Tag: birds

Behind the paper

Caroline Isaksson: Combined light & traffic noise exposure enhances songbirds’ antioxidant capacity & lowers damage

In our latest post, author Caroline Isaksson explores the impacts of urban pollutants on songbirds! In their recent paper: “Effects of short-term multi-pollutant exposure on the oxidative stress status of captive songbirds”, Caroline investigates how three urban pollutants impacts Zebra finches physiologically. Caroline also shares the surprising results that will promote deeper research into this dynamic. Amid her experiments, Caroline imparts advice we all need … Continue reading Caroline Isaksson: Combined light & traffic noise exposure enhances songbirds’ antioxidant capacity & lowers damage

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Behind the paper

Tim Forrester: Weight loss in female birds – an adaptive strategy

In this blog post, Tim Forrester helps answer a weighty question: Does weight loss help or hurt nesting birds? Based on his recent paper with Tom Martin, “Observational and experimental evidence that rapid mass loss is consistent with the flight efficiency hypothesis and not caused by reproductive effort in three passerine bird species”, Tim shares the fascinating physiological adaptations undergone by songbirds in anticipation of … Continue reading Tim Forrester: Weight loss in female birds – an adaptive strategy

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Behind the paper

James Mouton: Red-breasted nuthatches smear sap around their nest entrances to protect against predators

James and team tap into the behavioural dynamics of red-breasted nuthatches and their use of conifer resin (sap). In their paper “Behavioural co-option of plant secondary compounds by a cavity-nesting bird is an adaptation against competition and predation”, James studies the how and why of nuthatch nesting behaviour and their apparent love for sticky, smelly conifer resin! On top of a delightful explanation on the … Continue reading James Mouton: Red-breasted nuthatches smear sap around their nest entrances to protect against predators

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Postcards From The Field

Sebastian Moreno: Backyard birding elevates underrepresented voices in protecting urban biodiversity

In this ‘Postcards from the Field’ blog post, Sebastian Moreno – a researcher and PhD candidate at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst – discusses the remarkable intersection of human behavior with ecological conservation, and the importance of bringing underrepresented communities to conversation. Profile: My research area combines my passion for birds and the intersection of human behavior with ecological conservation. Studying how urban environments influence … Continue reading Sebastian Moreno: Backyard birding elevates underrepresented voices in protecting urban biodiversity

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Behind the paper, Translation

Thierry Grandmont: Le stress expérimental dans la migration influence la décision de se reproduire ou non

Dans cette nouvelle publication, Thierry Grandmont, un étudiant au doctorat à l’Université Laval, discute de son article récemment accepté “Should I breed or should I go? Manipulating individual state during migration influences breeding decisions in a long-lived bird species”. Il discute du lien entre la reproduction et la migration, des défis (et opportunités!) d’effectuer de la recherche pendant la pandémie et de comment l’observation d’oiseaux … Continue reading Thierry Grandmont: Le stress expérimental dans la migration influence la décision de se reproduire ou non

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Behind the paper

Thierry Grandmont: Experimental stress in migration influences decision to breed or not

In this new post, Thierry Grandmont—a Ph.D. candidate at Laval University, Quebec, Canda—discusses with us his recently accepted paper, “Should I breed or should I go? Manipulating individual state during migration influences breeding decisions in a long-lived bird species.” He talks about the link between breeding and migration, challenges (and opportunities!) of conducting research during the pandemic, and how birdwatching was a formative experience. Une … Continue reading Thierry Grandmont: Experimental stress in migration influences decision to breed or not

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Behind the paper

Frugivorous birds adjust their diet to achieve their nutritional goals

In our latest post, Dr. Pedro Blendinger, a professor at the National University of Tucumán, Argentina, discusses their paper: “Nutrient balance and energy-acquisition effectiveness: do birds adjust fruit diet to achieve intake targets?”. A Spanish version of this blogpost is available here. About the paper This work was inspired by cross-collaboration between colleagues with whom we share a common interest in plant-animal interactions. Almost a … Continue reading Frugivorous birds adjust their diet to achieve their nutritional goals

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Behind the paper, Translation

Las aves frugívoras ajustan su dieta para alcanzar sus objetivos nutricionales

En nuestra publicación más reciente, el Dr. Pedro Blendinger, profesor de la Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Argentina, analiza su artículo: “Equilibrio de nutrientes y efectividad en la adquisición de energía: ¿las aves ajustan la dieta de frutas para lograr los objetivos de consumo?“. Una versión en inglés de esta entrada de blog está disponible aquí. Acerca del artículo Este es un trabajo inspirado en la … Continue reading Las aves frugívoras ajustan su dieta para alcanzar sus objetivos nutricionales

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Behind the paper

Carl G. Lundblad: Understanding the evolutionary causes of variation in an overlooked life-history trait, incubation period.

In this new post, Carl G. Lundblad, a new ecological researcher working at Oregon State University, ORE, USA, shares his paper: Intraspecific variation in incubation behaviours along a latitudinal gradient is driven by nest microclimate and selection on neonate quality—recently shortlisted for the Haldane Prize for Early Career Researchers. Like many wildlife ecologists, I was drawn to the field through a lifelong fascination with the … Continue reading Carl G. Lundblad: Understanding the evolutionary causes of variation in an overlooked life-history trait, incubation period.

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Audrey Le Pogam with a snow bunting in front of the aviary at the Université du Québec à Rimouski (Québec)
Behind the paper

Audrey LePogam: everyday is winter for snow bunting

In this post Audrey Le Pogam, a phd student from Université du Québec à Rimouski, present her research ‘Coping with the worst of both worlds: phenotypic adjustments for cold acclimatization benefit northward migration and arrival in the cold in an Arctic breeding songbird’. She discusses the importance of species adaptations to environment, her future research questions and her newly discovered passion for sumo. About the … Continue reading Audrey LePogam: everyday is winter for snow bunting

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