Using integrated pop. models, @steffopp.bsky.social @jaumebadiaboher.bsky.social et al explored scenarios to identify which combination of reinforcement, habitat restoration, and survival improvement are needed for the Aquatic Warbler population at the margin of its range. doi.org/10.1093/orni...

Our team studied variations in bird species composition between grazing exclusions and control sites in Burkina Faso. The composition of bird species was more influenced by seasonal changes, but grazing exclusions served as important refuges during the dry season. doi.org/10.1002/ece3...

Seasonality and Grazing Exclusions Shape Bird Community Dynamics in West African Drylands

Seasonal changes, more than grazing exclusions, shape bird community composition in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso. However, grazing exclusions enhanced habitat heterogeneity, supporting regional b...

doi.org

Curious about what drives transoceanic vagrancy and what it might mean for birds? Our new paper discusses these questions in the context of Hurricane Lee and the remarkable influx of American landbirds recorded in the British Isles in September 2023. Take a look: tinyurl.com/388k3mcp

Some migration info from 7 Whinchats (Saxicola rubetra) tagged with multi-sensor loggers: kind of loop migration, spring Sahara crossing up to ~5,000 m despite their tiny size (~16g), and unusually prolonged flights both at autumn and spring. 🪶🏔️ Full paper here: doi.org/10.1007/s10336-026-02409-1

Can a tiny magnetic sensor help geolocate migratory birds? 🧭 Earth’s magnetic field varies across the globe in both intensity and inclination. We asked whether those spatial patterns can turn magnetometer data from lightweight tags into location estimates.

Using whole-genome sequence data from wild barn owls, our team investigated the presence, severity and genetic architecture of inbreeding depression in three morphological traits. Read more on doi.org/10.1098/rspb...

Now @pbecciu.bsky.social is presening first findings of his monumental meta-analysis of natal dispersal patterns across bird species worldwide @isbe2026.bsky.social #ornithology @vogelwarte.bsky.social

How are Switzerland’s birds doing? Discover key insights and detailed findings in the comprehensive Vogelmonitoring 2025 report, compiled by our national partner @vogelwarte.bsky.social. Full report is available in German, French and Italian: www.vogelwarte.ch/wp-content/u...

Out now! What do red kite parents do when food provisioning is covered? Our new study shows that good parenting is about more than just being on the nest. doi.org/10.1111/ibi.... Proud of this first senior authorship w/ @vsvanbergen.bsky.social @urskormann.bsky.social @vogelwarte.bsky.social

Glad to share my latest paper, published in @animalecology.bsky.social! This work was carried out under the supervision of Giulia Masoero and Pierre Bize at @vogelwarte.bsky.social. Read more about our findings 👇 besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

The role of viability selection in shaping short‐ and long‐term consequences of early‐life conditions: An experiment in the Alpine swift

In an experimental brood-size manipulation in Alpine swifts, smaller nestlings were selectively lost during growth, eliminating treatment differences in adult size, yet individuals from enlarged broo...

besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

🐦🌙 Happy to see this big collaborative paper out in @currentbiology.bsky.social! We address a seemingly simple question using geolocator data collected across many species and individuals: how much of bird migration actually happens at night? www.cell.com/current-biol... A short🧵

We're currently in a heatwave but our research keeps it fresh! In a new paper, our team showed that snowfinches maintain larger fat reserve than other overwintering passerines. Read more here doi.org/10.1002/ece3...

Beyond Circannual Fattening: Behavioural Flexibility and Sex‐Specific Strategies Enable Coping With High‐Elevation Winters

Winter at high elevations challenges resident species such as the White-winged Snowfinch. Circannual-regulated fat accumulation, along with flexible and sex-specific movement strategies, likely play ...

doi.org

Phenology adjustment is key for migratory bird fitness, but data are largely unavailable for non-breeding areas. Ringing data from Nigeria suggest that favorable local conditions enhance earlier departure in both migrations seasons. doi.org/10.1002/jav....

Species‐specific trends in migratory passage time in Nigeria based on long‐term ringing data

As environmental conditions change, the ability of species to adjust their phenology is important for fitness. Advantageous adjustments are often specific to location, species, and annual cycle phase...

doi.org

Last Sunday was World Swift Day! Throwback to the 8th International Swift Conference that took place in Castlebar (Ireland), where 185 specialists of 16 countries discussed topics such as conservation, research, volunteers, and care stations.

