Joshua Ward
@themigratorypoet.bsky.social
🦃Virginia Tech:
- BS Wildlife Conservation ‘22
- MFA Creative Writing (Poetry) ‘28
Poet/Writer, Birder (Life List: 1008), Herper, Wildlife Photographer
@thefinderofthefurtive on IG
Albion Review, Equatorial Mag. 2023 Giovanni-Steger Poetry Prize.
- BS Wildlife Conservation ‘22
- MFA Creative Writing (Poetry) ‘28
Poet/Writer, Birder (Life List: 1008), Herper, Wildlife Photographer
@thefinderofthefurtive on IG
Albion Review, Equatorial Mag. 2023 Giovanni-Steger Poetry Prize.
A casual morning in the bog: my lifer White Fringed Orchid (Platanthera blephariglottis), one of dozens blooming between tamaracks and spruces, swamp candles and cottongrass, purple pitchers and sundews, with singing Lincoln’s Sparrows and Yellow-bellied Flycatchers
July 12, 2025 at 4:09 PM
A casual morning in the bog: my lifer White Fringed Orchid (Platanthera blephariglottis), one of dozens blooming between tamaracks and spruces, swamp candles and cottongrass, purple pitchers and sundews, with singing Lincoln’s Sparrows and Yellow-bellied Flycatchers
My mom (veterinarian) had a client ask about me the other day. My mom told her that I’m headed back to VT for an MFA.
Today, she came in with a selection of poetry books, and asked my mom to pass them to me🥹
Neruda, Lorca (whom
I’ve wanted in my library for a while), Cohen, and more!!
#poetrysky
Today, she came in with a selection of poetry books, and asked my mom to pass them to me🥹
Neruda, Lorca (whom
I’ve wanted in my library for a while), Cohen, and more!!
#poetrysky
June 19, 2025 at 1:33 AM
My mom (veterinarian) had a client ask about me the other day. My mom told her that I’m headed back to VT for an MFA.
Today, she came in with a selection of poetry books, and asked my mom to pass them to me🥹
Neruda, Lorca (whom
I’ve wanted in my library for a while), Cohen, and more!!
#poetrysky
Today, she came in with a selection of poetry books, and asked my mom to pass them to me🥹
Neruda, Lorca (whom
I’ve wanted in my library for a while), Cohen, and more!!
#poetrysky
A few words of comfort from CS Lewis.
Don’t allow fear to remove what defines you.
Don’t allow fear to remove what defines you.
June 17, 2025 at 3:53 PM
A few words of comfort from CS Lewis.
Don’t allow fear to remove what defines you.
Don’t allow fear to remove what defines you.
*Mourning Warbler popping out 10 feet away from me in full sun*
“No one will ever believe you”
*disappears before I can so much as touch my camera*
“No one will ever believe you”
*disappears before I can so much as touch my camera*
June 5, 2025 at 10:45 AM
*Mourning Warbler popping out 10 feet away from me in full sun*
“No one will ever believe you”
*disappears before I can so much as touch my camera*
“No one will ever believe you”
*disappears before I can so much as touch my camera*
@greatsmokynps.bsky.social I literally just watched a whole family of Ovenbirds fledge their nest in front of me I’m gonna CRY🥹
May 21, 2025 at 7:21 PM
@greatsmokynps.bsky.social I literally just watched a whole family of Ovenbirds fledge their nest in front of me I’m gonna CRY🥹
Since I’ll be busy on the Global Big Day, a college bestie and I made today our “unofficial big day”, and we raked in an even 100 species, including 21 warbler species, a Barn Owl, and 30 Bobolink!
Undoubtedly the highlight for me were these ridiculous flame azalea blooms, spotted by said bestie!!
Undoubtedly the highlight for me were these ridiculous flame azalea blooms, spotted by said bestie!!
May 10, 2025 at 4:55 AM
Since I’ll be busy on the Global Big Day, a college bestie and I made today our “unofficial big day”, and we raked in an even 100 species, including 21 warbler species, a Barn Owl, and 30 Bobolink!
Undoubtedly the highlight for me were these ridiculous flame azalea blooms, spotted by said bestie!!
Undoubtedly the highlight for me were these ridiculous flame azalea blooms, spotted by said bestie!!
If James Hetfield declares that all new fans are now part of the @metallica.com family, then by extension all of Metallica are honorary Hokies🦃
May 8, 2025 at 4:19 AM
If James Hetfield declares that all new fans are now part of the @metallica.com family, then by extension all of Metallica are honorary Hokies🦃
“This is not our record” is goddamn bone-chilling.
