@biodiversitydna
Developing new approaches for conservation & biodiversity genomics in the Middle East, Central Asia, and East Africa. Exploring the world before it’s too late. Probably in 🇦🇪, 🇸🇦,🇮🇹,🇰🇪,🇰🇬,🇰🇿,🇺🇿, or🇦🇿.
In September, my eldest and I went to the Nomad Games in Astana, Kazakhstan. Another incredible celebration of central Asian culture. And as always, central asian food didn't disappoint.
I took my youngest daughter to Kyrgyzstan. One of my favorite countries on Earth. The mountains, the wilderness, the food, the culture. So happy to share it again with my daughter. Not the last time.
We loved our hometown, Castro dei Volsci, so much, we decided to buy a house there. I'm thrilled to bring my children, and hopefully their families, to the birthplace of our ancestors.
This summer I traveled to my family's homeland in Lazio, near Rome, with my brother and my father. It's great to connect with your heritage. I love Italy, I love Rome, I love Lazio.
I'm excited to be speaking about how to use ONT sequencing in emerging disease ecology in a conservation context at next week's #gulfsummit hosted by #oxfordnanopore in Dubai.
I enjoy my day job, and conservation biology. But I've got to be a bit honest. I'm most excited about my photography and traveling these days. Turning 50 has been a catharsis, in the true sense of the word. And I process it through travel and the lens.
I'm leaving twitter to be here (and also hopefully substack). I'm going to bomb-post a few things that I've been up to in the last year.
Took a quick trip to Nizwa, Oman. A charming fortress town in the mountains. Omani culture is so intriguing.
Good. Your trip looks awesome.
I’m not really often on this platform yet. My African and Central Asian contacts haven’t moved over. But. I should spend more time here.
Omg. @spwells.bsky.social is here!!!Maybe this portends that I can get closer to leaving “the bad place”.
Went out with the new 1.4x teleconverter today. This is my 100-400 mm Sony G Master with the teleconverter at 400 (e.g. 600 mm). I’m fairly happy with the results. I am excited to use this on my next trip to East Africa. (White-eared Bulbul)
That 800 mm is sick. Me want.
Here is a slide from my talk.
Looking forward to speaking today at the Oxford Nanopore Gulf Summit (Dubai) about new directions in conservation genomics using ONT sequencing.
Last month I stayed a night at Akagera Rhino Lodge, Eastern Province, Rwanda 🇷🇼. It was great to get an early start on the safari in the Akagera National Park. The Lodge is beautiful and the views over the plains into Tanzania are unparalleled. I can’t wait to go back.
Had a great conversation Wednesday with the senior staff of Conservation through Public Health about bring more support for conservation genomics and veterinary diagnostics/ molecular One Health techniques to Uganda 🇺🇬. Uganda is a global important steward of African biodiversity.
Western Transylvania 🇷🇴, August 2023.
Village Life, Eastern Province, Uganda
Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill (Bycanistes subcylindricus), Entebbe Botanical Gardens, Uganda
#BirdsSeenIn2023
Golden-backed Weaver (Ploceus jacksoni), Entebbe Botanical Gardens, Uganda 🇺🇬. #BirdsSeenIn2023
Eastern Plantain-eater (Crinifer zonurus). Entebbe, Uganda #BirdsSeenIn2023
Sunrise over the Nile headwaters, near Jinja, Uganda. Great birds, better relax.
Little bee eater in the afternoon glow.
It’s addictive. Cheaper than a lot of vices. Here’s my latest edit from a Sony a75r with 100-400 in Akagera NP.
Woah, that's a seriously fun tools! Enjoy!
[Walks off muttering "800....the f-ing 800....we wants it, we needs it, precious 800..."]
Over harvesting firewood is a major threat to biodiversity in much of the world.
And here is my favorite photo (so far) that I took during the event. I’ve got video. Don’t know how to process it.
I cannot think of another country that celebrates biodiversity, conservation, and the birth of endangered animals like Rwanda. I was honored to a guest of @RDBrwanda ‘s 19th Kwita Izina gorilla naming ceremony. Here is a great video showing the highlights. youtu.be/hTMzsJE4FfY?...
-I'm Erica. Do you remember me? -Of course. That wild night in Caracas. -You're in my contacts and I'm not sure we know one another. What is your name? -If you don't recall me or my name from our magical evening in Venezuela when we wore bear suits and swam in the river in moonlight then my heart is lost.
I've gotten utterly bored with simply blocking phishing texts.
People and Parks. This photo, on display at the Ellen Degeneres campus of the Dian Fossey Foundation, shows the boundary between Volcano NP and the surrounding community, exemplifies the challenges. Protected areas can improve, but today their role in conservation is critical.
Leopard, Akagera National Park. July 2023