🇸🇪🏴🏛️🦉🦤🪶
Scientists raise the alarm: Too many harbour porpoises dying in nets.
In Danish coastal waters over 900 die each year vs a 24 death limit that would keep Belt Sea population stable. In 2012 & 2016, there were around 40.000 individuals, by 2022, only 14.000 left. 🧪🦑🌎
tech.au.dk/en/about-the...
In Danish coastal waters over 900 die each year vs a 24 death limit that would keep Belt Sea population stable. In 2012 & 2016, there were around 40.000 individuals, by 2022, only 14.000 left. 🧪🦑🌎
tech.au.dk/en/about-the...
March 11, 2024 at 11:59 AM
Scientists raise the alarm: Too many harbour porpoises dying in nets.
In Danish coastal waters over 900 die each year vs a 24 death limit that would keep Belt Sea population stable. In 2012 & 2016, there were around 40.000 individuals, by 2022, only 14.000 left. 🧪🦑🌎
tech.au.dk/en/about-the...
In Danish coastal waters over 900 die each year vs a 24 death limit that would keep Belt Sea population stable. In 2012 & 2016, there were around 40.000 individuals, by 2022, only 14.000 left. 🧪🦑🌎
tech.au.dk/en/about-the...
Reposted by Martin Stervander 🏳️🌈🇸🇪🏴🏛️🦉🦤🪶
Wisdom's still alive, she's back at her breeding grounds! This season she'll turn at least 74 years old. 🎉🎊💃
November 28, 2024 at 5:49 AM
Wisdom's still alive, she's back at her breeding grounds! This season she'll turn at least 74 years old. 🎉🎊💃
Reposted by Martin Stervander 🏳️🌈🇸🇪🏴🏛️🦉🦤🪶
This week I’m giving thanks for the Sling-Jaw Wrasse, and it’s amazing jaw #biomechanics!
🐟🦑🧪🌿
🐟🦑🧪🌿
November 27, 2024 at 3:32 PM
This week I’m giving thanks for the Sling-Jaw Wrasse, and it’s amazing jaw #biomechanics!
🐟🦑🧪🌿
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Also, last bird overwintering in Morocco: 1995
Me searching for Slender-billed Curlew in Morocco*: 1996
😳 🪶
*After, as a 15yo, having secured lots of 💰 from several foundations to bring a dozen youths on a 2w-trip for awesome #birding and meeting a 🇲🇦 environmental youth org. Precocious, anyone? 🤣
Me searching for Slender-billed Curlew in Morocco*: 1996
😳 🪶
*After, as a 15yo, having secured lots of 💰 from several foundations to bring a dozen youths on a 2w-trip for awesome #birding and meeting a 🇲🇦 environmental youth org. Precocious, anyone? 🤣
Last week, rigorous analyses by @thelabandfield.bsky.social & co-authors saw Slender-billed Curlew declared #extinct in
#OpenAccess @ibisjournal.bsky.social paper (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....), while we (coincidentally!) digitised the 7 @ntlmuseumsscot.bsky.social specimens.
#birds 🪶🧪
#OpenAccess @ibisjournal.bsky.social paper (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....), while we (coincidentally!) digitised the 7 @ntlmuseumsscot.bsky.social specimens.
#birds 🪶🧪
November 26, 2024 at 9:03 PM
Also, last bird overwintering in Morocco: 1995
Me searching for Slender-billed Curlew in Morocco*: 1996
😳 🪶
*After, as a 15yo, having secured lots of 💰 from several foundations to bring a dozen youths on a 2w-trip for awesome #birding and meeting a 🇲🇦 environmental youth org. Precocious, anyone? 🤣
Me searching for Slender-billed Curlew in Morocco*: 1996
😳 🪶
*After, as a 15yo, having secured lots of 💰 from several foundations to bring a dozen youths on a 2w-trip for awesome #birding and meeting a 🇲🇦 environmental youth org. Precocious, anyone? 🤣