Badger Wetherhill
@ptarmiganthony.bsky.social
Field Ornithologist at BTO Scotland | Secretary Tay Ringing Group | Neach-ionnsachaidh Gàidhlig | Probably out bothering some birds |🏳️🌈🏴🦡 (he/him)
Pinned
Something I’m working on with a team of hardy souls is understanding more about our Scottish Rock Ptarmigan, which are declining drastically. Here’s a male caught under licence this week on Schiehallion, & only the 4th ringed in Scotland in 30 yrs! Learning lots & hoping we can track in the future.
Reposted by Badger Wetherhill
This is a great paper that EVERY field biologist should read. www.pnas.org/doi/epub/10....
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
www.pnas.org
November 26, 2025 at 7:48 PM
This is a great paper that EVERY field biologist should read. www.pnas.org/doi/epub/10....
Reposted by Badger Wetherhill
when you actually *really* properly have a good think about it, it *is* a bit weird that a whole bird comes out of an egg, isn't it?
October 1, 2025 at 8:56 AM
when you actually *really* properly have a good think about it, it *is* a bit weird that a whole bird comes out of an egg, isn't it?
Reposted by Badger Wetherhill
There are lots of opportunities to join us at BTO! Discover jobs and apply at www.bto.org/jobs #Ornithology
July 21, 2025 at 6:00 PM
There are lots of opportunities to join us at BTO! Discover jobs and apply at www.bto.org/jobs #Ornithology
Here’s a thing that I did! I spent two years catching and tracking Goosanders, and I’m really pleased to see this paper out in the wild. Now to to get to work on figuring out how to get the tags to stay on for longer…
A new paper in @birdstudy.bsky.social demonstrates the potential of GPS tracking to inform understanding of Goosander ecology and their interactions with fish populations, though improvements in attachment methods are needed for longer-term studies. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... #Ornithology
July 17, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Here’s a thing that I did! I spent two years catching and tracking Goosanders, and I’m really pleased to see this paper out in the wild. Now to to get to work on figuring out how to get the tags to stay on for longer…
Reposted by Badger Wetherhill
🚨⛰️Our intrepid team has been out on Scotland’s mountains, carrying out montane surveys that are completed around every 10 years. This time, we also deployed acoustic recording devices, recorded Mountain Hares and collected Ptarmigan feathers for possible genetic analysis!
June 26, 2025 at 11:10 AM
🚨⛰️Our intrepid team has been out on Scotland’s mountains, carrying out montane surveys that are completed around every 10 years. This time, we also deployed acoustic recording devices, recorded Mountain Hares and collected Ptarmigan feathers for possible genetic analysis!
Reposted by Badger Wetherhill
If you're involved with fieldwork in any way, you may want to check out these resources we made last year for LGBTQ+ inclusive fieldwork (even if you don't think any LGBTQ+ people are involved!) inclusivefieldwork.leeds.ac.uk/pride/
PRIDE Guidelines | Inclusive Fieldwork Hub
inclusivefieldwork.leeds.ac.uk
June 15, 2025 at 7:44 PM
If you're involved with fieldwork in any way, you may want to check out these resources we made last year for LGBTQ+ inclusive fieldwork (even if you don't think any LGBTQ+ people are involved!) inclusivefieldwork.leeds.ac.uk/pride/
Reposted by Badger Wetherhill
The First GPS Observation of a Western Gull (Larus occidentalis) Riding in a Long-Haul Garbage Transfer Truck | doi.org/10.1675/063.... | Waterbirds | #ornithology 🪶
June 3, 2025 at 7:16 AM
The First GPS Observation of a Western Gull (Larus occidentalis) Riding in a Long-Haul Garbage Transfer Truck | doi.org/10.1675/063.... | Waterbirds | #ornithology 🪶
I was recently at a wedding in France, which was an opportunity to do some holiday birding. This is a Melodious Warbler giving it laldy, which was a new one for me.
