Robert Fletcher
@fletcherecology.bsky.social
Miriam Rothschild Professor of Conservation Biology, University of Cambridge
(formerly Univ. Florida)
Working on ecology, conservation, and ornithology. Love telling a good story. Fond of maths. Husband and Dad.
https://www.fletcherlab.com/
(formerly Univ. Florida)
Working on ecology, conservation, and ornithology. Love telling a good story. Fond of maths. Husband and Dad.
https://www.fletcherlab.com/
Reposted by Robert Fletcher
If you’re wondering what a “least weasel” is, they absolutely live up to the name. This is the least amount of animal you can have that can still meet the bar for “is weasel”
June 2, 2025 at 6:30 AM
If you’re wondering what a “least weasel” is, they absolutely live up to the name. This is the least amount of animal you can have that can still meet the bar for “is weasel”
Reposted by Robert Fletcher
Shiny new PhD being advertised with me and @cmbeale.bsky.social !!
So, next up is this fabulous project with me and @funkyant.bsky.social on nomadic birds in East Africa. Fieldwork and fancy spatial statistics are on offer here, and who doesn't want birds like this fabulous, nonadic Temminck's Courser?! www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
November 6, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Shiny new PhD being advertised with me and @cmbeale.bsky.social !!
Reposted by Robert Fletcher
Reposted by Robert Fletcher
🌍Connectivity occurs from local to global scales and is crucial to supporting life on Earth.
🌿Protecting, restoring and enhancing ecological connectivity underpins the survival of a wide range of species and is key to tackling the global nature and climate crises.
#RestoreWetlands #WetlandsMatter
🌿Protecting, restoring and enhancing ecological connectivity underpins the survival of a wide range of species and is key to tackling the global nature and climate crises.
#RestoreWetlands #WetlandsMatter
November 4, 2025 at 3:06 PM
🌍Connectivity occurs from local to global scales and is crucial to supporting life on Earth.
🌿Protecting, restoring and enhancing ecological connectivity underpins the survival of a wide range of species and is key to tackling the global nature and climate crises.
#RestoreWetlands #WetlandsMatter
🌿Protecting, restoring and enhancing ecological connectivity underpins the survival of a wide range of species and is key to tackling the global nature and climate crises.
#RestoreWetlands #WetlandsMatter
Please repost!
I am looking for a passionate and hard-working PhD student to work in southern Africa on experimental defaunation and rewilding of megafauna. See the link below for more information:
@camzoology.bsky.social @conservation.cam.ac.uk
I am looking for a passionate and hard-working PhD student to work in southern Africa on experimental defaunation and rewilding of megafauna. See the link below for more information:
@camzoology.bsky.social @conservation.cam.ac.uk
Reversing defaunation through rewilding and its consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem function | Department of Zoology
Reversing defaunation through rewilding and its consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem function Supervisor: Professor Rob Fletcher The world is facing several global challenges that are transform...
www.zoo.cam.ac.uk
October 29, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Please repost!
I am looking for a passionate and hard-working PhD student to work in southern Africa on experimental defaunation and rewilding of megafauna. See the link below for more information:
@camzoology.bsky.social @conservation.cam.ac.uk
I am looking for a passionate and hard-working PhD student to work in southern Africa on experimental defaunation and rewilding of megafauna. See the link below for more information:
@camzoology.bsky.social @conservation.cam.ac.uk
Reposted by Robert Fletcher
Today, the Planning Bill returns to the Lords. And the future of nature in England’s planning system is on the line. 🌳⚠️
Peers must back the amendments* that protect wildlife, ensure accountability, and build nature back into our homes & communities.
*130, 140 & 245, 114, 148
Peers must back the amendments* that protect wildlife, ensure accountability, and build nature back into our homes & communities.
*130, 140 & 245, 114, 148
October 27, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Today, the Planning Bill returns to the Lords. And the future of nature in England’s planning system is on the line. 🌳⚠️
Peers must back the amendments* that protect wildlife, ensure accountability, and build nature back into our homes & communities.
*130, 140 & 245, 114, 148
Peers must back the amendments* that protect wildlife, ensure accountability, and build nature back into our homes & communities.
*130, 140 & 245, 114, 148
Reposted by Robert Fletcher
Last week, the Indiana University administration asked their student newspaper not to print any news stories in the Homecoming edition. When the faculty advisor refused, IU fired him and ended paper printing. So students at the Purdue paper printed the IU edition and drove it down to Bloomington!
Purdue student journalists deliver special 'solidarity' newspaper to IU Bloomington campus
The special edition blasted across town features columns from IDS and Exponent editors, alongside QR codes to support both student papers.
www.heraldtimesonline.com
October 18, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Last week, the Indiana University administration asked their student newspaper not to print any news stories in the Homecoming edition. When the faculty advisor refused, IU fired him and ended paper printing. So students at the Purdue paper printed the IU edition and drove it down to Bloomington!
Reposted by Robert Fletcher
Less than 1 month left to submit abstracts for what is always the *best* conference on climate change impacts on biodiversity. Intimate conference size but truly global participation; highly recommend for 1st-timers and returnees.
