This summer was supposed to be the last chance to study birds in the Arctic Refuge before oil development began. But COVID-19 has put the research on hold—and drilling the pristine landscape may be up in the air, too: ow.ly/SYlJ30qHebU Daniel Ackerman

The pandemic has halted Manomet Conservation Sciences's research in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. But fed oil leasing could proceed this year. What does it all mean for conservation prospects? Tl;dr nobody knows for sure. I dug into the question for Audubon Society

Barbaric yawp from the catbird club. #manometspring2020 @manometcenter #dumetellacarolinensis instagr.am/p/CAdzFiFgidD/

Gotta love the contrast on this tyrant. Taking a break from battling the Red-wings for the top perch. #manometspring2020 @manometcenter #easternkingbird #tyrannustyrannus instagr.am/p/CAp6LtjArJG/

Lifer 🚨 - Stream Cruiser - Didymops transversa. One of many odonates out and about in the morning sun near the Moosup River at Nicholas Farm Management Area. instagr.am/p/CA3jsA7glhM/

A male Ebony Jewelwing. This broad-winged damselfly was delightfully plentiful yesterday along the edges of the Moosup River floodplain in westernmost Rhode Island. A jewel in every sense. #ebonyjewelwing #calopteryx instagr.am/p/CA5RCNggHSC/

Every action, every day. Be the change you want to see in the world. #blackouttuesday #blacklivesmatter instagr.am/p/CA8KGBfgTzq/

While many of our eastern forests are recovering from rampant deforestation, they’ve got a long way still to go. I was reminded of this by this giant white oak, a relic of a bygone age in the beautiful maturing woods of Arcadia Management Area. #easternd… instagr.am/p/CA_Q59UAkKc/

This Gray Catbird was singing with the wind! Smart move. #manometspring2020 #mascot #amplified #dumetellacarolinensis instagr.am/p/CBRrT4jA9gJ/

Those aren’t birds! They are Gray Seals resting in classic “bottling” style. A typical summer high tide scene off the bluff at @manometcenter. #marinemammals #grayseal #manometspring2020 instagr.am/p/CBojxo3gVyF/

Spangled Skimmer hanging out on a foggy morning at @manometcenter #manometsummer2020 #odonata #inaturalist instagr.am/p/CB1cgdEAc3-/

Big hoss. This bullfrog hangs out at the small pond in the middle of #SwanPointCemetery. Makes me wonder two things... how old are you and what does it take to keep you fed... #bullfrog #lithobatescatesbeianus instagr.am/p/CB9WOfGAFtt/

Osprey with a porgy. Thanks @typicalkeith150 for the fish i.d. #osprey instagr.am/p/CCHXLcwA9l-/

More Wood River critters, this time the Appalachian Brown. I saw quite a few of these wetland butterflies in the marshy riverside vegetation. Such sharp eyespots. #lepidoptera #inaturalist #rhodeislandwildlife instagr.am/p/CClZ2qNgUrC/

This is the ideal river, you may not like it but this is what peak performance looks like.

Easy to see why phoebes are my favorite. Enjoyed running into this roaming hatch-year on a mullein stalk yesterday. Still with its youthful gummy gape, loosely textured body feathers, and cinnamon wing bars. #manometsummer2020 @manometcenter instagr.am/p/CEHnY5Ggnazd…

Today, I treasured a few serene moments with a flock of juvenile Semipalmated Sandpipers. Barely a month old and fresh out of the Arctic, there’s a good chance I’m the first human this bird has ever seen - hence this intimate moment. #shorebirds #avespla… instagr.am/p/CEX00CkglxbA…

The bathtub is full. #saltmarsh #whatliesbeneath #shorebirdhabitat #hightide instagr.am/p/CEajzsYgkhM2…

More pieces to fill in the puzzle wadertales.wordpress.com/2021/05/27/sub… a red knot banded in #Chiloe at the end of 18-19 season, then seen several times there seasons 19-20 & 20-21, resighted two months ago during migration in Massachussets coast by Alan Kneidel = Calidris canutus rufa👇(español)