bjanish.bsky.social

Vintage holiday card with the caption “Loving Christmas Greetings” and showing a boy dressed in green and a girl dressed in red standing together in the snow holding an umbrella looking down at a dead red-bellied robin on the ground.

This Victorian Christmas greeting card showing children staring at the dead body of a robin—typically a symbol of hope and good cheer—captures the 2025 holiday vibe:

YouTube video by Zohran Mamdani for NYC Happy Hanukkah

It was such a joy to celebrate Hanukkah with Mandy, Kathryn and their son, Gideon. As Jewish New Yorkers across our city prepare to light candles and mark the seventh night today, I wish you and your families a Hanukkah full of light and love.

youtu.be/KIxAKyioXng

If woodcocks have giant eyes on top of their heads because it increases their odds against predators... why don't more birds have the same eye evolution, since most ground-dwelling birds have the same predators?

As the Handmaid’s, and other protesters here, continue to stand in silence, sheriff’s deputies just advanced toward the “free speech” zone.

In Chicago, We Run Toward Danger Together "Faced with unrelenting state violence, Chicagoans have refused to be cowed," says Mariame Kaba.

My latest is a love letter to Chicago. "I see you stumbling through the stubborn, awkward rhythm of showing up, again and again. I see you fighting alongside people who sometimes frustrate and confuse you, and defending neighbors you may have never met, because you know they’re all your people."

Orange tshirt with MONITOR Endangered Piping Plovers on the front. There are binoculars hanging in front and a hat with NJ PIPING PLOVER PROJECT embroidered on it.

Tan field vest with various piping plover pins and patches

The theme for tonight’s Halloween party is “Nerd out!” so, well, yeah. 🧡🐦🧡🐦🧡🐦🧡

No Kings

A Chicago-style No Kings Day. #NoKings

Way to go, Chicago!!

A digital illustration of a black crowned night heron in profile looking right, with a prominent bright red eye making them look especially expectant. Standing on a rock with green river-like swirly colors behind. The drawing is framed by a simple line, and under the frame lettering reads, 'Maybe it will happen today'.

We are loving this year's theme for Plover Appreciation Day, #ploverart. Your Chicago Piping Plover Monitor 🧡 Brenda Janish made these sweet treats for the monitor season-end bash. She had the mold made and decorated the cookies - perfection! 🤍

One of the Funniest Documentaries of the Year Is Streaming for Free on YouTube Listers is a journey into the dark and cringy heart of one of the world’s most peculiar hobbies.

I wrote about the Reiser brothers and their hilarious, disgusting Listers documentary for Slate:

slate.com/culture/2025...

A great egret stands on a rock in the Osaka Garden in Jackson Park, Chicago, Illinois, overlooking a calm lagoon.

Not to add to the discourse, but…

It’s ‘toe the line,’ not ‘tow the line.’
It’s ‘free rein,’ and not ‘free reign.’
It’s ‘eke out,’ not ‘eek out.’
It’s ‘sleight of hand,’ not ‘slight of hand.’
It's ‘Anchors aweigh,’ and not ‘Anchor's away!’

The last piping plover monitoring sesh of 2025 is in the books. We spent a quiet morning with El at 63rd street beach and pier where she took a nice bath and ate her weight in bugs on the pier. Good luck, little one. Hope to see you next year! 🧡

following in dad's footsteps... he (and his sibling) buddied up with a sanderling at the end of his fledgling summer, right before he left Chicago

Monty, an art print by Phineas Jones Gallery Quality Prints

update: it has been sold. Prints available here: www.inprnt.com/gallery/phin...

Monty — Phineas X. Jones 6” x 6” Oil on Panel Price includes domestic US shipping.

This painting by @phineas.bsky.social is still available! The grandplover of Montrose Beach, Monty. 6"x6" oil on panel.
octophant.us/paintings/mo...

T-shirt with text "Piping Plovers, Est. 2019, Montrose Beach"

I added a simpler design for the new shirts, for those not into emo latin sayings 😉 teamplover.threadless.com

Back at ya

The sad reality of monitoring… we observe but there’s not a lot we can do to protect. RIP little one, it was a delight knowing you. 💙

The beach seemed very quiet this morning without him 🥲

young piping plover standing on a Chicago beach wearing a college-style t-shirt that says "Piping Plovers, Est. 2019, Montrose Beach"

New t-shirt dropped today! teamplover.threadless.com

I'm the human guardian in the photo 😎 I was primarily watching for gulls and other threats, there are no people on the protected beach (thankfully)

Now THAT’S a name

Our beautiful little charges have shiny new jewelry! Superstars, all 💙❤️💚

This is the actual artist: bsky.app/profile/phin...

It's time to get a resupply on the cat's diabeetus medication (don't tell him). This stuff is $150 a month, but I like having my cat around. Exchanges of currency for imagery are welcome and encouraged.

Here’s a New York Times photo of the Chicago “No Kings” rally. NYT said the march that followed spanned at least 10 blocks.

Freshman year of college, first week, my suitemate introduced me to her friend from home (Dekalb, IL) who was also a freshman. She was a pretty, tall, nice enough girl. Introduced to me as Cindy and then they stared expectantly at me. It took me more than a year to realize "Cindy" was Cindy Crawford