Hannah Clipp, PhD @allthatwildlife.bsky.social

Wildlife biologist & birder | Interests: wildlife research, birding, & nature photography | GIS Scientist working for the Appalachian Mountain Club | PhD in Natural Resources Science (WVU) | Website: hannahclipp.weebly.com

Hi! I finally migrated and sought out bluer skies.

My name is Hannah, and I am a wildlife biologist who conducts research that is mainly focused on forest birds.

You can expect me to post about birds / birding, wildlife, ecology, and nature photography.
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During my recent #Hawaii #birding trip, I hiked 2 miles up a mountain at ~9,700 ft in elevation to see a Palila --- a critically endangered endemic honeycreeper species found only on the high-elevation slopes of Mauna Kea on the Big Island. Definitely worth all the effort! 🪶

#BirdsSeenIn2026
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During my recent #Hawaii #birding trip, I had a too brief encounter with the smallest Hawaiian honeycreeper --- 'Anianiau.

They are only found in Kauai's high-elevation forests and have become difficult to find in recent years.

#BirdoftheDay #BirdButt #birds #nature #photography #BirdsSeenIn2026
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On my recent #Hawaii #birding trip, I was fortunate to see Akiapolaau, one of the remaining endemic honeycreeper species, found only in the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge on the Big Island. It is best known for its unique and specialized bill.

#birds #nature #photography #BirdsSeenIn2026
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The most friendly bird that I encountered on my recent #Hawaii #birding trip was this specific Erckel's Spurfowl at the Pu’u O Kila Lookout parking lot in Kauai.

Erckel's Spurfowl is a nonnative game bird species that was introduced from Africa in 1957.

#birds #nature #photography #BirdsSeenIn2026
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Laysan Albatross (mōlī) is a native seabird known to nest in coastal areas of Kauai, so I really wanted to see a baby on my recent #Hawaii #birding trip.

I thought I was prepared for the cuteness, but no... look at this adorable fluffy muppet baby!!!

#birds #nature #photography #BirdsSeenIn2026
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An addendum...

All photos + art are my own (unless stated otherwise) and include alt-text

I will never post AI content

I practice ethical photography

My Master's + PhD degrees are both in wildlife, and I've been an avid birder since 2014, so I -really- care about wildlife + birds + sharing facts
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During my recent Hawaii birding trip, I first saw Red-crested Cardinals in a parking lot on Kauai, becoming my 4th Hawaii lifer.

They were also the very final bird species that I photographed on my last day --- also in a parking lot.

#Hawaii #birds #birding #nature #photography ##BirdsSeenIn2026
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The first native bird species of my recent Hawaii birding trip was Hawaiian Goose (Nene) --- there was a flock near the Kawai'ele Waterbird Sanctuary on Kauai.

Nene is the official state bird of Hawaii & endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.

#Hawaii #birds #birding #nature #photography #BirdsSeenIn2026
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The first bird that I spotted in Hawaii was also the first bird lifer of my Hawaii birding trip last month --- a Spotted Dove at the Honolulu airport!

This is a non-native bird species, but still... What a fun welcome to the state!

#Hawaii #birds #birding #nature #photography #BirdsSeenIn2026
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Favorite sighting of an introduced reptile species from my recent Hawaii birding trip:

A rather cute-looking gold dust day gecko hanging out in a big leafy plant at a Big Island hotel resort

This gecko was introduced in the 1970s from Madagascar.

#Hawaii #herps #wildlife #nature #photography
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Favorite sighting of a native reptile species from my recent Hawaii birding trip:

A sleepy green sea turtle (honu) resting on some rocks that were just offshore from a beach on the Big Island

In Hawaii, they are known for this common basking behavior.

#Hawaii #herps #wildlife #nature #photography
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Favorite sighting of an introduced mammal species from my recent Hawaii birding trip:

Small Indian mongoose that had been munching on cat food at a public park on the Big Island

Unfortunately, they can be quite harmful to Hawaii's native species.

