Scott Pilutik

Sarah was instrumental in helping me understand the foodborne illness science and politics terrains so that I could write this article.

Ekblad Ekholm #bucciovertimechallenge

Why are there so many more people carrying umbrellas? And don't tell me "Because it's raining."

This is so fucking good

Just doing some math here and realizing that slapping a 100% tariff on this particular Spanish film would've required it to be ¡SIX AMIGOS! There's no way Chevy Chase would've tolerated additional amigos.

Some more birds in Central Park today. Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Cape May Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Scarlet Tanager #birds #birdcpp

Some birds in Central Park today. Swamp Sparrow, Wood Thrush, Black and White Warbler, Palm Warbler #birds #birdcpp

Me in Slate discussing Musk's weekend email to federal workers

@tikk.bsky.social

Brilliant reporting from @tikk.bsky.social on how yesterday's judicial order ending the block on the DOGE "buyout" offer opened the door to Musk breaking countless laws to brutalize the federal work force: slate.com/news-and-pol...

House Finch Spring 2023, State College, PA House Finches are bird-feeder hogs and probably too easy to photograph, but this one looks angelic with the light falling just so around her eye. #birds #birdaday 85/x

Chilling, accurate summation of where we're at from @tikk.bsky.social In a very short period of time, dozens of federal judges have told the Trump Adminstration to stop breaking the law. To this point they've not only refused to comply, they've indicated that they won't. 1/

Catbird Summer 2023, Central Park Catbirds are as cooperative as Robins for the camera. I like how this one is artificially framed. #birds #birdaday 84/x

European Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus) Sorry, I'll get to more birds shortly. My auto-buffer ran out without my realizing.

Eastern Bluebird Spring 2023, State College PA Pretty birds but pretty mean and protective if they think you're a threat. #birds #birdaday 83/x

Great Blue Heron Spring 2023, State College, PA Specifically, taken at Millbrook Marsh. Not the best photo but interesting in that Herons spend most of their time in the water, less so in trees. #birds #birdaday 82/x

@tikk.bsky.social slate.com/news-and-pol...

Common Loon Spring 2023, Central Park One place you'll always find birds is the Reservoir in Central Park, but it's not easy to get good shots there b/c you can't get eye-level with the birds. This one was okay. #birds #birdaday 81

Chipping Sparrow Spring 2023, State College PA An elegant, uncommon Sparrow with unique eye markings and a call that fits its name. #birds #birdaday 80/x

Me in Slate asking whether Musk will be tripped up by a pair of lawsuits filed by federal workers based on flagrant privacy statute violations.

American Goldfinch Spring 2023, Bald Eagle State Park, PA Sometimes the background is messy and competes, but you can't not take the photo. This Goldfinch was dining out on thistle for at least ten minutes while I took too many photos. #birds #birdaday 79/x

Common Yellowthroat Spring 2023, State College In the better bird photographs the background speaks to the subject in some way. It's so easy to get lost in this soft, green and yellow backdrop, with just a hint of warmth. #birds #birdaday 78/x

Northern Shoveler Spring 2023, Central Park Northern Shovelers are easy to ID b/c of their long dark bills (males only) and odd positioning in the water, with their back end up a bit higher. Beautiful eyes. This is a non-breeding male, the breeding males are more stunning. #birds #birdaday 77/x

Eastern Carpenter Bee Spring 2023, State College PA Most of my bird shots are taken with a 400mm lens, these bee shots were taken with a super-crisp 80mm macro lens (Fuji). Which also means I'm practically on top of that bee, and I'm simultaneously fascinated/terrified by stinging insects.

Honeybee Spring 2023, State College PA I'll briefly pause on the daily bird posts to add in a few bees. I've had my bee photos featured twice in the NYTimes Spelling Bee page, which puzzle I do every day.

Eastern Phoebe Spring 2023, State College, PA A litlte underexposed and noisy as a result, but I still like the shot, one of the few times a mess of sticks in the background doesn't completely detract. #birds #birdaday 76/x

Ruby-throated Hummingbird Spring 2023, State College Might be my first hummingbird shot, as evidenced by the slow shutter speed, probably 1/800. Now I wouldn't shoot Hummingbirds in flight below 1/2000. #birds #birdaday 75/x

Me again in @slate.bsky.social on Musk's ominous email to federal workers.

