It's Monday, so let's talk about the most eel-some place in England. That's right..it's Ely time! Ely is all about eels. Bede wrote in his Ecclesiastical History (c. 700 CE) that Ely took its name from the abundant eels in the nearby fens & waters: Ely means Isle of Eels. 1/3 🗃️🧪

Doing some archeology on my saved tabs, and this was a great read: reactormag.com/why-science-...

Ominous bird valentines.

Today's alternative #birdoftheday theme is #birds with long necks. Any excuse for a #vulture pic! Long necks are always handy when delving deep in a carcass... @alan678.bsky.social @robcrank68.bsky.social @vulturecat.bsky.social 🪶

Today's #birdoftheday theme of two species in one shot was crying out for a #vulture one! European Black Vulture (what an eye!) with supporting cast of two Griffon Vultures. #birds #wildlife 🪶 @alan678.bsky.social @robcrank68.bsky.social @vulturecat.bsky.social @laffingkat.bsky.social

What's this? The #birdoftheday theme is #Raptors and you haven't posted a #vulture yet Ian... Ok, if you insist. @alan678.bsky.social @robcrank68.bsky.social @iand777.bsky.social @vulturecat.bsky.social @laffingkat.bsky.social @iancarter67.bsky.social #birds #nature 🪶

Thoth hopes the good in your heart for 2026 weighs up favorably against Maat's ostrich feather. 🏺 #archaeobirds #DivineEgypt

The #birdoftheday theme is #birds with food in their bills. How could I not put #Vultures up?! The not very decorous feeding frenzy of Old World Black & Griffon Vultures on video. @alan678.bsky.social @markavery.bsky.social @vulturecat.bsky.social @iand777.bsky.social @carlbergstrom.com #wildlife

#ArtAdventCalendar Day 18, my California Condor from Birdtober this year! I got to see condors during my Monterey trip about 2 weeks after I drew this. Definitely one of my favorite lifers of the trip! #BirdArt #SciArt #Copic #AnimalArt #ArtYear 1/2

#BirdOfTheDay alternate #OpenWings bearded vulture showing off his impressive 2.5 metre wing span. Took this in the Spanish Pyrenees #birds #birdphotography #pyrenees

Today's #birdoftheday theme is groups. So here's a group of Vultures out on the plain. #birds 🪶 @robcrank68.bsky.social @alan678.bsky.social @vulturecat.bsky.social @iand777.bsky.social @drtonygillie.bsky.social

Another group for today's #birdoftheday theme. I could post a lot of Vulture photos for this theme... 😆 @robcrank68.bsky.social @alan678.bsky.social @drtonygillie.bsky.social @vulturecat.bsky.social @laffingkat.bsky.social #birds #nature #wildlife

If you also love vultures, check out the Nestflix live cam! You can check in on this (now quite big) baby Bearded Vulture, Arari! They're getting ready to fledge from the nest any day now! www.youtube.com/watch?v=yc2g...

For day 15 of #artadventcalendar - a study of a bearded vulture. These birds are not actually tan, they roll around in mud to get just the right shade. #watercolor #birdart

Whittled a great grey owl, because apparently I've been dipping into my cryochamber of crafting hobbies and dragging some out of hibernation.

I love birds so much. Look at this face. #birds 🪶

Hey, remember those exciting vulture calendars I've been pushing? There are now discounts! Tell all your friends! All proceeds go to the research and conservation of #vultures in Central Asia. They are understudied, threatened, and very awesome creatures. forms.gle/pimXihA6jX2o... 🪶 🦤 🦅

Lovely stamp and cover artwork depicting threatened bearded vulture. Spain.2019. One of my favourite birds, the Spanish/Catalan names quebrantahuesos/trencalòs tell you it drops bones to shatter on rocks before swallowing to get marrow - armed by strongest stomach acid in nature.

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Today, December 12 is International Iberian Lynx Day. A good day to celebrate the recovery of the species. In 'Critical danger of Extinction' 25 years ago, there are now over 2400 Iberian #Lynx. #rewilding

'AI is coming' I tell the museum stakeholders as I proudly cut the ribbon of our new Artificial Insemination exhibition

3 days!! forms.gle/pimXihA6jX2o... 🪶 🦅 🦤

For #ArtAdventCalendar day 8, this Turkey Vulture who is beautiful and charming. Everyone should love Turkey Vultures more than they already do, and for some of you that's quite a lot, I know! 🪶 #BirdArt #SciArt

Day 8, of #artadventcalendar seems like a good day for a California Condor portrait. Did you know in the late 1980s, there were no wild condors? Now you can see them soar in California and Arizona, with over 300 of them in the wild. Mixed media on canvas #birdart #extincttowild

You have one week to place your order for the #CentralAsianVulturesProject 2026 charity calendar! forms.gle/pimXihA6jX2o... 12 stunning full page photos of #vultures, fun vulture facts every month, and your money goes towards vulture research and conservation! Shipping worldwide. 🪶 #Raptors 🦤

An exciting opportunity to join the team behind one of the world's major zoological libraries 📚 We are currently recruiting for two roles, an Archivist and a Reading Room Assistant, to join ZSL's Library and Archives team. Find out more & apply before 19th December: careers.zsl.org/vacancies/va...

