Lyn Heideman

The Lesser Prairie-Chicken, a charismatic, colorful icon of the American West, deserves a chance at recovery. Because of its nature of occupying large, mostly intact grassland landscapes, Lesser Prairie-Chickens are a harbinger of the fates of many other declining grassland bird species. If we can't bring back this bird, we will lose countless other species from the same problems: the loss, degradation, and fragmentation of our grasslands.

Section 126 of the bill blocks funding to implement or enforce the ESA rule, condemning the birds to extinction. @abcbirds.bsky.social makes it easy to speak up with a letter to your House rep that you can customize (and they’ll send it for you): act.abcbirds.org/a/take-actio...? #birds 🌎

The Lesser Prairie-Chicken is a highly imperiled ground-nesting bird that has declined to ~27,000 individuals and <10% of its former habitats: abcbirds.org/lesser-prair.... After nearly 3 decades, the USFWS finally protected the bird under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in Nov. 2022.

The US Congress will be deciding FY26 Appropriations next month. The Republican bill is a cruel assault on the environment and wildlife. Consider Section 126, which blocks protections for the Lesser Prairie-Chicken. Why? The birds inhabit the grasslands, where they run afoul of Big Oil & Ag.

Yes, that's why I liked the recent picture so much. Finally got a good look at that handsome fella!

He is--and it's hard to get a good picture of black morph squirrels!

The Trump administration is wiping out scientific data on climate change. The data heroes are ready. While the Trump administration is erasing critical health and environmental data from government websites, a group of scientists, archivists and volunteers is racing to rescue it.

In addition, @envdefensefund.bsky.social (EDF), the Environmental Data & Governance Initiative (EDGI), and their partners are now building a durable, environmental data infrastructure that doesn’t “rely on the goodwill of whoever’s in power.” And there's more: vitalsigns.edf.org/story/trump-.... 🌎

Since coming into office, the Trump regime has moved fast--before the courts stop them--to get rid of information on federal government websites they disagree with. A network of scientists, archivists, and volunteers, however, was ready and is rescuing climate, environmental, and other purged data.

DoE issued a (totally biased) report evaluating the impact of greenhouse gases on U.S. climate, in support of the EPA's proposal to rescind the 2009 "endangerment finding." Both the report and "endangerment finding" proposal are now open for public comment in the Federal Register. Please comment!

I think Trump leaked that information to the press, basically telling Harvard that's what it would cost to call off his dogs. Dumb stunt, and i wonder if the negotiations aren't going well for Trump. Maybe not wise to go after a university famous for its law school?

Nearly 2 million people now live near a facility with a “presidential exemption” to pollute more. This map tells you if you’re one of them. Find out what’s contaminating your community.

Is there a polluter near you? @envdefensefund.bsky.social (EDF) has created an interactive map to help you find nearby polluters, identify which chemicals they're emitting, and contact the EPA with your concerns: vitalsigns.edf.org/story/nearly.... 🌎

Since March, when EPA Administrator Zeldin invited industrial polluters to apply for “presidential exemptions,” Trump has given >160 facilities emitting dangerous pollution across 40 states permission to dodge existing clean air rules. Trump claimed an "energy emergency"; EDF and others have sued.

The nest has been so empty recently that the pigeons have been checking it out. Thought I'd grabbed a screen shot of two in the nest box yesterday, but this is all I could find. When Monty popped his head over the nest board (I love that!), they skedaddled.

Nice close-up of White Nose!

...weakening limits on emissions from power plants and cars...encouraging burning coal...and cutting research on the health effects of heat and pollution: www.nytimes.com/2025/06/24/c... (gift).

How hot is it where you are? www.nytimes.com/interactive/.... 🌎

Research shows that the twin health hazards of extreme heat and air pollution can amplify each other, even be deadly. Causes? Extreme heat can trap polluted air in place. Climate change is increasing the frequency/intensity of wildfires--and the smoke. Trump is rolling back pollution regulations...

Analysis | What humans can learn from some of history’s greatest zoo escapes When we looked for life lessons in some of the most successful zoo escapes, we found out why we’re so fascinated by these scaly, furry, feathery fugitives.

From Flaco (the Eurasian Eagle-Owl who chose freedom over the safety of a cage) to Diesel (the donkey who knows the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion), what can we learn from #animals who’ve busted out of zoos, farms, or other enclosures? Enjoy: wapo.st/3GUkQzx (gift). #birds #wildlife 🌎

Thanks! For a while there, it seemed they were bonding a few times a day. I think I've only seen Monty recently (he squeaks, which is how I can tell them apart from a distance). Thus I wondered if Hartley had decided she needed some alone time.

Admiring the lovely tails on your squirrels. "My" squirrels all have skinny tails. Good news: the squirrel who suffered an injury to the tail midsection is much better, and the tail no longer droops. It's just so unfortunate that so many of the juvies have tail injuries or loss.

