jimwharton.bsky.social - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

Extinct relatives of #RedPandas followed temperate forests as their distributions shifted w/ changing climate…but that was then. Now wild spaces & extant pops are fragmented by human development and local extinctions which will make it harder to respond to current (and more rapid) climate changes.

submitted 44 days ago • 0 comments

There was an extinct species closely related to #redpandas in Washington state?! Known from a single tooth, tho.

submitted 44 days ago • 0 comments

The little false thumb in red and giant pandas evolved independently. In first pandas, as a climbing adaptation, probably to escape predators and to feed on arboreal lizard, fruits, and eggs. #RedPanda

submitted 44 days ago • 0 comments

Surprised to learn that #RedPandas have not been a big part of the culture and lore of range states. Happy that the pelt and pet trades are also limited. All probably related to view of bright pandas as good luck…rare to begin with, becoming more rare with habitat losses.

submitted 45 days ago • 0 comments

Lovely picture of a stump in our leopard habitat at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo. Couldn’t find the cat.

submitted 49 days ago • 0 comments

We just got a dusting. The Zoo is lovely in the snow.

submitted 52 days ago • 0 comments

Learning lots even in the introduction of my new red panda text…pandas are called Wha or Chitwa in their home range due to their vocalizations. Also, super tired of reading about Europeans “discovering” animals. Aren’t we done with that old chestnut? #RedPanda

submitted 56 days ago • 0 comments

I may do this just to stretch a bit. My art may be story or something other than drawing/painting/etc…IDK. We’ll see. And I work at a zoo so lots of interesting animals live “near” me. #SciArt #NearbyNature2025

submitted 58 days ago • 0 comments

I'm proposing a #SciArt Challenge for 2025! Every month, make art of one of the animals that lives in your area. Post your work with the hashtag #NearbyNature2025 along with something you find interesting about them. Bonus points for organisms that most of your neighbors won't know live close by!

submitted 58 days ago • 46 comments

Thank goodness I don’t believe in bad omens and the like. Not the first bit of news you’d like to see to start the year: www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news... #Tahlequah #orcas #SouthernResidents

submitted 58 days ago • 2 comments

2024 featured two pretty significant events/transitions for me. We opened the Ocean Pavilion: an exhibit and conservation program a decade in the making and I left the aquarium to run a Zoo? Can’t make this stuff up.

submitted 58 days ago • 1 comment

Ocean guy brushing up on the new neighborhood.

submitted 58 days ago • 0 comments

Scientists! We are trying to get 1000 of us into the volunteer database by Jan 1. You'll be volunteering to speak with classrooms over video chat about your work, and answer their questions! You can volunteer for up to 5 sessions per semester. Sign up here! www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html

submitted 59 days ago • 23 comments

Guys. GUYS. WE GOT A HIPPOPOTAMUS FOR CHRISTMAS.

submitted 65 days ago • 100 comments

And to all a good night from the Salish Sea. Somewhere out there Tahlequah is swimming with her new baby and that's about the best Christmas present I could ask for.

submitted 65 days ago • 3 comments

Now that the #ErasTour is over, come see Taylor the American red wolf at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo. Red wolves are critically endangered with as few as 20 individuals in the wild. Those are vaquita numbers.

submitted 77 days ago • 0 comments

The 10th day of #Crustmas brings you a very handsome Dardanus gemmatus hermit crab from the Philippines 2009. A proper poser with a lovely pair of emerald green eyes! 🦑🌊 #UnderwaterPhotography

submitted 80 days ago • 1 comment

I'd invite them in.

submitted 81 days ago • 0 comments

Maybe everybody knows this, but I just took a pic of a physical doc w/ my iPhone, highlighted the text, and copied/pasted it into a Word doc. Worked amazing, didn't require an app. I'm so used to being angry/frustrated w/ tech, I'm kind of caught off guard that this works so well and is so helpful.