Grackle Spring 2023, Central Park Grackles are common but visually fascinating, iridescent like Starlings, with whom the often congregate in flocks. The purple hue is a giveaway that this is a northeast variety--out west they're more bronze. #birds #birdaday 74/x

Eurasian Eagle-Owl Spring 2023, Central Park This is Flaco, RIP, who I was lucky to see on a handful of occasions during his Central Park escaped-from-the-zoo tenure. He's pretty far away here, but I was lucky to photograph him again later. #birds #birdaday 73/x

Canda Geese (not "Canadian" Geese, btw) Spring 2023, Central Park Ducks and Geese on water are relatively easy to shoot, except that the best shots are taken at water level, and to do it right you need to get in the water. I'm not there yet, but you can see here I got close. #birds #birdaday 72

House Wren Spring 2023, State College We have a cat toy that sounds like a House Wren, and since this Wren was literally residing in a birdhouse outside our front door, the cats were terribly confused for awhile. We decomissioned the toy, the actual Wren sounds better. #birds #birdaday 71/x

Eastern Phoebe, Spring 2023, State College PA Small, elegant fly-catchers that photograph beautifully, w/ subtle warm, neutral, smoothly gradated tones. They're not difficult to shoot b/c they return to the same branch, often near water, catch an insect, lather rinse repeat. #birds #birdaday 70/x

Song Sparrow, Spring 2023, State College PA Song Sparrows are more typically found in reeds, goldenrods, etc., but I found this one on the ground. Ordinarily the ground doesn't make for great backgrounds photographically, but the monotone and unformity kind of work here. #birds #birdaday 69/x

My piece in @slate.bsky.social about the emails federal workers received yesterday, the apparent goal of which is to divide workers along loyalty lines

Eastern Towhee, Spring 2023, State College PA Eastern Towhees aren't typically found near feeders, so this one's appearance was a surprise. Such striking markings, right down to the red eye of this female. #birds #birdaday 68/x

I agree, but I think Vivek and Elon will be the prelim battle.

American Goldfinch, Spring 2023, State College PA Male Goldfinches go through distinct plumage phases from the Winter to the Spring, going from pale yellow to deep yellow. This one is nearly there. #birds #birdaday 67/x

Eastern Bluebird, Spring 2023, State College PA Bluebirds are common but since we don't have boxes I don't see them unless I venture into the woods. #birds #birdaday 66/x

Dark-eyed Junco, Spring 2023, State College PA Juncos slowly disappear from central PA once winter ends, migrating north. But this female (lighter heads than the males) was still around in late March/early April. #birds #birdaday 65/x

White-breasted Nuthatch, Winter 2023, State College PA We're finally up to 2023, where I think the quality of my photos improved, due to spending more time watching birds and waiting them out. Perhaps not obvious here--just another Nuthatch, this time in a blizzard. #birds #birdaday 64/x

White-throated Sparrow, Winter 2022, State College PA I typically crop tighter to the bird than this but I love how the falling snow came out here. #birds #birdaday 63/x

Common Snipe, Summer 2022, Iceland Took a trip to Iceland but didn't bring my long lens. Consequently, this is the only decent bird shot I returned with. #birds #birdaday 62/x

Magnolia Warbler, Spring 2022, Central Park NY Just stunning. Probably my first time seeing one. #birds #birdaday 61/x

Northern Cardinal, Spring 2022, State College, PA Robins and Catbirds seem aware and unperturbed by humans, but only Cardinals will give you that come-hither look. #birds #birdaday 60/x

White-throated Sparrow, Winter 2022, State College, PA Hearty winter birds, characteristically on the snow-covered ground. #birds #birdaday 59/x

Dark-eyed Junco, Winter 2022, State College PA These small, fearless birds show up in the winter, migrating south, and dominate backyard feeders. I've got lots of photos of Juncos in trees with falling snow. Sometimes the snow doesn't pop, but it really cooperated here. #birds #birdaday 58/x

Was PSUWr crushing MSUWr's portal- and backup-depleted squad 55-0 foreshadowing the future of not just "Mid-Major" or less-funded D1 programs, but of bottom-tier *Big Ten Programs*? Recap & takery from myself & NerfState Nat, 📸 by @tikk.bsky.social www.blackshoediaries.com/2025/1/12/24...

Catbird, Spring 2022, State College PA Along with Robins, one of the few birds that seem to pose when they sense your eyes on them. Most catbirds appear "grey card" grey--the exact photogentic midpoint between black and white. #birds #birdaday 57/x