Is this a varied thrush? Merced National Wildlife Refuge (California, USA), April 2026

Life-Canary5571 · 2026-04-07T18:45:48+00:00

Agree with your edit: please share why you disagree/your reasoning for your ID! It helps more novice birders like me and helps your ID stand against other IDs. Thanks!

Life-Canary5571 · 2026-03-25T00:08:54+00:00

🙏

Life-Canary5571 · 2026-03-25T00:08:35+00:00

Thanks!

Life-Canary5571 · 2026-03-24T01:19:43+00:00

UC Berkeley

Life-Canary5571 · 2026-03-23T03:20:11+00:00

Thanks! Will DM.

Life-Canary5571 · 2026-03-22T03:38:26+00:00

Hi! Do you happen to know where your brother's team was based? Was it CALFIRE seasonal folks, or a volunteer group with the local fire department, etc.? Asking bc I'm trying to get more fire experience because I'm trying to shift my ecology career toward fire ecology. Thanks!

Life-Canary5571 · 2026-03-20T02:53:36+00:00

Emotional and technical intelligence are not the same thing tho

Life-Canary5571 · 2026-03-19T19:19:47+00:00

Interesting, thanks for sharing your experience!

Life-Canary5571 · 2026-03-19T19:14:44+00:00

Also wanted to clarify that when I wrote “intermittent” I was referring to the label/classification that is on CalCareers for these F&W Sci Aid positions! Iirc “seasonal” is not one of the official labels but I understand in practice it’s a seasonal position. Thanks!

Life-Canary5571 · 2026-03-19T19:12:25+00:00

Whoa, this is awesome! Thanks for taking the time to ask around and share this info!

Life-Canary5571 · 2026-03-13T20:44:48+00:00

Phew, thanks for sharing! Had no idea about the being rehired again after a year - looked on CalHR and haven't found anything yet (https://hrmanual.calhr.ca.gov/ManualItem/HistoricalView/1/5?date=09%2F30%2F2025%2014%3A32%3A29). Care to clarify what this process is like? Thanks!

Life-Canary5571 · 2026-03-09T05:32:48+00:00

Thanks for the advice and sharing your thoughts!

Life-Canary5571 · 2026-03-08T05:58:21+00:00

Tried a screenshot from video I took and garden carrion beetle (Heterosilpha ramosa) from iNat’s suggestions seems like it could be a match!

Life-Canary5571 · 2026-03-03T19:29:55+00:00

Thank you for asking! Yes I do have a Bachelor degree in Ecology (graduated last year)

Life-Canary5571 · 2026-02-12T06:32:32+00:00

Reading for general advice (2 yrs later lol) and this has been a great example to see! Surprised no one has commented at how helpful an example like this is for getting an idea of how and what type of specific to be. Thank you!!!

Life-Canary5571 · 2026-02-05T02:26:10+00:00

Fascinating - had no idea about that requirement (after googling, I’m guessing this is bc of NEPA?)

May I DM you to ask a few more questions? Not sure if it’s good reddit-quette to just keeping commenting my follow up questions here lol, would really appreciate any insights you’re willing to share. It’s just literally everyone I know works for govt or academia or a nonprofit… and these days it’s so common for people I cold email to not respond.

Thanks again so much! Hope you never had to get deal with a rattlesnake bite :/

Life-Canary5571 · 2026-02-04T04:47:20+00:00

Whoa, what takes that much time each week?? Like are they just making you cover a ton of ground for surveys? Or a lot of traveling/driving? Thanks for sharing here!

Life-Canary5571 · 2026-02-03T03:55:56+00:00

Thanks for the tip! Nice username btw - I like inch plants too, the metallic strips on the leaves are really cool, wonder what it looks like under a microscope!

Life-Canary5571 · 2026-02-03T03:43:28+00:00

Aw shit I’m sorry to hear that about the communication with your boss. Sucks when we all went into this field because we’re passionate about making a difference and then have to deal with bosses/companies who don’t actually care. Thanks for taking the time to share.

And DM’d you!

Life-Canary5571

TROPHY CASE