submitted 83 days ago • 1 comment

In my (still) new(ish) role at the Zoo, all I can say is thank goodness for my spam filter.

submitted 84 days ago • 0 comments

Probably never topping this quote about Berry’s role as Zoo mayor: "Berry's my boss, so I'm going to look for her for all of the really important conservation- and snacks-related decisions." connecticut.news12.com/beardsley-zo...

submitted 84 days ago • 0 comments

"Named for the undulating waves of its broad, fleshy appendages—called parapodia—lettuce sea slugs appear in a range of colors from pale yellow to deep blue to even lettuce green." 📸By Patrick Keeling. hakaimagazine.com/videos-visua...

submitted 85 days ago • 1 comment

Happy Monday! My name is Jillian. I am a mom, marine biologist, founder & president of @sharks4kids.bsky.social , author, and photographer. I am here for all things sharks, shark science, shark conservation...etc! Look forward to connecting with other ocean and shark folks! #sharkscience #sharks

submitted 87 days ago • 3 comments

Courtesy of google alerts: I love that #wobbegong #sharks are just like: What water turbulence? I think I'm just gonna chill right here...yeah...here looks good :). #BestShark 🦈 www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf6f...

submitted 94 days ago • 1 comment

When you leave a place and come back, it seems easier to appreciate things you took for granted.

submitted 94 days ago • 0 comments

By strapping acoustic tags onto 6 turtles over 10 days 🐢 , this study found that ~75% of acoustic samples had detectable human-made sound from boats & shipping ⛴️🛳️🚢 (at frequencies between the low end & punch of a kick drum) These sounds were very often as loud as fireworks 😬🎇🎆 🧪🌏🐢📢🌊

submitted 97 days ago • 1 comment

Explained: new ways to peer deep under our oceans https://buff.ly/3Ol0wHu 🦑🌎🧪

submitted 97 days ago • 0 comments

Okay, y’all… I have finally decided that retreat is the better part of valor. Bringing some rainbow energy over to these blue skies. #bydhttmwdi

submitted 101 days ago • 4804 comments

Well, there you have it. Goodbye Slender-billed Curlew. Official declaration by the IUCN won't happen yet, they'll consider the findings of this paper and make a decision on reclassification. 🧪🦤🦉

submitted 102 days ago • 3 comments

Beautiful day to visit Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo. Sun is out, temperature is mild, Berry taking a break from her mayoral duties to take in a little sun.

submitted 103 days ago • 0 comments

I'm sure the content is also great...but the title alone is a win for me. My only question: do the podcast hosts get Glocks?

submitted 104 days ago • 1 comment

A new chapter of Seattle Aquarium Lightning Talks starts tonight with @noranickumbooks.bsky.social in the host’s chair. Tune in 6:30 PM PST/9:30 PM EST www.seattleaquarium.org/explore-the-... 🧪🦈🦇🦑

submitted 105 days ago • 1 comment

This is absolutely incredible.

submitted 105 days ago • 0 comments

Seems like the election might have been the tipping point. I lost 40 followers on Twitter and they were all deactivations. Time to ramp back up here?

submitted 106 days ago • 0 comments

Fun coverage of our Zoo Mayor election. Congrats to my new boss, Berry, the red panda. www.nbcnews.com/video/nightl... (starts at 17’). 🦇🧪

submitted 106 days ago • 0 comments

Sitting in the first Animal Wellbeing Summit, hosted by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Best idea heard (reinforced) so far: healthy, happy staff = healthier, happier animals. 🦇🧪

submitted 106 days ago • 2 comments

Happy 'World's Most Terrifying Bird' Day, for those who celebrate. www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/ar... #WorldCassowaryDay

submitted 155 days ago • 1 comment

Bluesky now has over 10 million users, and I was #76,078! ...though I'm not sure how comfortable I am collecting so many of these "elder" designations.

submitted 158 days ago • 0 comments