Nathan Senner
@drgodwit.bsky.social
Mass Audubon Bertrand Chair for Ornithology in Dept. Environmental Conservation at UMass Amherst. Fan of all things godwits. Oh, and other birds, and ecology, and evolution, and just cool science generally.
Reposted by Nathan Senner
On the other Dutch radar it is very clear birds are fleeing away from fireworks towards quiet places like the Wadden Sea and IJsselmeer (a huge inland lake). See the patterns of reflectivity moving towards the East/ESE.
More, including GIFs of Belgian radars, here: horizon.science.uva.nl/fireworks/
More, including GIFs of Belgian radars, here: horizon.science.uva.nl/fireworks/
January 1, 2026 at 9:32 AM
On the other Dutch radar it is very clear birds are fleeing away from fireworks towards quiet places like the Wadden Sea and IJsselmeer (a huge inland lake). See the patterns of reflectivity moving towards the East/ESE.
More, including GIFs of Belgian radars, here: horizon.science.uva.nl/fireworks/
More, including GIFs of Belgian radars, here: horizon.science.uva.nl/fireworks/
Reposted by Nathan Senner
From 2004–2011, ~62,000 African Penguin died near Cape Town because of sardine collapse caused by climate change and overfishing. That’s ~95% of the breeding penguins! In 2024, African Penguins were uplisted to Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
High adult mortality of African Penguins Spheniscus demersus in South Africa after 2004 was likely caused by starvation
From 2004–2011, following the collapse of sardine Sardinops sagax, a main food for African Penguins Spheniscus demersus, to < 25% of its maximum recorded abundance, survival of penguins breeding at...
www.tandfonline.com
December 28, 2025 at 12:51 AM
From 2004–2011, ~62,000 African Penguin died near Cape Town because of sardine collapse caused by climate change and overfishing. That’s ~95% of the breeding penguins! In 2024, African Penguins were uplisted to Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Reposted by Nathan Senner
Need funding to help with a small #wader #shorebird project? This might be the answer. Deadline for applications now 31st December 2025
💰 IWSG Small Grant applications
www.waderstudygroup.org/projects/sma...
💰 IWSG Small Grant applications
www.waderstudygroup.org/projects/sma...
December 4, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Need funding to help with a small #wader #shorebird project? This might be the answer. Deadline for applications now 31st December 2025
💰 IWSG Small Grant applications
www.waderstudygroup.org/projects/sma...
💰 IWSG Small Grant applications
www.waderstudygroup.org/projects/sma...
We're hiring! The Dept. of Environmental Conservation @umassamherst.bsky.social is looking for an Extension Professor in Biodiversity Conservation. Reviews start Feb 1. I am on the SC and absolutely love working in the ECo Dept. Come join us! DM me with questions. careers.umass.edu/amherst/en-u...
Details - Extension Assistant Professor - Biodiversity Conservation | Human Resources | UMass Amherst
careers.umass.edu
December 22, 2025 at 4:55 PM
We're hiring! The Dept. of Environmental Conservation @umassamherst.bsky.social is looking for an Extension Professor in Biodiversity Conservation. Reviews start Feb 1. I am on the SC and absolutely love working in the ECo Dept. Come join us! DM me with questions. careers.umass.edu/amherst/en-u...
Reposted by Nathan Senner
Just in time for the holidays, I had a fun chat with @drscottataylor.bsky.social about splits and lumps… and some of the other controversies roiling avian taxonomy 🤓
🦉🧪
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
🦉🧪
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
Okay, but why did my life list just shrink?
Podcast Episode · Okay, But... Birds · S1 E3 · 27m
podcasts.apple.com
December 20, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Just in time for the holidays, I had a fun chat with @drscottataylor.bsky.social about splits and lumps… and some of the other controversies roiling avian taxonomy 🤓
🦉🧪
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
🦉🧪
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
Reposted by Nathan Senner
Nice write-up of our efforts to document and prevent bird collisions with windows on the UGA campus. ecology.uga.edu/project-maca...
Project MACAW aims to reduce bird-building collisions on UGA’s campus - Odum School of Ecology
Richard Hall leads a team of students identifying hotspots for lethal bird collisions.
ecology.uga.edu
December 20, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Nice write-up of our efforts to document and prevent bird collisions with windows on the UGA campus. ecology.uga.edu/project-maca...
Reposted by Nathan Senner
Latest articles from the WJO - Integrating historical records and citizen science data to understand bird responses to climate change in Concord, Massachusetts: Thoreau to eBird. #ornithology doi.org/10.1080/1559...
December 18, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Latest articles from the WJO - Integrating historical records and citizen science data to understand bird responses to climate change in Concord, Massachusetts: Thoreau to eBird. #ornithology doi.org/10.1080/1559...
