Jenny writes great popular science pieces, plus the research is cool 🌍🧪

Excited to have this one out after over a decade of work. Strong evidence for why migration matters for ungulates.

New study on mule deer in Wyoming reveals that migration is critical to maintain a robust population. I got the chance to chat with lead author Anna Ortega and @wyokauffman.bsky.social about their recent @currentbiology.bsky.social research: www.uwyo.edu/news/2026/02...

PhD lab still putting out papers on Nazca boobies in Galapagos 🧪🌍🪶 #Ornithology

The latest @wakeforest.bsky.social @wfubiology.bsky.social Nazca booby research is LIVE! I helped lead data collection for this paper when I was a PhD student, but WFU alum '23 (now PhD student) @treyursillo.bsky.social led the analysis! 👏 Great work, Trey! doi.org/10.3389/fbir...

TODAY is the deadline to submit public comment on Trump’s proposal to rescind the Roadless Rule, which would expose 45 million acres of national forest to permanent roads and their attendant environmental ills. Register your disapproval here: www.federalregister.gov/documents/20... #roadecology

Applications are NOW OPEN for Smith Fellows conservation research Fellowships beginning in 2026! View the Proposal Guidelines and apply here: www.smithfellows.org/join-us

our paper on how light pollution affects bird vocal behavior is out today in Science!! w/ @brentpease.bsky.social www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

After a decade of carnage, we finally know what’s devastating sea stars along North America’s west coast. For the most in-depth coverage of this breakthrough finding, don't miss this piece by @craigwelch.bsky.social in @biographic.bsky.social 🔗 tinyurl.com/2bmjdjex

I started reporting and writing this story in May 2024, then had a baby, then reported more to learn project updates, and FINALLY our story is live! Check it out to learn more about the decline of a common species, and an ambitious project trying to understand why. www.audubon.org/magazine/sol...

In March, the U.S. Air Force proposed to build a rocket landing site on remote Johnston Atoll, which formerly hosted a chemical weapon incineration plant and is now a seabird haven. Read my latest for @audubon.org about why this project would be so bad for wildlife: www.audubon.org/magazine/rem...

Wyoming deer are heading to the high country, some will travel up to 150 miles. Amazing - and necessary - movements across vast swaths of YOUR public lands. Follow along for weekly updates!

A federal judge signaled plans to extend the freeze on mass layoffs across major federal agencies, citing concerns over the constitutionality of the Trump administration's actions. buff.ly/7sWn7bR #federalworkers #layoffs

Hi #chemsky #scisky folks--I'd love to collect some community responses to this cut-back on GRFP awards for @cenmag.bsky.social story. If you have thoughts about the situation, please please get in touch--and share with your network! My DMs are open, and I'm also reachable by email or Signal :)

And yes. I know they are not real dire wolves. I know they are genetically modified grey wolves with a few tweaked genes. I know. I in fact wrote about this. Myself. teamtrash.substack.com/p/is-it-a-di...

I recently published a short review of an adorable book about bird nests for @ababirds.bsky.social! www.aba.org/bird-nests-a...

was your vaccine-related NIH grant terminated? please reach out: @katherinejwu.12 on Signal

I worry that the focus on NOAA's weather predicting value is ignoring the millions of other ways NOAA researchers enrich communities and local economies. There are no oysters without NOAA. There are no blue crabs without NOAA. NOAA trains teachers. NOAA is the lifeblood of coastal communities.

can't believe it's 2025 and i'm stressed about tariffs and measles, like am i a character in an american girl book

The 5th volume of our USGS report series on #ungulate migrations across the Western U.S. is LIVE! I am so proud to have contributed to this huge effort that maps 36 new herds, bringing the total to 218 herds mapped—an incredible feat! 👏 Read the report & download data: pubs.usgs.gov/publication/...

When was the last record of the Eskimo Curlew? Of the Heath Hen? I wrote about eBird checklists that contain the last instances of extinct species. www.audubon.org/magazine/the...

Volume 5 published, bringing the total to 218 mapped migration of ungulate herds across the American West. Tremendous effort by our team @USGS, Univ. of Wyoming, @uoregon.bsky.social and the many State and Tribal partners who have tracked animals across big landscapes. www.uwyo.edu/news/2025/02...

Hi all! Great to have so many new followers here! I'm Jenny, an ecologist and science writer. I'm currently on maternity leave, snuggling with our adorable son, Luke 😍

First paper published from my postdoc at University of Wyoming! We got into the nitty-gritty details of mapping #ungulate migrations, proposing & testing a useful way to analyze datasets that have infrequently collected GPS data: the Fixed Motion Variance method. Read more 👇 doi.org/10.1002/ecs2...

The Global Initiative on Ungulate Migration's new Atlas of Ungulate Migration that was unveiled today is STUNNING! 👏 Kudos to all who made this happen! See migrations and download corridor files and fact sheets from mule deer, wildebeest, guanaco, and more: www.cms.int/gium/resourc...

Y'all, do yourself a favor and read Kenn Kaufman's new book, "The Birds That Audubon Missed"! It covers the main players and early history of ornithology in North America, including John James Audubon, and is a true joy to read. Check out my review for @amornith.bsky.social! doi.org/10.1093/orni...

