MLSG

Migrant Landbird Study Group

Promoting collaborative research for migratory landbirds across flyways

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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

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.

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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.

Camille Mermillon

Research topics: Breeding ecology; Climate Change; Mountain ecology; Trophic links

Study species: Northern Wheatear

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Kyle Lloyd

Research topics: Breeding ecology; Conservation action, threat reduction, international cooperation; Distribution; Full annual cycle; intra-African migration; Migration routes; Moult; Mountain ecology; Non-breeding ecology

Study species: Flufftails

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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.

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Bird Migration Research Station, University of Gdańsk

Research topics: Climate Change; Migration; Migration routes; Migratory connectivity; Moult

Study species: Passerines

The Bird Migration Research Stationis a research and teaching department in the faculty of biology at the University of Gdańsk. Our research focuses on determining the biology, ecology and morphology of birds during their non-breeding season, especially on migration, to identify the relationships between migration and other elements of their life cycle, and to monitor populations of migratory birds. Our studies focus on passerines as models in studies of migration, but we are also interested in movements of birds from other groups. Operation Baltic, conducted since 1960 at the Polish Baltic coast, is our stations’ main long-term research and monitoring project. Modelling long-term trends in numbers, and changes in the timing and features of bird migrations, in response to changes in environment, including climate change, is a key part of our research. We conduct projects in Poland and abroad, focusing on different aspects of bird movements along their main migration routes. Our research projects merge the efforts of ornithologists and citizen scientists, and involve students and volunteers. During our project we disseminate knowledge about birds to nature lovers of all ages and all nationalities.

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Jessica Williams

Research topic: Conservation action, threat reduction, international cooperation

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Stuart Sharp

Research topics: Breeding ecology; Climate Change

Study species: Spotted Flycatcher

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Sam 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.

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Oluwadunsin Emmanuel Adekola

Research topic: Moult

Study species: Gannets, Albatrosses, Petrels and Falcons

I recently completed my PhD. My research explores how large birds balance moult with other aspects of their annual cycles. Specifically, I assessed how long-winged birds manage to replace their large number of secondaries, including strategies to limit the impact of intensive secondary moult in terms of loss of wing area. I also tested whether nestlings compromise flight feather quality in a long-distance migratory raptor. I provided several lines of evidence to proof that moult may be used as an index of condition and ultimately as an indicator of fitness.

Moving forward, I am interested in analyzing moult from an evolutionary and life history perspective.

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Ella Hughes

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Kiraz Erciyas Yavuz

Research topic: Census, Migration, Ecology

Study species: All migrants

Research focuses on bird migration, bird ecology, bird distribution and population monitoring. Ability to birdwatch, bird ringing and monitoring, attaching tracking devices on birds, nature conservation policies, understanding and implementing ecotourism. Professional ornithologist: qualified ringer and affiliated with Cernek Bird Ringing Station since 2002. Organisation of national waterbird censuses. Provided Turkish contributions to European Breeding Bird Atlas (BBA), Member of Turkish BBA scientific council. Turkish representative in EURING. Contributor to IUCN Redlist bird species. IUCN Species Survival Commission Member. IUCN SSC Threatened Waterfowl Specialist Group Member. Turkish representative/contributor to international bird action plans (e.g. Ferruginous Duck, Roller). Experienced in collecting, analysing and summarizing data from a variety of sources. Academic and policy knowledge dissemination – training activities and workshops.

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Nico Arcilla

Research topics: Conservation action, threat reduction, international cooperation; Distribution; Migration; Migratory connectivity; Wintering ecology

Study species: All migrants

The International Bird Conservation Partnership (IBCP)'s mission is to foster and support research, outreach, and partnerships to advance the conservation of birds worldwide. 

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Marc Illa

Research topics: Breeding ecology; Full annual cycle; Geolocation tracking; Migration routes; Mountain ecology; Stopover ecology

Study speciess: All migrants; Northern Wheatear; Rock Thrush; Aquatic Warbler; Black-eared Wheatear

No profile details provided

Wender

No profile details provided

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.

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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.

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Barbara Helm

Research topics: Ecophysiology; Full annual cycle; genetic migration; Non-breeding ecology; Light pollution

Study species: Siberian/Stejnegeri's stonechat

Hi, I'm at the Swiss Ornithological Institute. I'm interested in all aspects of migration, in particular responses to light pollution, the migration cycle in Africa, and broadly timing and annual cycles.

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. 

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