✨🌏 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS 🌏✨
⏰ Deadline: November 10, 2025
🗣️ Oral Presentations | 📋 Poster Presentations
🔗 Guidelines & Submissions: www.speciesonthemove.com/abstract/inf...
🇹🇼 Can't wait to welcome you to #Taiwan!
#SpeciesOnTheMove #SOTM2026 #Taiwan #SunMoonLake #ClimateChange #Biodiversity
⏰ Deadline: November 10, 2025
🗣️ Oral Presentations | 📋 Poster Presentations
🔗 Guidelines & Submissions: www.speciesonthemove.com/abstract/inf...
🇹🇼 Can't wait to welcome you to #Taiwan!
#SpeciesOnTheMove #SOTM2026 #Taiwan #SunMoonLake #ClimateChange #Biodiversity
October 17, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Less than 1 month left to submit abstracts for what is always the *best* conference on climate change impacts on biodiversity. Intimate conference size but truly global participation; highly recommend for 1st-timers and returnees.
Reposted by Robert Fletcher
Using automated acoustic monitoring, citizen science, and centuries of ornithological research and understanding to quantify ecological integrity at scale.
The BirdsPlus Index, a novel method for assessing site-level conservation values.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
The BirdsPlus Index, a novel method for assessing site-level conservation values.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
October 16, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Using automated acoustic monitoring, citizen science, and centuries of ornithological research and understanding to quantify ecological integrity at scale.
The BirdsPlus Index, a novel method for assessing site-level conservation values.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
The BirdsPlus Index, a novel method for assessing site-level conservation values.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Robert Fletcher
Bird migration is changing. What does this reveal www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Bird migration is changing. What does this reveal about our planet? – visualised
Bird migrations rank as one of nature’s greatest spectacles. Thanks to GPS tracking, scientists are uncovering extraordinary insights into ancient and mysterious journeys – and new threats that are re...
www.theguardian.com
October 17, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Bird migration is changing. What does this reveal www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Start of the new term and excited to be teaching Conservation Science @camzoology.bsky.social
Working with these talented students gives me hope about our future
Working with these talented students gives me hope about our future
October 13, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Start of the new term and excited to be teaching Conservation Science @camzoology.bsky.social
Working with these talented students gives me hope about our future
Working with these talented students gives me hope about our future
Reposted by Robert Fletcher
Anyone thinking that having a car or two is ''quality of life'', should pay a visit to Paris to experience a city where a car is not only 'not necessary' but even a burden.
Paris was transformed by improving public transport, extending bike lanes, and by converting streets to green spaces. Amazing.
Paris was transformed by improving public transport, extending bike lanes, and by converting streets to green spaces. Amazing.
October 10, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Anyone thinking that having a car or two is ''quality of life'', should pay a visit to Paris to experience a city where a car is not only 'not necessary' but even a burden.
Paris was transformed by improving public transport, extending bike lanes, and by converting streets to green spaces. Amazing.
Paris was transformed by improving public transport, extending bike lanes, and by converting streets to green spaces. Amazing.
Reposted by Robert Fletcher
Well, it's official. After our paper last year (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....), the Slender-billed Curlew is officially declared Extinct today.
Scientists dream of describing new species, not writing their obituary and epitaph, knowing that they are gone forever #ornithology
Scientists dream of describing new species, not writing their obituary and epitaph, knowing that they are gone forever #ornithology
October 10, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Well, it's official. After our paper last year (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....), the Slender-billed Curlew is officially declared Extinct today.
Scientists dream of describing new species, not writing their obituary and epitaph, knowing that they are gone forever #ornithology
Scientists dream of describing new species, not writing their obituary and epitaph, knowing that they are gone forever #ornithology
Reposted by Robert Fletcher
A new Nature study on the four horsemen of the climate-tipping-points apocalypse: "the Greenland Ice Sheet, the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, the South American monsoon system and the Amazon rainforest."
Destabilization of Earth system tipping elements - Nature Geoscience
A review of observation-based evidence suggests that four interconnected Earth system tipping elements have moved towards their critical thresholds, highlighting the need for better monitoring and increased mitigation efforts.
www.nature.com
October 8, 2025 at 6:34 PM
A new Nature study on the four horsemen of the climate-tipping-points apocalypse: "the Greenland Ice Sheet, the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, the South American monsoon system and the Amazon rainforest."
Reposted by Robert Fletcher
Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE
nyti.ms
October 8, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE
Reposted by Robert Fletcher
Such a sad story, but good that it can be told in full in museums now.
doi.org/10.1126/scie...
doi.org/10.1126/scie...
Fate of the last female great auk is finally solved
DNA and historical sleuthing have traced the extinct bird’s remains to a museum in Ohio
doi.org
October 7, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Such a sad story, but good that it can be told in full in museums now.
doi.org/10.1126/scie...
doi.org/10.1126/scie...
Reposted by Robert Fletcher
Reposted by Robert Fletcher
New on global conservation science:
Most bird species overlap with Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), yet gaps remain, especially for northern and temperate species. Expanding KBA coverage could better safeguard global avian diversity.