Reposted by Nathan Senner
📣 PhD opportunity in my lab 📣
We're looking for a motivated student interested in the effects of thermal stress on animal survival and reproduction: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Project is open-ended to allow student to define its direction depending on their interests
Please share widely!
We're looking for a motivated student interested in the effects of thermal stress on animal survival and reproduction: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Project is open-ended to allow student to define its direction depending on their interests
Please share widely!
December 18, 2025 at 11:09 AM
📣 PhD opportunity in my lab 📣
We're looking for a motivated student interested in the effects of thermal stress on animal survival and reproduction: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Project is open-ended to allow student to define its direction depending on their interests
Please share widely!
We're looking for a motivated student interested in the effects of thermal stress on animal survival and reproduction: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Project is open-ended to allow student to define its direction depending on their interests
Please share widely!
Reposted by Nathan Senner
NCAR is quite literally our global mothership.
Everyone who works in climate and weather has passed through its doors and benefited from its incredible resources.
Dismantling NCAR is like taking a sledgehammer to the keystone holding up our scientific understanding of the planet.
Unbelievable.
Everyone who works in climate and weather has passed through its doors and benefited from its incredible resources.
Dismantling NCAR is like taking a sledgehammer to the keystone holding up our scientific understanding of the planet.
Unbelievable.
Trump moves to dismantle major US climate research center in Colorado
The Trump administration is breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
www.usatoday.com
December 17, 2025 at 2:59 AM
NCAR is quite literally our global mothership.
Everyone who works in climate and weather has passed through its doors and benefited from its incredible resources.
Dismantling NCAR is like taking a sledgehammer to the keystone holding up our scientific understanding of the planet.
Unbelievable.
Everyone who works in climate and weather has passed through its doors and benefited from its incredible resources.
Dismantling NCAR is like taking a sledgehammer to the keystone holding up our scientific understanding of the planet.
Unbelievable.
Reposted by Nathan Senner
Introgression between species can shape #evolution. Study of the colorful American #warblers (Parulidae) by @kevinfpbennett.bsky.social @davetoews.bsky.social &co reveals intergeneric & interspecific introgression of genes related to carotenoid #plumage color @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/48MyfU2
December 12, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Introgression between species can shape #evolution. Study of the colorful American #warblers (Parulidae) by @kevinfpbennett.bsky.social @davetoews.bsky.social &co reveals intergeneric & interspecific introgression of genes related to carotenoid #plumage color @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/48MyfU2
Reposted by Nathan Senner
WTAF:
@cityofwinnipeg.bsky.social considering removing bylaw for bird-friendly windows.
Bylaw only applies to new builds along major corridors & near malls!
But industry doesn’t like it. So nature takes the hit, literally.
Winnipeggers, you gotta write to council.
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
@cityofwinnipeg.bsky.social considering removing bylaw for bird-friendly windows.
Bylaw only applies to new builds along major corridors & near malls!
But industry doesn’t like it. So nature takes the hit, literally.
Winnipeggers, you gotta write to council.
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
Researcher 'shocked' as Winnipeg considers scrapping recent bird-friendly window bylaw
The City of Winnipeg is considering 'deleting' its bird-friendly window requirements for a mix of new builds along major corridors and near malls based on industry feedback that suggested the rule was...
www.cbc.ca
December 11, 2025 at 5:35 PM
WTAF:
@cityofwinnipeg.bsky.social considering removing bylaw for bird-friendly windows.
Bylaw only applies to new builds along major corridors & near malls!
But industry doesn’t like it. So nature takes the hit, literally.
Winnipeggers, you gotta write to council.
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
@cityofwinnipeg.bsky.social considering removing bylaw for bird-friendly windows.
Bylaw only applies to new builds along major corridors & near malls!
But industry doesn’t like it. So nature takes the hit, literally.
Winnipeggers, you gotta write to council.
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
Reposted by Nathan Senner
🚨 Supersuckling Alert! 🚨 Galápagos sea lion moms are rewriting the rules of weaning! 🦭📢 Childs et al. reveal that mothers nurse their adult (5+ years!) offspring—even when those offspring are already reproducing! 🤯
Read now ahead of print!
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
Read now ahead of print!
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
December 10, 2025 at 9:16 PM
🚨 Supersuckling Alert! 🚨 Galápagos sea lion moms are rewriting the rules of weaning! 🦭📢 Childs et al. reveal that mothers nurse their adult (5+ years!) offspring—even when those offspring are already reproducing! 🤯
Read now ahead of print!
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
Read now ahead of print!
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
Reposted by Nathan Senner
A small, but effective USAID program has played a leading role in driving down the burden of neglected tropical diseases around the world.
The Trump administration cut the program, and countries are scrambling to prevent these debilitating diseases from roaring back.
www.npr.org/sections/goa...
