Tom Finch
@tfinch.bsky.social
Birds, science, climate, hills. Dad. RSPB Conservation Scientist. Views here are my own. Sorry for not getting back to you sooner.
You can't adapt to climate change without also doing aggressive mitigation, otherwise the thing you are trying to adapt to will keep changing. (It's going to keep changing anyway, even with aggressive mitigation - just less badly and less quickly than in the absence of mitigation).
Holidaying in the Netherlands with kids. Amazed by their cycling infrastructure obviously, but also the nature e.g. Meijendel is an 1875ha chunk of duneland sandwiched between big cities. Seen Woodlark, Honey Buzzard, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker without much effort. Nightingale & Bluethroat also here.
Osprey at Doune Ponds earlier this afternoon @upperforthbirds.bsky.social #birdingscotland
Back home after another great week on Jura, our last year organising the fell race. Wildlife highlight was a Ringed Plover nest mid-hatching. Lowlight was pulling out 27 ticks after an 8km jog.
Finally seen one of the local beavers - honest! 500m from home.
Enjoying hearing both Willow and Grasshopper Warbler singing from (though definitely not in) our garden. Wheatears back on the hill too, and first House Martins spotted over the weekend #birdingscotland
Drax has confirmed it won't progress with bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) "in the short to medium term”, leaving a significant hole in the UK's carbon budget. What now? 🧵 A quick thread
Energy giant Drax pulls out of UK climate plan
Ministers were told to lock the biomass giant into an agreement on carbon capture. The government ignored them — and now Drax has walked away.
politico.eu
🔊 JOB VACANCY Would you like to work at the heart of a global ornithological membership society? BOU are seeking a Journal and Engagement Manager to play a central role in delivering our mission ⏰ Apply by 14 April bou.org.uk/vacancy-j... #ornithology 🪶
Is hayfever season upon us already? Here in Central Scotland I've looked like a bee sting victim / unsuccessful boxer for the last three days. Seen some high forecasts for Cypress tree pollen, but don't think Met Office pollen forecasts start until later this month
This #InternationalDayofWomenandGirlsinScience meet just six of the inspiring women in our Conservation Science department and hear about some of their most memorable moments at the RSPB 🧪 Read the full story here: www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happen...
What’s it really like to work in science at the RSPB?
To mark International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we speak to six of our Conservation Scientists.
rspb.org.uk
Very pleased to share #OpenAccess paper, which we think is important to understand woodland bird declines and impact of forestry on native ancient woodland in Britain. nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #ornithology @ukceh.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @mizpas.bsky.social 🧵1/n
Little Egret at confluence of Allan Water and Forth this afternoon @upperforthbirds.bsky.social
Good news - I suspect many other respectable organisations will follow soon.... www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...
RSPB 'shuts down' X account in 'foreseeable future' update
The charity felt it had no choice but to protect its supporters and volunteers
mirror.co.uk
Reconciling top-down and bottom-up treescape objectives Wednesday - 1215 - Tinto @tfinch.bsky.social @britishecologicalsociety.org 📷Tom Finch
Trees or breeding waders? THREAD 1/4 There's little point paying farmers to leave space for breeding waders if their neighbours are going to plant trees. besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... New review paper by Emma Sheard et al suggests that forests create ... #ornithology
Woodland proximity limits benefits of conservation land management for farmland breeding waders
Where grassland breeding wader assemblages may be put at risk by tree planting, buffer zones >500 m should be implemented to mitigate the negative effect on wader species, with further distances havi...
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Sea Eagle just flew over A9 between Greenloaning and Blackford, towards Ochil Hills #BirdingScotland
3 woodcock between Cocksburn reservoir and Dumyat summit this morning #BirdingScotland @upperforthbirds.bsky.social
Are you an MSc student based at a UK university? Or do you know one? RSPB @rspbscience.bsky.social have just released their list of research projects for 2026: www.rspb.org.uk/helping-natu... #ornithology #conservationscience 🌍
Postgraduate opportunities
The RSPB is offering a variety of exciting research projects for postgraduate students in 2026.
rspb.org.uk
📣Job vacancy!📣 Research Fellow in Global Conservation at Leeds, working with Dave Williams (and me, a bit) to assess the impact of conservation initiatives on biodiversity, carbon, and people: jobs.leeds.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx... #ConservationScience 🌍
Job Opportunity at University of Leeds: Research Fellow in Global Conservation
Salary: Grade 7 (£41,064 – £48,822 p.a. depending on experience) This role will be based on the university campus, with scope for it to be undertaken in a hybrid manner. We are also open to discussing...
jobs.leeds.ac.uk
🦠 SAVE THE DATE! 🦜 I'm excited to announce that the theme of the 2027 BOU conference is Avian Disease Ecology! 📍 Nottingham, UK 📅 6–8 April 2027 🔗 Full details: lnkd.in/gPvFFDJe Please share widely! #BOU2027 #Ornithology #WildlifeDisease #AvianDisease #EcoHealth
📢 REGISTRATION OPEN #BOU2026 | Birds and people | 31 March - 2 April 2026 University of Nottingham & Zoom & Bluesky Check out the programme and book your place today! bou.org.uk/event/bir... #ornithology 🪶
📣PhD opportunity📣 Farming Futures: comparing regenerative and conventional practices on soil, chemical use, and ecosystems in a changing climate With @ukceh.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social and others 🔗 www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Farming Futures: comparing regenerative and conventional practices on soil, chemical use, and ecosystems in a changing climate at UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology - Lancaster on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Farming Futures: comparing regenerative and conventional practices on soil, chemical use, and ecosystems in a changing climate at UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology - Lancaster, listed ...
findaphd.com
Job vacancy 🧪 Principal Conservation Scientist, RSPB Cymru Can you provide the evidence needed to save and restore the iconic species and landscapes of Wales? Deadline: 3rd Nov Location: Flexible within Wales Duration: Permanent Apply here: app.vacancy-filler.co.uk/salescrm/Car... 📷Jake Stephen
New issue of #BirdStudy out today! Birds on solar farms Numbers of released Pheasants & Partridges Woodlarks & Meadow Pipits in Central Europe Hawfinch supplementary feeding Black-billed Cuckoo diet Serengeti Secretarybirds Tracking Lesser Flamingos www.tandfonline.com/toc/tbis20/c... #ornithology
Fully funded PhD working on insectivorous bird declines with a broad range of stakeholders. Starting ASAP #ornithology #zoology #biodiversity #science #ecology www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...
New job alert: An amazing opportunity - our International science team are hiring for a 2yr position (initially) for an experienced scientist to work on tropical forest conservation 🌍🧪 Full details here: app.vacancy-filler.co.uk/salescrm/Car... 📷Nick Williams/RSPB
Very firm statement on releases of captive-bred Turtle Doves, from Operation Turtle Dove inc @rspb.bsky.social & @naturalengland.bsky.social: *Doesn't meet IUCN guidelines *Risk of disease/genetic pollution *Irresponsible aims operationturtledove.org/captive-rele... 1/2 #ornithology #ukbirding
Operation Turtle Dove’s view on the release of captive-bred Turtle Doves as a conservation measure - Operation Turtle Dove
Operation Turtle Dove is a science-led conservation partnership working to reverse the decline of Turtle Doves in the UK by restoring habitat and addressing key threats. Learn why captive-bred release...
operationturtledove.org