May 29, 2025 at 8:17 AM
I was recently at a wedding in France, which was an opportunity to do some holiday birding. This is a Melodious Warbler giving it laldy, which was a new one for me.
Reposted by Badger Wetherhill
Has the Nechisar Nightjar Mystery Been Solved?
A fascinating summary on the identity of the mysterious single wing found in Ethiopia in 1990.
www.aba.org/has-the-nech...
#birds #birding #ornithology @aba.org
A fascinating summary on the identity of the mysterious single wing found in Ethiopia in 1990.
www.aba.org/has-the-nech...
#birds #birding #ornithology @aba.org
Has the Nechisar Nightjar Mystery Been Solved? - American Birding Association
The authors of a new study believe they have solved one of the world’s great rare bird mysteries: the case of the Nechisar Nightjar, Caprimulgus solala.
www.aba.org
May 19, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Has the Nechisar Nightjar Mystery Been Solved?
A fascinating summary on the identity of the mysterious single wing found in Ethiopia in 1990.
www.aba.org/has-the-nech...
#birds #birding #ornithology @aba.org
A fascinating summary on the identity of the mysterious single wing found in Ethiopia in 1990.
www.aba.org/has-the-nech...
#birds #birding #ornithology @aba.org
A couple of years ago in Nigeria, I came across a Long-tailed Nightjar nest, and monitored it through to fledging. Surprisingly, this was the first time the chicks of this widespread but cryptic species had been documented, and with my amazing colleagues at APLORI in Jos it’s now published! 🧵
May 17, 2025 at 11:36 AM
A couple of years ago in Nigeria, I came across a Long-tailed Nightjar nest, and monitored it through to fledging. Surprisingly, this was the first time the chicks of this widespread but cryptic species had been documented, and with my amazing colleagues at APLORI in Jos it’s now published! 🧵
Reposted by Badger Wetherhill
Here’s Juniper Titmouse (aka The Velvet Breezeblock) with Bramblejam, her spiky wee adopted sister
May 10, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Here’s Juniper Titmouse (aka The Velvet Breezeblock) with Bramblejam, her spiky wee adopted sister
Reposted by Badger Wetherhill
BTO is for everyone. 🐦 We welcome all people and celebrate diversity. Together we can succeed in our goal: achieving the biggest impact for birds. 🦅
For more information about our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy go to ➡️ www.bto.org/edi Thank you.
For more information about our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy go to ➡️ www.bto.org/edi Thank you.
April 29, 2025 at 8:34 AM
BTO is for everyone. 🐦 We welcome all people and celebrate diversity. Together we can succeed in our goal: achieving the biggest impact for birds. 🦅
For more information about our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy go to ➡️ www.bto.org/edi Thank you.
For more information about our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy go to ➡️ www.bto.org/edi Thank you.
I don’t often write to my MP. In fact I think I’ve only ever done it once or twice before. But I’ve got trans family and friends whose lives have been turned upside down this week. It might not make any difference, but then again, it might actually. Please do consider writing to your MP.
April 22, 2025 at 2:16 PM
I don’t often write to my MP. In fact I think I’ve only ever done it once or twice before. But I’ve got trans family and friends whose lives have been turned upside down this week. It might not make any difference, but then again, it might actually. Please do consider writing to your MP.
Reposted by Badger Wetherhill
This lekking season, please don’t go out looking for Capercaillie.
Instead, stay at home and watch them on the live dust bath camera at our Abernethy nature reserve!
Tune in here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRR2...
#LekItBe
🎥 Male Capercaillie at the dust bath
Instead, stay at home and watch them on the live dust bath camera at our Abernethy nature reserve!
Tune in here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRR2...
#LekItBe
🎥 Male Capercaillie at the dust bath
April 15, 2025 at 8:10 AM
This lekking season, please don’t go out looking for Capercaillie.
Instead, stay at home and watch them on the live dust bath camera at our Abernethy nature reserve!
Tune in here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRR2...