And here we are stuck with a president who switched back to single-use plastic straws in the federal sector, after dishing out thousands of reusable ones in 2019-2020
To top it off, here’s part of his justification for doing so (via @apnews.com):
And here we are stuck with a president who switched back to single-use plastic straws in the federal sector, after dishing out thousands of reusable ones in 2019-2020
To top it off, here’s part of his justification for doing so (via @apnews.com):
May 5, 2025 at 5:55 PM
“This is not our record” is goddamn bone-chilling.
And here we are stuck with a president who switched back to single-use plastic straws in the federal sector, after dishing out thousands of reusable ones in 2019-2020
To top it off, here’s part of his justification for doing so (via @apnews.com):
And here we are stuck with a president who switched back to single-use plastic straws in the federal sector, after dishing out thousands of reusable ones in 2019-2020
To top it off, here’s part of his justification for doing so (via @apnews.com):
The Alleghenies of western Maryland and West Virginia—‘nuff said
May 1, 2025 at 12:19 AM
The Alleghenies of western Maryland and West Virginia—‘nuff said
Absolutely insane that a Sharp-shinned Hawk going full tilt can tuck its wings and slide through a gap less than 7 square inches in size. And not more than 6 feet in front of me as I watched!
April 25, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Absolutely insane that a Sharp-shinned Hawk going full tilt can tuck its wings and slide through a gap less than 7 square inches in size. And not more than 6 feet in front of me as I watched!
After not having the chance to use my macro lens in nearly a year, in the past week I’ve been fortune enough to host a #GrayTreefrog in our yard and flipped a stunner of a #SpringSalamander out in western Maryland.
We are so back.
We are so back.
April 23, 2025 at 8:37 PM
After not having the chance to use my macro lens in nearly a year, in the past week I’ve been fortune enough to host a #GrayTreefrog in our yard and flipped a stunner of a #SpringSalamander out in western Maryland.
We are so back.
We are so back.
Some pretty momentous news—
This fall I’ll be returning to @virginiatech.bsky.social, to start a Masters of Fine Arts in #creativewriting!! My focus? POETRY!
I’ll be drawing upon the inspiration of Appalachia for work the revolves around the natural world, and our place in it.
#poetrysky
This fall I’ll be returning to @virginiatech.bsky.social, to start a Masters of Fine Arts in #creativewriting!! My focus? POETRY!
I’ll be drawing upon the inspiration of Appalachia for work the revolves around the natural world, and our place in it.
#poetrysky
April 18, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Some pretty momentous news—
This fall I’ll be returning to @virginiatech.bsky.social, to start a Masters of Fine Arts in #creativewriting!! My focus? POETRY!
I’ll be drawing upon the inspiration of Appalachia for work the revolves around the natural world, and our place in it.
#poetrysky
This fall I’ll be returning to @virginiatech.bsky.social, to start a Masters of Fine Arts in #creativewriting!! My focus? POETRY!
I’ll be drawing upon the inspiration of Appalachia for work the revolves around the natural world, and our place in it.
#poetrysky
One of the first splashes of migratory color to arrive in the east each spring.
Palm Warbler (Yellow), Howard County, MD
Palm Warbler (Yellow), Howard County, MD
April 16, 2025 at 8:51 PM
One of the first splashes of migratory color to arrive in the east each spring.
Palm Warbler (Yellow), Howard County, MD
Palm Warbler (Yellow), Howard County, MD
Some wisdom from Pablo Neruda’s Nobel Prize Lecture (1971) #poetrysky
March 21, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Some wisdom from Pablo Neruda’s Nobel Prize Lecture (1971) #poetrysky
🐐ed find while antiquing in Pennsylvania yesterday
March 18, 2025 at 12:06 AM
🐐ed find while antiquing in Pennsylvania yesterday
Fist-fighting the clouds and I landed a punch
Last total lunar eclipse for North America until June 2029
Last total lunar eclipse for North America until June 2029
March 14, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Fist-fighting the clouds and I landed a punch
Last total lunar eclipse for North America until June 2029
Last total lunar eclipse for North America until June 2029
If there are Renaissance people, then there are also Renaissance books, covering themes from philosophy and theology to science and history. Here, it is all tied to some of the most magnificent animals on the planet. A book that I’d unhesitatingly teach my students, if I one day have any. #booksky
March 7, 2025 at 3:28 PM
If there are Renaissance people, then there are also Renaissance books, covering themes from philosophy and theology to science and history. Here, it is all tied to some of the most magnificent animals on the planet. A book that I’d unhesitatingly teach my students, if I one day have any. #booksky
“What radicalized so much of the younger generation?”
