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All my #PhD #fieldwork is done.
I’ve been looking into Icelandic Whimbrels annual cycle and spent the breeding season in Iceland since 2015. While writing up I often miss my study sites. Decided to make a short thread summarising my #fieldwork there #phdlife #shorebirds #waders
I’ve been looking into Icelandic Whimbrels annual cycle and spent the breeding season in Iceland since 2015. While writing up I often miss my study sites. Decided to make a short thread summarising my #fieldwork there #phdlife #shorebirds #waders
Survey the breeding sites
Whimbrels are site faithful and territorial. I start the season by checking the area to see who’s back.
Here two males fight where their territories touch (I think; 10 MAY) #PhD #fieldwork #ornithology #waders #shorebirds #phdlife
Whimbrels are site faithful and territorial. I start the season by checking the area to see who’s back.
Here two males fight where their territories touch (I think; 10 MAY) #PhD #fieldwork #ornithology #waders #shorebirds #phdlife
Finding nests
As most #waders, Whimbrels usually lay 4 eggs. There is some colour variation between and within clutches (10 JUN; #Eyjafjallajökull in the background) #PhD #fieldwork #ornithology #oology #phdlife #shorebirds
As most #waders, Whimbrels usually lay 4 eggs. There is some colour variation between and within clutches (10 JUN; #Eyjafjallajökull in the background) #PhD #fieldwork #ornithology #oology #phdlife #shorebirds
#tracking
To know whereabouts & timings, I tracked Whimbrels with #geolocator. To deploy & retrieve the devices, birds are trapped on the nest. Here one arrives & sits on the nest (with no trap!) #ornithology #waders #phdlife
They are faster in autumn: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.11…
To know whereabouts & timings, I tracked Whimbrels with #geolocator. To deploy & retrieve the devices, birds are trapped on the nest. Here one arrives & sits on the nest (with no trap!) #ornithology #waders #phdlife
They are faster in autumn: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.11…
#tracking
Geolocators were usually retrieved the year following deployment and replaced whenever possible to know individual behaviour consistency over the years.
This male was tracked from 2012 to 2018 (17 JUN) #fieldwork #ornithology #shorebirds #waders #phdlife #geolocator
Geolocators were usually retrieved the year following deployment and replaced whenever possible to know individual behaviour consistency over the years.
This male was tracked from 2012 to 2018 (17 JUN) #fieldwork #ornithology #shorebirds #waders #phdlife #geolocator
Record hatching success
After 25-27 days of incubation, beautiful chicks hatch and start walking and foraging by themselves in a couple of hours (12 JUL) #PhD #fieldwork #ornithology #waders #phdlife
After 25-27 days of incubation, beautiful chicks hatch and start walking and foraging by themselves in a couple of hours (12 JUL) #PhD #fieldwork #ornithology #waders #phdlife
Record growth rates
Until fledging (ca. 25 days), I (tried to) catch the chicks regularly to measure their growth rates. Here measuring total head length (pic by @ednarcorreia) #PhD #fieldwork #ornithology #waders #phdlife
Until fledging (ca. 25 days), I (tried to) catch the chicks regularly to measure their growth rates. Here measuring total head length (pic by @ednarcorreia) #PhD #fieldwork #ornithology #waders #phdlife
Record fledging success
Whimbrels travel to Iceland to breed. How many of them succeed? Here a young is released after recording its size and body mass (17JUL) #PhD #fieldwork #ornithology #waders #phdlife
Whimbrels travel to Iceland to breed. How many of them succeed? Here a young is released after recording its size and body mass (17JUL) #PhD #fieldwork #ornithology #waders #phdlife
