It’s been a bit since I posted anything here, three and a half years, in fact. I’ve already explained the reasons, so I won’t reiterate them. Since then, I’ve been hired permanently, passed my probationary period, fired, rehired, passed my probationary period again (long story), and furloughed (which is my current status). I’ve also rekindled an old hobby, outdoor photography, this time focusing on wildlife, mainly birds.

This video is from a trip to Orlando, where I was scheduled to speak at the American Society for Microbiology symposium “Early Microbial Life: Our Past, Present, and Future“. I drove down from Alexandria, stopping in Atlanta for a while, and arrived a few days early to do some birding. Unfortunately, after two days in Orlando, a scratchy throat prompted me to buy a COVID test, which was positive. I warned the hotel staff, stayed in my room for one more night, left for Alexandria first thing the next morning, and drove straight through. There was no virtual option for the meeting, so I missed it entirely.

For the two days I was there, though, I had some great birding at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive and Orlando Wetlands Park, and among other things I captured this video of a very agitated common gallinule. Lots more bird videos (plus a few others) are on my YouTube channel.