The Trump administration cut the program, and countries are scrambling to prevent these debilitating diseases from roaring back.
www.npr.org/sections/goa...
The fight to beat neglected tropical diseases was going well. 2025 could change that
The campaign to prevent and treat these diseases has seen great success thanks to a USAID program. Now that program is gone.
www.npr.org
December 10, 2025 at 2:26 PM
A small, but effective USAID program has played a leading role in driving down the burden of neglected tropical diseases around the world.
The Trump administration cut the program, and countries are scrambling to prevent these debilitating diseases from roaring back.
www.npr.org/sections/goa...
The Trump administration cut the program, and countries are scrambling to prevent these debilitating diseases from roaring back.
www.npr.org/sections/goa...
Reposted by Nathan Senner
A resurrection study of scarlet monkeyflower populations across the species' range finds relatively little adaptive response to a seven-year drought event, showing that evolutionary rescue is not as predictable as we might hope 🌿
buff.ly/L8o4hhr
buff.ly/L8o4hhr
December 10, 2025 at 2:15 PM
A resurrection study of scarlet monkeyflower populations across the species' range finds relatively little adaptive response to a seven-year drought event, showing that evolutionary rescue is not as predictable as we might hope 🌿
buff.ly/L8o4hhr
buff.ly/L8o4hhr
Reposted by Nathan Senner
In memory of Dr. Keith Hobson, the Society of Canadian Ornithologists is collecting donations to support the Keith Hobson Early Career Research Award. If you have the means, join me in supporting this initiative:
www.zeffy.com/en-CA/donati...
Details: www.sco-soc.ca/early-career...
www.zeffy.com/en-CA/donati...
Details: www.sco-soc.ca/early-career...
December 9, 2025 at 11:46 AM
In memory of Dr. Keith Hobson, the Society of Canadian Ornithologists is collecting donations to support the Keith Hobson Early Career Research Award. If you have the means, join me in supporting this initiative:
www.zeffy.com/en-CA/donati...
Details: www.sco-soc.ca/early-career...
www.zeffy.com/en-CA/donati...
Details: www.sco-soc.ca/early-career...
Reposted by Nathan Senner
The Sudmant Lab & Wilsterman Lab are hiring a postdoc! Come work on the genetics and evolution of the placenta and dissecting genetic adaptations to altitude in deer mice!
Check out more details here: evol.mcmaster.ca/brian/evoldi...
www.sudmantlab.org
www.thewilstermanlab.com
Please Share!
Check out more details here: evol.mcmaster.ca/brian/evoldi...
www.sudmantlab.org
www.thewilstermanlab.com
Please Share!
https://evol.mcmaster.ca/brian/evoldir/PostDocs//UCalifornia_Berkeley.Genomics
Postdoc:UCBerkeley.Genomics
Postdoctoral position(s) in computational biology and genomics
Keywords: Genomics; single cell genomics; evolution; reproduction;
ecology; human disease; computational bi...
evol.mcmaster.ca
December 9, 2025 at 5:20 AM
The Sudmant Lab & Wilsterman Lab are hiring a postdoc! Come work on the genetics and evolution of the placenta and dissecting genetic adaptations to altitude in deer mice!
Check out more details here: evol.mcmaster.ca/brian/evoldi...
www.sudmantlab.org
www.thewilstermanlab.com
Please Share!
Check out more details here: evol.mcmaster.ca/brian/evoldi...
www.sudmantlab.org
www.thewilstermanlab.com
Please Share!
Reposted by Nathan Senner
Calling all rising juniors & seniors: Interested in biological or biomedical research? Applications for our ’26 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience Program are now open! Nine weeks, hands-on research, & mentorship from some of the nation’s top scientists — learn more: bit.ly/CechFellows
Summer Undergraduate Research Experience | HHMI
The Cech Fellows Program is a paid, nine-week summer research experience empowering the next generation of scientific leaders.
bit.ly
November 18, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Calling all rising juniors & seniors: Interested in biological or biomedical research? Applications for our ’26 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience Program are now open! Nine weeks, hands-on research, & mentorship from some of the nation’s top scientists — learn more: bit.ly/CechFellows
Reposted by Nathan Senner
From the current WJO issue: An obituary for WOS Life Member Charles Van Riper III, 1943–2025. "He was a teacher, a student, and a mentor to the very end, and those that knew him feel grateful and blessed." doi.org/10.1080/1559...
December 8, 2025 at 10:01 PM
From the current WJO issue: An obituary for WOS Life Member Charles Van Riper III, 1943–2025. "He was a teacher, a student, and a mentor to the very end, and those that knew him feel grateful and blessed." doi.org/10.1080/1559...
Reposted by Nathan Senner
Publication alert! ❗ Do predicted deleterious mutations reduce survival? In our latest paper lead by @rebeccachen.bsky.social published in @currentbiology.bsky.social, we compared mutation load across different age classes in black grouse.