Looking for a new book to read this summer? Check out Holly Hogan's "Message in a Bottle"! You'll learn about the effects of plastic pollution on seabirds, and travel to seabird islands through the wonderful descriptive imagery. Check out my review for @amornith.bsky.social! doi.org/10.1093/orni...

Inspired by several recent publications, I updated my website! And I even added a publications page, so you can easily find publications by myself and coauthors! Check it out—and feel free to let me know if you spot any errors 🙃 www.jennylynnmckee.com

Many thanks to editor Andrew Del-Colle for the helpful edits and Janelle Ward, Dan Howie, Tāne Davis, and @digs.bsky.social for the many conversations we had about Kākāpō since September 2023! I really appreciate the amazing work they and others are doing to support Kākāpō!👏

I fucking love this. It was only a couple of nights ago that I had the oomph to walk to the end of my block to see the two neighborhood owls who hang out there (they oddly only want to visit during my most painful times of day). Big @edyong209.bsky.social superfan, he deserves all the good.

Birdability is another useful resource for folks looking at setting up accessible birding outings. www.birdability.org

In 2023, 10 critically endangered Kākāpō were reintroduced to mainland New Zealand—the first time in nearly four decades. But it hasn't gone quite as planned. Read my latest for Audubon magazine about the early challenges and what's next for the flightless parrot: www.audubon.org/magazine/mai...

Really grateful to Jenny for writing this great piece about the Spoonbill Club - our little venture to run birding trips for Bay Area folks with long COVID and other energy-limiting chronic illnesses. (And I hope someone fulfils Molly Adams's wish of starting a NY chapter.)

In February 2024, science writer @edyong209.bsky.social hosted a new birding club, just for #COVID long-haulers. He hopes to offer long-haulers community and an accessible way to enjoy nature. Read my latest Audubon story, with tips on starting a local club! #SciWri www.audubon.org/magazine/new...

The 4th U.S. Geological Survey report on #ungulate migrations is LIVE! I am so proud to have contributed to this huge collaborative effort featuring 33 herds of deer, elk, & pronghorn migrating across the Western US! Report: pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2024/500... Press Release: usgs.gov/news/nationa...

Really great article featuring ungulate #migrations in Wyoming! Mule deer, pronghorn, and elk face increasing obstacles, such as roads, fences, and expanding human development, as they make their seasonal movements to find more/better food. Definitely give this one a read!

Many thanks to the folks @sandiegozoo.bsky.social for talking to me for this story! And big shoutout to @jessleber.bsky.social who helped me find the right angle for the story and provided such thoughtful edits to improve it!! Rockstar! 🙏

Climate change is unleashing new threats for breeding centers where the world's most vulnerable species are safeguarded. Learn about several species, like Kauai's 'Akikiki, and how centers are preparing for new extreme weather events in my latest for Audubon magazine: www.audubon.org/news/how-ext...

Looking forward to this webinar!

I built the new Lego set, the Azure Kingfisher! I've never seen it in real life, but the Lego bird is absolutely gorgeous, with incredible details! So much fun 😍

Very cool #seabird postdoc at Bowdoin College working with Leach's storm petrels on Kent Island! Sounds like the perfect position for someone who wants to do research, teach, and live in #Maine for a bit!!

I really enjoyed these great tips for interviewing, like letting sources know at the start of the interview that they don't have to answer questions they don't feel comfortable answering! #SciComm

Have any #ecologists on here applied for ESA's Professional Ecologist Certification? Given the cost to apply ($100+ if already an ESA member), I wondered if it was useful or worth it, and for what career paths it might make sense to get the certification? 🧪 www.esa.org/certification/

Audubon’s sixth consecutive National Magazine Award nomination for general excellence 💅 www.asme.media/american-soc...

Happy birthday to the one and only Charles Darwin. "There is grandeur in this view of life—that from so simple a beginning, endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved." 🧪

Struggling seabirds thrown a lifeline by new commercial fishing ban in the North Sea – but it may not be enough theconversation.com/struggling-s... Excellent article by @ruthedunn.bsky.social in The Conversation

Come work with me at New Scientist! Our NY newsroom is hiring an assistant editor to work on news stories across all science and tech subjects. Ping me if you have any questions about the job, newsroom culture, or anything else!

Important and useful new paper from a great bunch of satistical ecologists 🧪🌏 4 principles to help guide ecologists towards improving their research methods and approach to statistics. Clearly laid out and easy to read! besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Join us at the USGS Cooperative Research Unit at Clemson University! Excited to post this Fall 2024 PhD position buchholtzlab.weebly.com/join-us.html, using GIS and ABMs to help us understand how red wolves navigate the socio-environmental landscape. Priority deadline 25 Feb. #EcoECRcareer 🌎🧪

Besides the usual news & climate change doom, 2023 was a ROLLER COASTER for me: We left Maine because my husband's job had no work-life balance, my Mom had emergency heart surgery (she's now doing great), & my Grandpa died. But there were positives that I'm trying to focus on. We got a pup, Elly! 😍