#Hawaii #mammals #wildlife #nature #photography
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Favorite sighting of a native mammal species from my recent Hawaii birding trip:

A Hawaiian monk seal snoozing on a sandy beach on the Big Island of Hawaii

Hawaiian monk seals are a critically endangered species, so this was a very special sighting!

#Hawaii #mammals #wildlife #nature #photography
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For my top three favorite bird lifers 🪶 that I saw during my recent trip to Hawaii...

The third is Red-tailed Tropicbird (Koa‘e ‘ula)!

They were flying around Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge on Kauai and along the Oahu coast.

#birds #birding #Hawaii #Kauai #Oahu #nature #photography
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For my top three favorite bird lifers 🪶 that I saw during my recent trip to Hawaii...

The second is Blue-billed White Tern (Manu o Ku)!

You can find them nesting within and flying around the city of Honolulu on Oahu.

#birds #birding #Hawaii #Honolulu #Oahu #nature #photography
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For my top three favorite bird lifers 🪶 that I saw during my recent trip to Hawaii...

The first is Hawaiian Goose (Nene)!

I got really great looks at Hawaiian Goose at the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge on Kauai.

#birds #birding #Hawaii #Kauai #nature #photography
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I went to Hawaii for 13 days of birding, covering 3 islands and 30 birding locations, and got 46 bird lifers, including 18 endemic Hawaiian bird species, 4 native bird species, and 24 introduced species.

I took 11,500 photos, so... More photos and posts to come!
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Happy Owl-O-Ween! 🪶 🎃 🦇

(This is one of the Barred Owls that lives in the WVU Core Arboretum in Morgantown, WV.)
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My final good-ish wolf photo from earlier this month is very autumnal.

I enjoyed the fall foliage in Jasper National Park, and even more so the wildlife! In addition to wolves, there was a family of moose and a handful of elk and mule deer.

#wildlife #mammals #nature #autumn
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About 2 weeks ago, I was lucky to spot at least 2 wolves from a somewhat random stop along Maligne Lake Road in Jasper National Park.

I was looking for birds, so it was pretty unexpected to see my first ever wolves!

#wildlife #mammals
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Recently, I attended The Wildlife Society conference in Edmonton, Canada, and then ventured to Jasper National Park.

One of the best highlights of that trip was seeing WOLVES in the wild for the first time!

Sure, they were ~0.5 miles (~800 m) away, but still so cool.

#TWS2025 #wildlife #mammals
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Female Lesser Nighthawks lack the bright white wingbars of their male counterparts (see my previous posts), but they are just as amazing to watch zip by in search of flying insect prey. I was lucky to see ~10 of these nightjars along one road in southeast Arizona. 🪶

#birding #nature #photography
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Reposted by Hannah Clipp, PhD
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Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D. @sarahmackattack.bsky.social
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Having birds swoop around you with no concern for your presence is such a delightful experience and is a highlight of #birding for me. 🪶

I'm glad that I was able to capture one such moment with this male Lesser Nighthawk during my 1st time seeing the species.

#nature #photography #BirdsSeenIn2025
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I had never seen a Lesser Nighthawk before my trip to southeast Arizona this past June, and I had such an awesome encounter with this male! 🪶

Lesser Nighthawks like to zoom around the desert scrub searching for insect swarms, usually around dusk.

#birding #nature #photography ##BirdsSeenIn2025
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Hints:

I did not leave the USA.

Who is the gull?
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I interrupt my nightjar photo series to pose a challenge to my bird-aware friends + followers...

Based on the two unusual bird species in these not-so-great photos, can you deduce where I was last weekend?

#birds #birding #BirdsSeenIn2025
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On a nice summer night, if you walk along a trail in Miller Canyon in southeast Arizona, you might just come across a funky little mottled gray bird sitting in your path.

This is a Common Poorwill --- the smallest nightjar species in North America! 🪶

#birding #nature #photography #BirdsSeenIn2025
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I heard and saw my lifer Mexican Whip-poor-will this past June in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeast Arizona. 🪶

The 2 whip-poor-wills that breed in the USA were split into distinct species in 2010 based on differences in vocalizations and genetics.

#birding #nature #photography #BirdsSeenIn2025
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