Lansley et al. in Conservation Biology doi.org/10.1111/cobi...
Most bird species overlap with Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), yet gaps remain, especially for northern and temperate species. Expanding KBA coverage could better safeguard global avian diversity.
Lansley et al. in Conservation Biology doi.org/10.1111/cobi...
October 7, 2025 at 7:02 AM
New on global conservation science:
Most bird species overlap with Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), yet gaps remain, especially for northern and temperate species. Expanding KBA coverage could better safeguard global avian diversity.
Lansley et al. in Conservation Biology doi.org/10.1111/cobi...
Most bird species overlap with Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), yet gaps remain, especially for northern and temperate species. Expanding KBA coverage could better safeguard global avian diversity.
Lansley et al. in Conservation Biology doi.org/10.1111/cobi...
Reposted by Robert Fletcher
Remembering Jane Goodall 1934 – 2025
Primatologist, conservationist and alumna of this department. An inspiration to us all.
bit.ly/3VNtR0Y
Primatologist, conservationist and alumna of this department. An inspiration to us all.
bit.ly/3VNtR0Y
October 3, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Remembering Jane Goodall 1934 – 2025
Primatologist, conservationist and alumna of this department. An inspiration to us all.
bit.ly/3VNtR0Y
Primatologist, conservationist and alumna of this department. An inspiration to us all.
bit.ly/3VNtR0Y
Reposted by Robert Fletcher
University of Gothenburg announces a strategic professorship in biodiversity with an interdisciplinary profile
academicpositions.com/ad/universit...
academicpositions.com/ad/universit...
The Crown Princess Victoria Professorship in Biodiversity - Academic Positions
Seeking an internationally recognized scientist for a prestigious professorship in biodiversity. Lead groundbreaking research, interdisciplinary collaboratio...
academicpositions.com
October 1, 2025 at 5:33 PM
University of Gothenburg announces a strategic professorship in biodiversity with an interdisciplinary profile
academicpositions.com/ad/universit...
academicpositions.com/ad/universit...
Reposted by Robert Fletcher
📢 New blog! @charlesemogor.bsky.social uses machine learning to enhance anti-poaching across sub-Saharan Africa.
Working with @anil.recoil.org, @fletcherecology.bsky.social and @milindtambe-ai.bsky.social, he is developing models to help rangers patrol effectively.
Find out more: bit.ly/4mMs3Av
Working with @anil.recoil.org, @fletcherecology.bsky.social and @milindtambe-ai.bsky.social, he is developing models to help rangers patrol effectively.
Find out more: bit.ly/4mMs3Av
September 30, 2025 at 9:26 AM
📢 New blog! @charlesemogor.bsky.social uses machine learning to enhance anti-poaching across sub-Saharan Africa.
Working with @anil.recoil.org, @fletcherecology.bsky.social and @milindtambe-ai.bsky.social, he is developing models to help rangers patrol effectively.
Find out more: bit.ly/4mMs3Av
Working with @anil.recoil.org, @fletcherecology.bsky.social and @milindtambe-ai.bsky.social, he is developing models to help rangers patrol effectively.
Find out more: bit.ly/4mMs3Av
Happy to say that I just finished the page proofs on the upcoming 2nd Edition of Spatial Ecology and Conservation Modeling!
Wow, that took some time (over 700 pages in this edition!)
Should be out in November!
Wow, that took some time (over 700 pages in this edition!)
Should be out in November!
September 30, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Happy to say that I just finished the page proofs on the upcoming 2nd Edition of Spatial Ecology and Conservation Modeling!
Wow, that took some time (over 700 pages in this edition!)
Should be out in November!
Wow, that took some time (over 700 pages in this edition!)
Should be out in November!
Reposted by Robert Fletcher
We are seeking an ornithologist/modeller for a 2-year POST-DOC in Turin. Using archaeological remains, we will reconstruct past avian communities to understand the impacts of climate change and human pressure on birds through time. For details see cutt.ly/irN76QDZ PLEASE RT. #ornithology #AviArch
September 29, 2025 at 7:20 AM
We are seeking an ornithologist/modeller for a 2-year POST-DOC in Turin. Using archaeological remains, we will reconstruct past avian communities to understand the impacts of climate change and human pressure on birds through time. For details see cutt.ly/irN76QDZ PLEASE RT. #ornithology #AviArch
Reposted by Robert Fletcher
After two decades @ecography.bsky.social , I’m signing off. We grew the journal’s scope, navigated a smooth shift to OA, and kept community at the centre. Grateful to authors, reviewers and colleagues. Warmest wishes to my successor, @cnmeynard.bsky.social doi.org/10.1002/ecog...
Two decades with Ecography: a farewell and a new beginning
Click on the article title to read more.
doi.org
September 27, 2025 at 3:37 PM
After two decades @ecography.bsky.social , I’m signing off. We grew the journal’s scope, navigated a smooth shift to OA, and kept community at the centre. Grateful to authors, reviewers and colleagues. Warmest wishes to my successor, @cnmeynard.bsky.social doi.org/10.1002/ecog...