December 8, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Publication alert! ❗ Do predicted deleterious mutations reduce survival? In our latest paper lead by @rebeccachen.bsky.social published in @currentbiology.bsky.social, we compared mutation load across different age classes in black grouse.
Reposted by Nathan Senner
Our new article how sex roles shape androgen and hematocrit profiles (or the other way round?) of classically polyandrous red phalaropes and polygynous pectoral sandpipers
academic.oup.com/beheco/advan...
academic.oup.com/beheco/advan...
Sex differences in testosterone and hematocrit levels reflect mating system differences of two Arctic-breeding shorebird species
Differences in mating strategies are often accompanied by differences in physiology. In two species of shorebirds, we found that testosterone levels reflec
academic.oup.com
December 8, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Our new article how sex roles shape androgen and hematocrit profiles (or the other way round?) of classically polyandrous red phalaropes and polygynous pectoral sandpipers
academic.oup.com/beheco/advan...
academic.oup.com/beheco/advan...
Reposted by Nathan Senner
Republicans are trying to turn the Arctic Refuge into a gas station for Big Oil. No more drilling, no more disgrace. Our public lands belong to the people—not polluters.
youtube.com/shorts/xG33E...
youtube.com/shorts/xG33E...
The Arctic Refuge does not belong to Big Oil. I'm standing with public lands—not polluters.
YouTube video by Senator Markey
youtube.com
December 8, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Republicans are trying to turn the Arctic Refuge into a gas station for Big Oil. No more drilling, no more disgrace. Our public lands belong to the people—not polluters.
youtube.com/shorts/xG33E...
youtube.com/shorts/xG33E...
Reposted by Nathan Senner
A study on 1.7 million people in Hong Kong shows superior hybrid immunity to Covid in people who got vaccinated before infection vs. people who got infected first. "Our findings are a direct rebuttal to arguments for natural immunity," the authors write. doi.org/10.1016/j.va...
Redirecting
doi.org
December 6, 2025 at 5:02 PM
A study on 1.7 million people in Hong Kong shows superior hybrid immunity to Covid in people who got vaccinated before infection vs. people who got infected first. "Our findings are a direct rebuttal to arguments for natural immunity," the authors write. doi.org/10.1016/j.va...
Reposted by Nathan Senner
New paper in Journal of Avian Biology by Aldís E. Pálsdóttir et al on the effects of roads on waders and other open-habitat species in Iceland:
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Effect of low‐traffic roads on abundance of ground‐nesting birds in sub‐Arctic habitats
Roads are among the most widespread anthropogenic structures, and their presence can impact biodiversity in surrounding landscapes through disturbance and collision risk, particularly when traffic vo...
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 6, 2025 at 2:33 PM
New paper in Journal of Avian Biology by Aldís E. Pálsdóttir et al on the effects of roads on waders and other open-habitat species in Iceland:
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by Nathan Senner
One more piece of evidence, on a growing pile, that insects are in decline.
"...the general species turnover and biomass trends emphasize ongoing arthropod community simplification, and that even common species may be increasingly under threat."
🪲🪳🧪🌍
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
"...the general species turnover and biomass trends emphasize ongoing arthropod community simplification, and that even common species may be increasingly under threat."
🪲🪳🧪🌍
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Arthropod species loss underpins biomass declines - Nature Ecology & Evolution
Insects are declining in many regions. Here the authors show that arthropod biomass losses in Jena Experiment and Biodiversity Exploratories time series are driven more by species loss than by species...
www.nature.com
December 5, 2025 at 6:52 PM
One more piece of evidence, on a growing pile, that insects are in decline.
"...the general species turnover and biomass trends emphasize ongoing arthropod community simplification, and that even common species may be increasingly under threat."
🪲🪳🧪🌍
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
"...the general species turnover and biomass trends emphasize ongoing arthropod community simplification, and that even common species may be increasingly under threat."
🪲🪳🧪🌍
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Nathan Senner
I’m recruiting a PhD and MSC student for fall 2026 working on the movement ecology and conservation of Mexican spotted owls in SW forests and rocky canyonlands. Exciting partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory. Great vibrant lab group, high impact research! 🦉
gavinmjones.com/opportunities/
gavinmjones.com/opportunities/
Opportunities
***PhD and MSc openings – Movement ecology and conservation*** I will periodically support graduate students, postdocs, and other staff through the Biology Department at the University of New…
gavinmjones.com
December 5, 2025 at 7:30 PM
I’m recruiting a PhD and MSC student for fall 2026 working on the movement ecology and conservation of Mexican spotted owls in SW forests and rocky canyonlands. Exciting partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory. Great vibrant lab group, high impact research! 🦉
gavinmjones.com/opportunities/
gavinmjones.com/opportunities/