Wouter Vansteelant
Research topic: Migration
Study species: Eurasian birds of prey
As a keen birder I have long been fascinated by ecology and the complexity of natural systems. Animal movement is a particularly intriguing discipline aiming to understand how individual animals decide to move through their environment in search of resources, and how behavior of individuals translates into population dynamics and species distributions.
Will Cresswell
Research topics: Migration routes; Migratory connectivity; Non-breeding ecology
Research locations: APLORI, Jos, Nigeria; Liberia
Study species: All migrants
Will Cresswell is Professor of Biology at St Andrews University and has been studying predator-prey interactions, and the ecology of migrant birds for the last 30 years. Current research priorities are to understand the factors determining the density and distribution of Palearctic migrants wintering in West Africa so that we can address their continuing declines in the face of anthropogenic habitat and climate change. As part of the solution he is also involved with capacity building in the region through helping to run the AP Leventis Ornithological Research Institute that trains future African ornithologists.
Will Cresswell has been involved in management, teaching and research at APLORI from the very start when a chance meeting with Tasso Leventis on a rain forest trail in Ibadan in 1999 led to the initial partnership between APLORI and Oxford University. Will developed the curriculum and initial teaching program for the Masters in Conservation Biology at APLORI, and his then PhD students, Ross MacGregor and Jared Wilson were the first researchers on site at Amurum, setting up the long term ringing and survey program that continues to this day. Will has taught almost all of the hundred and twenty plus Masters students at one time or another, and has had eleven PhD students carrying out research based at APLORI, including three APLORI graduates, Sam Ivande, Murna Tela and Chima Nwaogu. Will is on the Management and Scientific Committees for APLORI, and is a Trustee of the APLORI Foundation that oversees the endowment that provides APLORI’s core funding.
Rien van Wijk
Research topic: Full annual cycle
Study species: Some migrant species
Currently I reside in Copenhagen, Denmark, after having worked as a PhD student at SOI on the migratory behaviour and its effects on breeding success in Hoopoes that breed in Switzerland.
Using geolocators we investigated their timing, routes and non-breeding sites and put this in a broader perspective by obtaining similar geolocator data from other Hoopoe populations throughout Eurasia. Simultaneously we studied their genetic relations so to be able to investigate population specific migration strategies in relation to genetics.
Almut Schlaich
Research topic: Full annual cycle
Study species: Montagu's Harrier
I am passionate about Montagu’s Harriers since I first observed these gracile raptors dancing above the vast cereal fields of Eastern Groningen in the Netherlands in 2009. I could count myself lucky to start working on this amazing species at the Dutch Montagu’s Harrier Foundation doing my Master’s thesis on stopover site ecology of Montagu’s Harriers at an important stopover site in East Morocco. Since then, I travelled through many European and West African countries in search of Montagu’s Harriers, following our satellite- and GPS-tagged individuals.
Raphaël Nussbaumer
Research topics: Full annual cycle; Geolocation tracking; Migration routes
Study speciess: Mangrove Kingfisher; Northern Wheatear; Red-capped Robin-chat; Woodland Kingfisher
No profile details provided
Samuel Temidayo (Dayo) Osinubi
Research topics: Geolocation tracking; Migratory connectivity; Phylogeography
Study speciess: African Pygmy Kingfisher; Woodland Kingfisher
An avian behavioural ecologist interested in bird behaviour relative to their environment.
Israel Adedeji Bolade
Research topics: Non-breeding ecology; Wintering ecology
Study species: Pied Flycatcher
A nature lover with a keen interest in the behaviour and migration of birds. A Research Associate with APLORI. and a former intern and current member of Dr Rob Thomas' Behaviour Group at the Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University. SCCS Cambridge Alumnus. Rufford Small Grants Recipient. Also occasionally teach undergraduate interns and support Teaching Fellows, guiding students and interns through data analyses and experimental design.
Chris Dee
Study species: Pied Flycatcher
I have had an interest in the natural world since childhood and developed an enthusiasm for birds in my teenage years, going on to study Zoology at the University of Oxford.
In North Devon, England, I monitor breeding Pied Flycatchers in nestboxes at three woodlands as part of the PiedFly Network.
When I am not ringing, I run my own company specialising in website development for bird-related not-for-profit organisations and volunteer groups.
