Dr. Heather Hinam

@secondnaturemb.bsky.social

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Helping people connect with nature through interpretation, art, and science. Ph.D. in Conservation Ecology. #scicomm #sciart http://www.discoversecondnature.ca/

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Dr. Heather Hinam

I’ve been very lucky to see beluga in the Churchill river a number of times, but I’ve never seen anything quite like this. There are a few hundred whales here churning up the water, herding capelin into a bait ball to feed. It was incredible! 🌿🐳https://youtu.be/sgM21bM0wd8?si=QDNac_tw5hYbmFsm

Beluga Feeding Frenzy in the Churchill River.youtu.be A few hundred beluga whales are charging back-and-forth, herding schools of capelin into a bait ball so that they can scoop them up and eat them. While there...

An amazing adventure among the ice floes in the Churchill estuary and Hudson Bay. I took so many pictures and video. While I have been here before, I have never been when there is ice like this. It’s absolutely magical.

I spent a lovely evening with my tour group exploring Winnipeg by replica trolley before we head up to Churchill tomorrow.

I don't often get hired to do pencil illustrations so these grassland birds were a fun project. 🌿🪶🎨

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Dr. Heather Hinam

Just wanted to give a shoutout to all the bird and nature photographers I follow. Not only are your photos fantastic but it’s so nice to have a space where if I’m feeling a bit glum, I can just open an app and BAM! There’s a picture of a good little guy! You rule, keep on doing what you do! #birds

I had a little friend while I was trying to seal up where the squirrel was getting in under the house. I think we succeeded for now.

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Dr. Heather Hinam

“This map illustrates the intricately connected relationship First Nations have w their land. Canada’s home to all fortunate enough to live here + if we have the courage to listen to our national anthem w a slightly altered perspective we may learn where our land came from.” - J Adomeit #canadaday

This one’s for you @crawlieswithcri.bsky.social. I drove up to where the road is lined with hundreds of showy lady slippers. The largest of all of our orchids they usually bloom around the 1st of July. Seeing so many at once is truly something to behold. 🌿

The first showy lady slippers of the season are popping up. These really are my favourite orchid. 🌿

It’s 10°C on the Canada Day long weekend. Definitely not normal weather for southern Manitoba, but I don’t mind having a fire in the woodstove. The only problem was when I opened the door, all the mosquitoes that had come down the chimney got out into the living room.

Considering the last post I just made, I can't help but feel a little called out by this. 😂

"I’d barely made it out of the parking lot before I passed six different signs describing the same kind of reed, and each one was more detailed than the last."

Ambitious Nature Center Squeezes 25 Informational Placards Out Of Sad Little Marshwww.theonion.com PETALUMA, CA—Noting that whoever was in charge clearly took the assignment and ran with it, sources told reporters Friday that an overly ambitious nature center had squeezed 25 informational placards ...

Just finished a new set of interpretive panels. These are for a local high school where the grade 11 students came up with the idea of turning an old slough on their grounds into a proper wetland. The students came up with what they wanted the signs to be about and I made it happen. Lots of fun. 🌿🎨

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Dr. Heather Hinam

SOAPBOX TIME I hate how many times I read things like "nobody cares about the world" and "humanity is the virus" and "our species is too inept/evil/selfish to survive" online. I almost never see anyone talking about the many, many people who are doing incredibly hard, complex, good work

I was in Winnipeg for the last 48 hours. As much as I love living in the forest, I do enjoy cultivated gardens as well and this one on one of the streets in my old neighbourhood is amazing.

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Dr. Heather Hinam

Friends don't let friends use AI as a reference book.

One more look at my Polyphemus mama. Moths really are just flying teddy bears. I managed to get her into a more appropriate host plant and I hope she manages to successfully lay her eggs. 🌿🐛

I found them in the road this morning. I didn’t realize it was two until I picked them up. These Polyphemus moths will stay joined for the rest of the day and separate at dusk so the female can lay her eggs. I ended up bringing them home to my yard where I know they will be safe for the day. 🌿🦋🐛

Polyphemus moth update: Look at that face! :) She's so cute! The pair stuck together all morning, but they have now parted ways. She's currently resting and I'm debating whether I should move her to a more appropriate host plant or if she'll do it herself. 🌿🐛🦋

I love dragonflies. #invertebrates #dragonflies 🌿

I like dragonflies. #invertebrates #dragonflies 🌿

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Dr. Heather Hinam

I cannot emphasize enough - we have a global pathway to net zero. That pathway burns to cinders the moment we accept powering “AI” as an acceptable use of energy. Climate action is wholly incompatible with expansion of “AI”

Spent a quiet morning on the porch, listening to the neighbors. This is just part of what I heard. I can hear farther than Merlin can. The final tally was 28 species in an hour and a half. 🌿🪶

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Dr. Heather Hinam

Screech owl intensifies. Watercolor, pencils and gouache on 14x18 hotpress #SciArt #birds

One of my favourite things about doing breeding bird surveys is catching the sunrise in June. This was taken just after 4 o’clock this morning and was worth the 3 AM wake up. 🌿

It was a beautiful morning for a breeding bird survey. Two summer students came out to help me do the Pine Dock Road. We had perfect weather, not as many bugs as I’d feared and lots of birds. Looking forward to tallying it up. 🌿

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Dr. Heather Hinam

Dramatic skies thanks to a distant storm over Lake Winnipeg this lovely solstice evening. It was just windy enough that I could enjoy it without getting eaten alive. 🌿

This is fantastic news!

Have some good nature news: The Iberian Lynx has now been reclassified from "Endangered" to "Vulnerable" as the species has jumped from 62 mature individuals to 648 in the space of 21 years, with an estimated total population now >2,000 @tkingfisher.bsky.social

One of world’s rarest cats no longer endangered - conservation agencywww.bbc.com The Iberian lynx is now classed as "vulnerable" as numbers surge due to conservation efforts.

My alma mater asked me about some of my interpretive sign projects and used them to craft a road trip as part of a collection of fun things to do in Manitoba this summer. Check it out! news.umanitoba.ca/hello-summer/

Hello, Summernews.umanitoba.ca From paddle boarding with belugas in Churchill to birding on the Fort Garry campus—our list of summertime activities with a UM connection brings your Manitoba staycation to life

I've been having fun with this one. A cross-section of the Assiniboine River Valley near Miniota, Manitoba, Canada. You have to zoom in for all of the details. The final panel is going to be 8 feet wide. 🌿🎨