Shawn H. Smith

Ornithologist; Auburn Alumni #wareagle; MS in Raptor Bio from Boise State; & EVPP PhD Candidate at George Mason studying effects of #climatechange on 🐦. he/him

[Shawn H. Smith @shawn_smith_3]

My second paper is finally out! @lab_luther @ederry1 @jnphilli26, others & I found significant changes in WCSP plumage over the last 100 years! Urban birds are darker and duller while rural birds have richer hues and more complexity. #urban #birds #plumage
https://t.co/Tzk4tnymHx

[Shawn H. Smith @shawn_smith_3]

Today is filled with fantastic talks at #AOS_SCO23! If you’re still looking to fill your schedule, I will be talking about cardinal communication and how they commit errors when detecting others. I will be in room D/D1 at 10:45am!

[Shawn H. Smith @shawn_smith_3]

I’m really excited to be a part of this initiative with @lab_luther and Daniel Hanley (@HanleyColorLab) from @GMU_Biology to help make a #BirdSafeGMU! Please reach out if you have any questions or are interested in volunteering.

[Shawn H. Smith @shawn_smith_3]

@kbombycillidae They have been color banded for a couple different projects in northern Virginia/DC/Maryland as well as the JMU project

[Shawn H. Smith @shawn_smith_3]

This last week has been a whirlwind, but I won the best student speed talk at a conference and was just awarded a fellowship to work with the @SierraClub Virginia Chapter! Things are finally coming together, and I’m excited to get started on a great project with them.

[Shawn H. Smith @shawn_smith_3]

I took ornithology with @Geoffrey_E_Hill and @CJWMcClure as my TA 11 years ago this semester. They introduced me to what real birding was all about. Since then my dream bird to see was a snowy owl, but I’ve never been in the right place at the right time…UNTIL NOW! #lifer

[Shawn H. Smith @shawn_smith_3]

@evornithology I was always a fan of BDOW, but you have to shout it like pow!

[NYC Bird Alliance @nycbirdalliance]

🚨 Lights Out bills are expected to go to a full vote in the City Council next week! Please reach out to your local City Council member and urge them to support #LightsOutNYC bills Int. 274, 271, and 265! Learn the latest and how you can help here: https://t.co/wJf6XgjqbD

[Shawn H. Smith @shawn_smith_3]

Such a cool visitor to have just 30 minutes outside of Washington DC! #digiscope #spoonbill

[Shawn H. Smith @shawn_smith_3]

@wayfaringwilly @erlynerdgetbird I’m really not sure. It definitely isn’t the year to start trying to bird by ear more! It definitely seemed quieter bird-wise for the first few mornings after the chorus started.

[Shawn H. Smith @shawn_smith_3]

I brought some interesting hitchhikers in from the field today. I will take some #broodx cicadas any day over the ticks from last week! Today was the first day I could hear cicadas calling and they have emerged in high numbers across DC.

#cicadas #CicadaWatch2021 #fieldwork

[Shawn H. Smith @shawn_smith_3]

My best yardbird to date! A Mississippi Kite flew over my house hunting some #BroodX cicadas this morning!
#raptor #BirdsOfPrey #kite #yardbird

[Shawn H. Smith @shawn_smith_3]

@kristinbomboy I know the feeling! I thought the worst part of having a black interior was the heat. Now I know it’s the possibly limitless number of ticks crawling around unseen.

[Shawn H. Smith @shawn_smith_3]

Fieldwork problems: seeing ticks walk across your car dash while driving between sites and knowing there have to be more and that you brought them into the car.

Anyone else feel like the ticks are worse this year? I’m finding them everywhere!

#fieldwork #Ticks #theworst

[Shawn H. Smith @shawn_smith_3]

The cicadas finally started emerging in force last night! Look out DC!

#BroodX #cicada #CicadaWatch2021 #BroodXcicadas

[Shawn H. Smith @shawn_smith_3]

@MeLlamoRooster Are you going to lead a 1st grade bird watching workshop?

[Shawn H. Smith @shawn_smith_3]

I stopped looking up at the birds this morning to check under a few logs. I was stoked to find this eastern worm snake and holes everywhere from #broodX cicadas!
#snakes #wormsnake #fieldwork

[Shawn H. Smith @shawn_smith_3]

@AsparksPolSci From what I can tell, it doesn’t look like they’ll hit Durham. They only came out in a couple of counties in North Carolina last time.

[Shawn H. Smith @shawn_smith_3]

Brood X is almost here! I was surveying a site for Cardinals and came across a ton of these little ones moving about. There were lots of chimneys and holes across the person’s yard. Can’t wait to see them all emerge!
#BroodX #cicadas #cicada

[Shawn H. Smith @shawn_smith_3]

I was out surveying for cardinals today when I stumbled on one of @wayfaringwilly’s tagged robins! I can’t wait to find out where these birds are spending their winters. Follow Emily (@wayfaringwilly) for updates! #birds #migration #Robins