Kaan Özgencil
I am a PhD student in biology based in Ankara, Turkey. I have been a nature-lover all my life, and my love for birds is an evergrowing one. My current research interests are functional ecology of birds, avian community ecology, and conservation of endangered avifauna. If you are interested in any of these topics and need a collaborator in Turkey, you can contact me on Twitter: @bio_kaanSam Ivande
Research topics: Distribution; Non-breeding ecology; Wintering ecology
Study species: Some migrant species
I am a Conservation Biologist and a Lecturer at the A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute (APLORI), Department of Zoology, University of Jos, Nigeria. APLORI is West Africa’s foremost Ornithology and biodiversity conservation training Institute. I currently serve as the Scientific Director at APLORI and help to coordinate the implementation of the academic curriculum for the APLORI MSc Conservation Biology course. I also help coordinate ongoing research at the Institute. Prior to this, I served as the pioneer Project Manager for the Nigerian Bird Atlas Project (NiBAP) - the first nationwide biodiversity citizen project aimed at promoting public participation in biodiversity conservation by young Nigerians through bird watching. I helped provide strategic direction to promote public engagement through education and volunteering for the project. Along with the Nigerian Bird Atlas Team, we increased local engagement by recruiting, training and organizing over 1000 young nature enthusiasts into over 25 bird clubs across Nigeria and West Africa. I really enjoy the formal and semi-formal opportunities that my work as an Ornithologist affords me to travel, watch and study birds and learn about nature and other cultures. I remain motivated by a passionate desire to contribute to an environmentally conscious society not only in Nigeria but across Africa.
Vojtěch Brlík
Research topics: Breeding ecology; Distribution; Full annual cycle; Non-breeding ecology
Study species: Passerines
No profile details provided
Flavio Monti
Research topic: Full annual cycle
My main research interest focuses on bird migration ecology with applications in conservation biology and wildlife management, specifically in the Mediterranean region.
Tianhao Zhao
Research topics: Geolocation tracking; Migration routes; Migratory connectivity; genetic migration
Study speciess: Siberian rubythroat; Siberian/Stejnegeri's stonechat
I am a 2nd-year PhD student in University of Groningen, the Netherlands, main supervisor is Barbara Helm. I work with Siberian rubythroat and Siberian/Stejnegeri's stonechats (race maurus, przewalski and stejnegeri) to study: 1. the impact of geographical barriers in western China (e.g., Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau) on the migration routes of passerines; 2. the genetic basis and genomic structural details associated with the migration pattern differences across different populations.
Wieland Heim
Research topics: Full annual cycle; Migration
Research locations: Muraviovka Park, Russia; Mirnoye, Siberia; Kvarkush, Ural mountains, Russia; Khingansky zapovednik, Russia; Baikalsky zapovednik, Russia
Study speciess: Barnacle Goose; Passerines
No profile details provided
Janne Ouwehand
Research topics: Full annual cycle; Geolocation tracking; Wintering ecology
Research locations: Comoé National Park, Ivory Coast; Dwingelderveld Drenthe, Netherlands
Study species: Pied Flycatcher
A strong passion for nature and travelling around the world… Together with curiosity, involvement and an exploring mind they form the foundation of my field research in animal ecology.
Martha Maria Sander
Research topics: Breeding ecology; Climate Change; Migration; Migration routes; Mountain ecology
Research location: Parco Naturale Val Troncea
Study species: Northern Wheatear
I am interested in the link between breeding ecology and migration, and effects of climate change in alpine systems. I collect and analyse data on Northern wheatear reproduction (nest monitoring), survival (colour ringing), seasonal habitat and timing of migration (geolocation).Scott Pursner
Research topics: Climate Change; Conservation action, threat reduction, international cooperation; Distribution; Migration; Migration routes; Migratory connectivity; Stopover ecology
No profile details provided
Kasper Thorup
Research topics: Full annual cycle; Geolocation tracking; Migration routes; Non-breeding ecology; Resource tracking; Stopover ecology
Study species: All migrants
No profile details provided
Catrin Eden
Research topic: Full annual cycle
Study species: Spotted Flycatcher
I am in the first year of my PhD researching the decline of Spotted Flycatchers and how habitat and environmental drivers impact their population dynamics.