Together with the @bfh-ch.bsky.social, we explored the effects of temperature, forest stand characteristics, sparoxylic insect communities on White-backed Woodpeckers activity. Our results emphasize the importance of promoting large live trees. Read more: doi.org/10.1016/j.fo...

Some kids are always on the move – others prefer a good book. We show that early-life behaviour in golden eagles 🦅 cascades across life stages: more active nestlings fledge earlier, explore more, and disperse sooner. tinyurl.com/3sb8jnsz @vogelwarte.bsky.social @safilab.bsky.social #ornithology

Using a dataset from multi-sensor loggers, we & @umontpellier.bsky.social @umrlienss.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social found that ecological barrier crossing strategies differ in small migratory bird according to wing morphology and plumage color. Read more here: doi.org/10.1016/j.is...

Did you know that European Rollers (Coracias garrulus) mainly use grassland habitats, especially on the wintering sites? This is one of the findings of our study with the University of Szeged. Read more here: doi.org/10.1186/s404...

At #CMSCOP15 in 🇧🇷, #AEMLAP hosted a side event on how habitat restoration benefits people and migratory landbirds. CMS, UNCCD, BirdLife Africa, Ethiopia, and the Swiss Ornithological Institute shared success stories and called for stronger collaboration. #MigratoryBirds #Restoration

New Job in software development available at @vogelwarte.bsky.social: please apply before March 22. #python #django #typescript #javascript

Jan von Rönn@jac-vr.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Looking for a job at @vogelwarte.bsky.social as a full-stack developer? Please, have a look here: my.jobalino.ch/job/en/9ae61... #software #development for #bird #monitoring #ringing & #citizenscience

This week, we're hosting an international workshop focusing on decoding animal movement. We're happy to welcome 40 participants from all continents! #EUFLYNET @biologists.bsky.social

✨ New Special Issue Out! "New frontiers in avian physiology: what’s migration got to do with it?" This special issue highlights emerging frontiers across scales, from molecules to whole organisms, in relation to the physiological mechanisms behind birds’ migratory feats ➡️ vist.ly/4u94s 🪶

Using a Bayesian integrated population model built over 40y of data and environmental covariates, our team discovered that precipitation contributed significantly to variation in population growth rate in the European pied flycatcher. doi.org/10.1002/eap.... @esajournals.bsky.social

In a new paper, we found that provisioning rate and biomass in Little Owls increased with the area of high-quality habitats, and that such habitats also acted as a buffer against adverse weather. doi.org/10.1002/ece3... @ecol-evol.bsky.social @matthiastschumi.bsky.social

Looking for a job at @vogelwarte.bsky.social as a full-stack developer? Please, have a look here: my.jobalino.ch/job/en/9ae61... #software #development for #bird #monitoring #ringing & #citizenscience

Scientific Software Engineer | 80% - 100%

The Swiss Ornithological Institute in Sempach is a non-profit foundation for ornithology and bird conservation. It monitors native bird life, researches their habits, and campaigns for endangered bird...

my.jobalino.ch

We are hiring! 🙂 We are looking for a research assistant to help analysing movement and demographic data of little owls! 🦉 @vogelwarte.bsky.social #ornithology tinyurl.com/9k6rj6rx

The effects on migratory birds of the seasonal transition between wet and dry in West Africa are not well understood. Using a long-term ringing dateset from Nigeria, we determine whetherbody reserves vary as a funtion of local rainfall and NDVI. doi.org/10.1098/rspb...

To evaluate the impact of the influenza virus (HPAIV) in the Peregrine Falcon, Integrated Population Modelling was used. The analyses revealed drastic declines in adult survival, suggesting a shift in HPAIV dynamics compared to the previous epizootics. Read more: doi.org/10.1111/1365...

For birds migrating at night, the consequences of artificial light can be fatal. @barbarahelm.bsky.social @baptischmi.bsky.social and co-authors found evidence for attraction towards light pollution of sea-crossing birds using ornithological radars along the Croatian coast. doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...

Using passive acoustic monitoring, our team and our parners in Africa found that species richness and occurence probability is hihgher in grazing exclusion - a measure to restore degraded habitats - compared to control sites. Read more here doi.org/10.1002/eap....