Because They Are A Complex Species! Or, Rather, They Are A Species Complex: A Group Of Species That Are

Because they are a complex species! Or, rather, they are a species complex: a group of species that are very closely related to the point that it can be very difficult to differentiate them. This makes them a near-endless font of novel research. Also, they are incredibly photogenic! I’ve been writing about birds and trawling through flickr for about two years now and no other species crops up as often as the GBHE Complex; at this point I’m pretty sure I have as many GBHE photos bookmarked as I do all other birds combined!

Pictured above is a Gams! Blue Heron, known for their strikingly well-formed legs. They are also very clever and hardworking, but unfortunately not taken seriously due to their lissome appearance. Also pictured are the bookmarks on my work web browser, with every subfolder containing at least three more bookmarks.

Why have you been posting non-bird related stuff? It really makes me feel uncomfortable when we are not focused on what is most important.

Because the unfortunate reality is that running The Academy of Bird Sciences costs money. Previously, funding was taken care of by my old boss, Edith. However, a while ago some police came by asking some very pointed questions regarding the revenue streams Edith managed, and the next day she left town with no forwarding address. Without her, there was no money and thus no ability to pay our field researchers for their valuable expertise.So, I started a Patreon campaign. In return for valuable money, supporters can choose where to focus the resources of TABS’ research programme. In addition to learning about the animal, bird, or plant of their choice every month supporters also receive a hand-written copy with additional data that remains unreleased to the public. Well, ideally at least. Life’s been a bit heavier than I’d like of late so that back half has been slipping.There is also the very real concern of burnout; I can only write on one subject for so long before the words stop working. The patreon system allows me to use external inspiration to partially refresh my mental batteries. Unfortunately even that is a temporary measure, as writing is an incredibly fatiguing task for me (to the point that I was supposed to receive ADA accommodations in school) which in short means every entry you read takes several hours to actually create. This amount of effort is not sustainable, and I will be taking a break from writing during Lent.

Honduran White Leafnoses are one of the more aesthetically aberrant exemplars in the Order of Alternative Birds. Forgoing the natural coloration of their close cousins, these flighted frighteners bleach their feathers the colour of bone in order to trick potential predators into believing they have stumbled onto a nest of very tiny ghosts. Hypotheses abound regarding the source of this behavioural adaptation, with a slim majority of scientists supporting the “forgot to turn the calendar to November” model over alternative explanations.

This entry was sponsored by a Patreon supporter! If you would like to guide research at The Academy of Bird Sciences, become a patron!

If I had a dollar for every dead bird I’ve found taped to my door without a note of provenance, I would have seven dollars.

i cannot believe, either!

(found on the door of the ornithology room on campus)

Monica is a good friend of this blog (her art has been previously featured) so please if you have a few dollars to spare consider helping fund her uncle’s memorial

I’ve been pretty down lately, but maybe you can help me out- I’m trying to help raise money to dedicate a grove of trees on my uncle’s fav hiking path. He died on March 26 after an unusual and sudden heart event on the 19th. 100% of commission funds donated to: razoo.com/story/Danseldowgrove  with a target date of June 17th, his 40th bday.

When a Fig Wasp and a Fig Tree love each other very much they have a special hug and I beg of you please do not investigate further. It is better that you think figs are merely the result of a weird bee having sex with a plant, because the truth is significantly less palatable. Some Things Once Learned Cannot Be Forgotten; You Have Been Warned.

This post is in memoriam of the brave field researcher who sacrificed themself upon the pyre of forbidden knowledge. May their disappearance not be in vain.