Yellowstone's Aspen Forests Are Already Responding to The Return of Wolves Aspen forest is reclaiming the skyline of Yellowstone National Park after decades of controversy over efforts to return wolves to the ecosystem.

A recent research project studying the Aspen trees validated the efforts of conservationists who fought to restore wolves to the park: www.sciencealert.com/yellowstones... (no paywall). Link to research report: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti.... 🌎

When all wolves in Yellowstone were killed in the 1920s, elk populations exploded, overgrazing Aspen trees; without trees, birds and beavers left; and so on throughout the park ("trophic cascade").

In 1995, wolves were reintroduced; elk populations stabilized; and a new Aspen overstory grew.

In the 1920s, all wolves in Yellowstone Park were killed because ranchers believed they killed their livestock.

Fact: Per a 2015 USDA study--one of many--wolves took 0.009% of the entire US cattle inventory.

Fact: Apex predators like wolves are essential to healthy ecosystems.

Molting makes them both look a bit disheveled--perfect look after 4 chicks! Speaking of both...I check in occasionally during the day. I think I've only seen Monty (squeaky) for days now. Is that correct? Has Hartley taken a "vacation" in the past?

Chaos, indeed. Love how dad tried to maintain control, but he was no match for those two. Love how the little one manages to use small size to an advantage--plus being very good at s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g. Thanks for a delightful video!

Defend the Western Arctic from oil and gas drilling Add your name today and tell the Department of the Interior: Don’t trade these essential and sensitive Arctic ecosystems for short-term oil profits.

Trump wants to repeal the Western Arctic's protections to expand oil/gas drilling. You can defend our public lands and wildlife. @earthjustice.org provides a comment you can customize and will send it for you: earthjustice.org/action/the-w.... Comments due by Aug. 4, 2025. Thank you! 🌎 #birds

America's Arctic: A Remote Patch of Oil-Rich Tundra That Teems with Migratory Birds About 23 million acres of tundra lakes and wetlands, set aside more than 100 years ago as the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska, are today treasured for their global importance to migratory bird popul...

Alaska’s Western Arctic is the largest tract of US public lands and a globally significant #ecosystem supporting countless #wildlife. The "spectacular" 23-million-acre expanse is also the most critical wetland habitat in the Arctic for millions of birds: www.allaboutbirds.org/news/america....

This dashboard provides summaries of radar-based measurements of nocturnal bird migration for the contiguous United States, including estimates for the total number of birds migrating as well as their directions, speeds, and altitudes. Watch migration patterns in near real time or see a summary for a whole night the next morning. Check back often to find out how migration has changed across a night and season and to learn which species of nocturnally migrating birds are likely migrating through your region. The live data feed runs from March 1 to June 15 during spring migration and from August 1 to November 15 during fall migration.

The site is also reporting daily, radar-based measurements of nocturnal bird migration across every state and county in the contiguous U.S., including estimates of the total number of birds migrating, their directions, speeds, and altitudes: dashboard.birdcast.info? #birds

Bird migration forecasts show predicted nocturnal migration 3 hours after local sunset and are updated every 6 hours. These forecasts come from models trained on the last 23 years of bird movements in the atmosphere as detected by the US NEXRAD weather surveillance radar network. In these models we use the Global Forecasting System (GFS) to predict suitable conditions for migration occurring three hours after local sunset. These maps also show precipitation forecasts (outlined and shown in grayscale). Note, areas forecast to experience precipitation and bird migration may overlap, and predictions for migration intensity may be highly variable in these locations.

Spring migration and nests of baby birds don’t seem that long ago, but...

The BirdCast migration forecasts take flight for fall migration starting today, Aug. 1: birdcast.info. Bird migration forecast maps show predicted nocturnal migration 3 hours after local sunset and are updated every 6 hours.

Opinion | Lawfare warrior Donald Trump has egg on his face The president keeps trying to undermine California’s farm animal protections.

Numerous attempts to overturn Prop 12 and enshrine cruelty, however, failed before the Supreme Court. Enjoy this humorous strut through the history of Trump vs. #chickens: wapo.st/4lbdiGu (gift). #birds

(I suspect the real issue is that CA treats its chickens better than Trump treats immigrants.)

Trump attempted to deflect criticism that he failed to bring down egg prices by blaming high prices on California’s Proposition 12, which requires that any animal sold as food in CA be provided enough room to “lie down, stand up, fully extend its limbs, and turn around freely."

What trees are most common in your city? And are they at risk? Many urban canopies across U.S. cities are dominated by only a handful of tree types, putting them at risk of being wiped out by an insect or disease.

Why? Places that have more tree types have more different pests, but they don't have a dominant tree vulnerable to a dominant pest. Check out the 35 inventoried cities, tree diversity guidelines, some cautionary tales, and what can be done to save city trees: wapo.st/3IQhq1e (gift). 🌎