A few photos of Ethel the whiteheaded vulture from a trip to Thirsk Bird of Prey Centre back in October. 🪶 #Raptors #Vultures

#ornithology #RaptorResearch www.goodnewsnetwork.org/100-years-af...

Bearded vultures are accumulators, never burdened by the question “Does it spark joy?” Still, archaeologists investigating 12 nests in Spain were surprised that the birds had tucked away objects nearly 700 years old! archaeology.org/issues/january-february-2026/digs-discoveries/full-nesters/

Last chance to submit photos of wild or captive Bearded, Cinerous, Egyptian, Griffon, or Himalayan vultures for the #CentralAsianVultures calendar competition! forms.gle/afFtzhcDZStc... 🪶 #birds #birdphotography #vultures #wildlifeconservation

This is a very nice toad. www.zsl.org/news-and-eve...

I enjoyed this: www.uncannymagazine.com/article/the-... (I have about a million tabs open, some of them are short stories I decided I should read at some point, and I'm currently trapped under a cat).

It’s official! We decided to have a small convention next 8-9 May. We have the terrific @annasmithspark.bsky.social and Adrian Tchaikovsky as our guests of honor. You can find out more on our website norncon.org We’d love it if you could join us! And if you’re at Octocon today say hi to Tommy!

Identifying suitable nesting habitat and factors affecting breeding success of critically endangered white-rumped vulture Gyps bengalensis in Nepal | doi.org/10.1007/s433... | Ornithology Research | #ornithology 🪶

The Central Asian Vultures project is running a #photography competition for our 2026 calendar to raise funds for exciting #conservationscience! 🪶 All the details can be found here: forms.gle/afFtzhcDZStc... #Birds #BirdPhotography #vultures

FINALLY SOME GOOD NEWS IT’S FAT BEAR WEEK

#InternationalVultureAwarenessDay! Thinking of all this year’s fledglings & the threats they’re going to face; mostly anthropogenic. Vultures just go about their lives keeping the natural world clean while humans set it on fire. Tough, but it’s important to hold on to hope & conservation successes.

🎉 Celebrate International Vulture Awareness Day with Bird Conservation International! 🎉 🍖 The world's most efficient scavengers are disappearing from their vital role. 🔎Discover our curated collection of studies here: www.cambridge.org/core/journal... #vultureday #vultureawarnessday #vultures

🦅 On International Vulture Awareness Day, we recognize the essential role vultures play in sustaining healthy ecosystems and highlight @wwf.eu’s ongoing efforts to protect them. 🔗 Learn more about WWF’s conservation efforts in our guide: securesustain.org/abstract/world-wildlife-fund

Soar with us to Spain this International Vulture Awareness Day for an update on Egyptian vulture conservation! Read about a project from coordinator Alfonso Godino: www.hawkmountain.org/blog/in-the-field/wings-over-the-mediterranean-international-collaboration-to-save-egyptian-vultures-takes-flight

Today is International Vulture Awareness Day. This group of birds has a bit of an unfair reputation and is even regarded in Africa as one as the ‘Ugly 5.’ Lots of wildlife species contribute to the ecosystem in different ways. #vultures #birds #wildlife

Happy #InternationalVultureAwarenessDay Vultures are natures all-important clean-up crew, but in South Asia have hugely declined Find out how Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction (SAVE) partners are working to fix this 🌏 🪶 RSPB Species Spotlight: tinyurl.com/6mxxucf7

Epic soaring skills, stomachs that neutralise deadly bacteria, and a vital role in stopping disease… We reckon vultures might just be the most underrated birds out there. 👀 🦅 This #InternationalVultureAwarenessDay, discover why we owe them so much: brnw.ch/21wVwo3

To celebrate #InternationalVultureAwarenessDay & begin a 🧵on #BirdsSeenIn2025 in Zimbabwe, around Victoria Falls, the phenomenal Vulture Restaurant at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge which does so much to raise awareness of horrific plight of African Vultures such as these White-backed & Hooded. 1/25

Happy #internationalvultureawarenessday! I have been very aware of vultures, internationally. Here is a random thread of that!