Idk, but one reason that comes to mind is watching Mr Incredible man-handle an insurance CEO after he instructs him to intentionally screw over their customers. That might do it.
Idk, but one reason that comes to mind is watching Mr Incredible man-handle an insurance CEO after he instructs him to intentionally screw over their customers. That might do it.
March 3, 2025 at 11:28 PM
“What radicalized so much of the younger generation?”
Idk, but one reason that comes to mind is watching Mr Incredible man-handle an insurance CEO after he instructs him to intentionally screw over their customers. That might do it.
Idk, but one reason that comes to mind is watching Mr Incredible man-handle an insurance CEO after he instructs him to intentionally screw over their customers. That might do it.
The first two movies I ever saw in theaters
Looking back, I think both had a heavy hand in making me the nature nut I am
Looking back, I think both had a heavy hand in making me the nature nut I am
February 23, 2025 at 11:30 PM
The first two movies I ever saw in theaters
Looking back, I think both had a heavy hand in making me the nature nut I am
Looking back, I think both had a heavy hand in making me the nature nut I am
Ever finish a book and immediately say to yourself “Well, I’ll be rereading this one repeatedly”?
Here’s one for me, along with some wisdom from the author
Here’s one for me, along with some wisdom from the author
February 23, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Ever finish a book and immediately say to yourself “Well, I’ll be rereading this one repeatedly”?
Here’s one for me, along with some wisdom from the author
Here’s one for me, along with some wisdom from the author
The first Red-necked Grebes for my part of MD in over a decade.
I’m sad I do not get to see these more often, they are handsome waterbirds, even when in their messy basic plumage.
I’m sad I do not get to see these more often, they are handsome waterbirds, even when in their messy basic plumage.
February 22, 2025 at 7:35 PM
The first Red-necked Grebes for my part of MD in over a decade.
I’m sad I do not get to see these more often, they are handsome waterbirds, even when in their messy basic plumage.
I’m sad I do not get to see these more often, they are handsome waterbirds, even when in their messy basic plumage.
What’s fun about submitting work to lit journals or contests is that sometimes the submission fee also pays for a subscription to said journal, and sometimes I completely forget that.
Looking forward to tucking into this newest edition of Copper Nickel!
Looking forward to tucking into this newest edition of Copper Nickel!
February 20, 2025 at 9:41 PM
What’s fun about submitting work to lit journals or contests is that sometimes the submission fee also pays for a subscription to said journal, and sometimes I completely forget that.
Looking forward to tucking into this newest edition of Copper Nickel!
Looking forward to tucking into this newest edition of Copper Nickel!
Poets: here’s your book
If ever there was “mandatory reading” for poetry, whether as an artistic passion or even just skin-deep interest, this is it.
Fundamentals, technicalities, and guidance. Oliver makes it clear that you don’t have to listen to her at all, but it couldn’t hurt if you did.
If ever there was “mandatory reading” for poetry, whether as an artistic passion or even just skin-deep interest, this is it.
Fundamentals, technicalities, and guidance. Oliver makes it clear that you don’t have to listen to her at all, but it couldn’t hurt if you did.
February 19, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Poets: here’s your book
If ever there was “mandatory reading” for poetry, whether as an artistic passion or even just skin-deep interest, this is it.
Fundamentals, technicalities, and guidance. Oliver makes it clear that you don’t have to listen to her at all, but it couldn’t hurt if you did.
If ever there was “mandatory reading” for poetry, whether as an artistic passion or even just skin-deep interest, this is it.
Fundamentals, technicalities, and guidance. Oliver makes it clear that you don’t have to listen to her at all, but it couldn’t hurt if you did.
I haven’t done a fun little poetry challenge like this in a while, so this prompt from @onlypoemsmag.bsky.social was a breath of fresh air, and had me wandering about the house, visiting books both from my library and my parents’ libraries.
#poetrysky #poetryprompt
#poetrysky #poetryprompt
February 12, 2025 at 8:55 PM
I haven’t done a fun little poetry challenge like this in a while, so this prompt from @onlypoemsmag.bsky.social was a breath of fresh air, and had me wandering about the house, visiting books both from my library and my parents’ libraries.
#poetrysky #poetryprompt
#poetrysky #poetryprompt