The fitness of an individual bird is a very important measure in the research of behaviour, evolution and the protection of species. But how do we quantify fitness? Is it just the body weight of an animal, or do we need to measure more variables? And how do you do this in a good manner … Read More
The Wadden Sea is of great importance to shorebirds, with millions of birds overwintering or fuelling for migration in the area each year. But they also face disturbances from natural and anthropogenic sources, including raptors, walkers, cyclists, boats and aircraft. A new, three-year study takes a detailed look at the effects of aircraft on the … Read More
After a year of testing, the app AviNest was launched on Saturday 23 March. AviNest makes it possible to enter nesting data directly in the field. The app is especially suitable for tracking nests of meadow birds, such as the Oystercatcher. You can also enter other types, because the app is tailored to the Nestkaart-system. … Read More
Have you seen young tits? In any case, the volunteers of NESTKAST (national network for STUDIES at nest KAST brothers). They are celebrating their tenth anniversary with an extensive report of the breeding season of 2018. It reflects an impressive amount of work. In the mild, very sunny spring, Great Tit and Blue Tit accelerated … Read More
More and more you come across the oystercatcher in the city! They come there to breed on flat roofs. This is special because you see them less and less in the mudflats and pasture areas of the Netherlands. The oystercatcher probably chooses the city because breeding there leads more often to success, but we do … Read More
CR-BIRDING SUBMIT is a relatively new initiative by Sovon, Vogeltrekstation and Dirk Raes to collect sightings of color ringed birds in a simple way. Readers can add and manage observations of color ringed birds of affiliated projects via the website. After input, they also receive the life history (where and when ringed and where and … Read More
The starlings fly off and on with beaks full of food. The second field season in Anne Kwak’s project “Starve the birds?” Has started. She is regularly found in the field to do dietary research on young birds. She is assisted by Frank Majoor and Symen Deuzeman. The three of them investigate what starlings, and … Read More
Although the lapwings still dance “through the air” in many areas, they are now a lot less than roughly 25 years ago. This is because too few chicks grow up. In the Year of Lapwing (2016) a large collaborative study of lapwing chickens was started by Sovon, the Bird Traction Station and many volunteers, and … Read More