#LekItBe
🎥 Male Capercaillie at the dust bath
Instead, stay at home and watch them on the live dust bath camera at our Abernethy nature reserve!
Tune in here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRR2...
#LekItBe
🎥 Male Capercaillie at the dust bath
Reposted by Badger Wetherhill
On the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, we thought we'd answer a question that's often asked,
"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"
Allow our scaled diagram to explain...
"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"
Allow our scaled diagram to explain...
April 15, 2025 at 8:21 AM
On the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, we thought we'd answer a question that's often asked,
"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"
Allow our scaled diagram to explain...
"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"
Allow our scaled diagram to explain...
Reposted by Badger Wetherhill
Any day now, ducklings will begin to appear, and we need your help to monitor them. We are asking for records of mallard broods anywhere in the UK this year to help us understand how many ducklings make it to adulthood. Submit your sightings here: citsci.org/projects/ducklingwatch
Please share!
Please share!
March 24, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Any day now, ducklings will begin to appear, and we need your help to monitor them. We are asking for records of mallard broods anywhere in the UK this year to help us understand how many ducklings make it to adulthood. Submit your sightings here: citsci.org/projects/ducklingwatch
Please share!
Please share!
Here’s a Scottish Rock Ptarmigan ringed (under licence) last week. Every expedition to catch these amazing and sadly declining birds results in more information about them and their mountainous home.
March 15, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Here’s a Scottish Rock Ptarmigan ringed (under licence) last week. Every expedition to catch these amazing and sadly declining birds results in more information about them and their mountainous home.
On my way north to give talks to @scottishbirding.bsky.social Caithness and Orkney branches, I dropped in to Helmsdale and spotted this smart Kumlien’s Gull hanging out with the other bindippers at the harbour; a Canadian Arctic visitor & subspecific tick for me 😊 🇨🇦 🐦 (why’s there no gull emoji? 🤷♂️)
March 6, 2025 at 7:08 PM
On my way north to give talks to @scottishbirding.bsky.social Caithness and Orkney branches, I dropped in to Helmsdale and spotted this smart Kumlien’s Gull hanging out with the other bindippers at the harbour; a Canadian Arctic visitor & subspecific tick for me 😊 🇨🇦 🐦 (why’s there no gull emoji? 🤷♂️)
Reposted by Badger Wetherhill
Dust off your bins and prepare yer lugs (ears) for springtime! Full details of our online AND face-to-face events here (not below, as this guy says): www.bto.org/about-bto/na...
March 4, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Dust off your bins and prepare yer lugs (ears) for springtime! Full details of our online AND face-to-face events here (not below, as this guy says): www.bto.org/about-bto/na...
Reposted by Badger Wetherhill
New LGBTQ+ science resources! Today, we’re excited to share our PRIDE Guidelines for LGBTQ+ inclusive field work at inclusivefieldwork.leeds.ac.uk/pride. Please share widely and see the thread below for more details 🧪🌍🌐
February 28, 2025 at 11:14 AM
New LGBTQ+ science resources! Today, we’re excited to share our PRIDE Guidelines for LGBTQ+ inclusive field work at inclusivefieldwork.leeds.ac.uk/pride. Please share widely and see the thread below for more details 🧪🌍🌐
Reposted by Badger Wetherhill
Next few days/week looks ideal for surveying Willow Tits. Remember to record results in @birdtrack.bsky.social and send to county recorders. #ukbirding #ukbirds
Survey tips still apply from previous national survey: www.rbbp.org.uk/wp-content/u...
Survey tips still apply from previous national survey: www.rbbp.org.uk/wp-content/u...
February 27, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Next few days/week looks ideal for surveying Willow Tits. Remember to record results in @birdtrack.bsky.social and send to county recorders. #ukbirding #ukbirds
Survey tips still apply from previous national survey: www.rbbp.org.uk/wp-content/u...
Survey tips still apply from previous national survey: www.rbbp.org.uk/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Badger Wetherhill
