Michael Roast
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roasty247.bsky.social
Michael Roast
@roasty247.bsky.social
110 followers 96 following 21 posts
Post-doc at KLIVV - VetMedUni studying shorebird movement & population ecology. A global citizen - I'm for science, education, conservation and sustainability.

Vienna / Maio

https://ecologymjroast.wordpress.com/
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Michael Roast
galateainthewild.bsky.social
ID guide for these globetrotting rodents! 🌍🦫 (Coypu are invasive in Europe and North America)

I've seen so many coypu photos used in beaver articles recently. If you're a science communicator or a journalist, take a moment to familiarise yourself with the differences. - It may be handy!

#SciComm
beavertrust.bsky.social Beaver Trust @beavertrust.bsky.social · 4d
Do you know the difference between a beaver and a coypu? They may look similar, but they’re from opposite sides of the world. Often, photos of coypu are misidentified as beavers in the media. Once you know the difference, see if you can spot them. [1/3]

#mammals #wildlife #beavers
Beaver or coypu? How to tell the difference. Image of a young beaver swimming, and a coypu in the grass As beavers return to mainland Britain, they’re becoming more popular in the media. This is great news, however, they’re often confused with coypu, and inaccurate images can quickly spread misinformation. It’s not just scientists that need to be able to identify beavers. Anyone can mistakenly share inaccurate images. Even AI can get confused, with many AI generated “beaver” images on social media featuring coypu features. A mock up of a newspaper with an image of a Coypu under the headline "Beavers return to Britain!" sits in the corner of the page. A red stamp that says "Not a beaver" has been stamped on the cover. A list of people who could mistakenly share inaccurate images is at the bottom: Journalists, Authors, Science communicators, General public, Photographers, Content creators, Artists, Scientists, Film-makers A selection of photos of coypu, on grass and near water. All of these coypu had been mislabelled as beavers on stock photo sites. Beaver Beavers are the second largest rodent in the world. They have wide, flat, paddle-shaped tails and live in wetland habitats. They build dams and lodges, and are strictly herbivorous, eating plant matter, including bast - a woody material. A photo of a beaver facing left, surrounded by reeds, sniffing the air
January 26, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Reposted by Michael Roast
methodsinecoevol.bsky.social
Less than a month to apply to join the BES editorial board as an Associate editor!🌳🌍 📖

If you're interested in contributing to any of the BES journals, check out the link below 👇

buff.ly/6ymRGcB
January 27, 2026 at 8:30 AM
roasty247.bsky.social
I was just wondering the other day where all the salt on the roads goes after winter…
January 27, 2026 at 10:20 PM
Reposted by Michael Roast
birdguides.bsky.social
A project at Abberton Reservoir in Essex has begun colour-ringing and tracking Eurasian Wigeon in an effort to better understand how the species uses landscapes during the winter and beyond:
Wigeon tagging at Abberton Reservoir to shed light on wintering and migration patterns
A new collaborative project at Abberton Reservoir in Essex is ringing and tracking Eurasian Wigeon to gain fresh insights into how these migratory ducks use landscapes for feeding, roosting and navigating threats during the winter months.
bit.ly
January 26, 2026 at 7:16 AM
Reposted by Michael Roast
pauldufour80.bsky.social
🚨 PhD offer (please share)
Fascinated by bird migration and movement ecology? 🦜🌍 Join us at @vogelwarte.bsky.social to study annual cycle energetics with multi-sensor loggers in multiple species

Deadline: 20 Feb 2026
Starting: June 2026
Supervision: Martins Briedis & me

Info: tinyurl.com/2dbv9nzh
January 15, 2026 at 1:31 PM
Reposted by Michael Roast
moore-evo-eco.bsky.social
A plea from an editor:

postdocs & grad students who want to review manuscripts, please (!) have an online presence with your current email. I try to solicit reviews from ECRs, but we all move a lot, and it's hard to know if we'll be able to reach you at the email address on your last paper 🧪🌍
January 20, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Reposted by Michael Roast
baldiepete.bsky.social
It’s Penguin Awareness Day which seems like a great excuse to post the greatest ever Wikipedia edit.
January 20, 2026 at 9:37 AM
Reposted by Michael Roast
bou.org.uk
📢 NOMINATE FOR BOU COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

➡️ Awards Nominations Committee
➡️ Engagement Committee
➡️ IBIS Management Committee
➡️ Meetings Committee
➡️ Records Committee

Plus NEW Committee Shadowing Scheme

Full details: bou.org.uk/about-the...

#ornithology 🪶
January 13, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Reposted by Michael Roast
britishecologicalsociety.org
We are now accepting grant applications to fund ecological research and outreach worldwide.

⏰Apply before 10 March 2026!

Find out what grants you can apply to 👇
https://f.mtr.cool/cucxadvxjq

🧪🌍
BES grant application is now open. Image shows a diver photographing a large whale shark underwater, with the British Ecological Society logo.
January 14, 2026 at 12:03 PM
Reposted by Michael Roast
whysharksmatter.bsky.social
Flapper skates make a recovery in Scottish waters - BBC News
Flapper skates make a recovery in Scottish waters
Research by Heriot-Watt University suggests that flapper skate numbers are on the increase.
www.bbc.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:13 PM
Reposted by Michael Roast
pablo-ecology.bsky.social
Can we learn from the UK’s guerrilla rewilding movement? 🌎🌐🧪 www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Can we learn from the UK’s guerrilla rewilding movement? | Oryx | Cambridge Core
Can we learn from the UK’s guerrilla rewilding movement?
www.cambridge.org
January 13, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Reposted by Michael Roast
skatsanevakis.bsky.social
#AI is transforming #ecology — but at what cost? A new #Nature piece warns that as models, drones & remote sensing boom, many scientists are spending less time outdoors (“I rarely get outside”). Are we losing essential natural-history insight? 🌿🤖
🧪🌍🌐
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
January 13, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Reposted by Michael Roast
wilsonjaredm.bsky.social
For ID purposes videos can be great for familiarising yourself with seabird flight actions, structure, etc. but it’s a pain tracking down useful clips. I’ve collated video links for various N Atlantic species here #seabirds #seawatching #birding #birdID

chatterstanes.wordpress.com/2025/12/23/s...
Seabird Video Footage as a Learning Resource for Seawatchers
During the last few years significant progress has been made in improving our understanding of identification criteria and distribution of previously problematic seabird species. This progress has …
chatterstanes.wordpress.com
December 24, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Reposted by Michael Roast
gcmcdon.bsky.social
New research in @avianbiology.bsky.social:
"No detectable deployment impacts of solar-powered GPS devices for long-term use on a small shorebird"

nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

#Shorebird #Wader #GPS #Reproduction
@roasty247.bsky.social
No detectable deployment impacts of solar‐powered GPS devices for long‐term use on a small shorebird
Portable devices, or biologgers, attached to animals are designed to record data on unobservable aspects of animal behaviour, physiology and ecology. However, wearing such devices is expected to be c...
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 12, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Reposted by Michael Roast
katrina-siddiqi.bsky.social
We are looking to hire a Seabird Field Assistant for 2026 for our Manx Shearwater research project.

Please share this to anyone who'd like to get out in the field this summer and learn about biotelemetry, bird handling and research into animal behaviour.

drive.google.com/file/d/1SGZt...
Last years field assistant holding a Manx Shearwater on the isle of Rum (under a towel), retrieving a GPS device after a bird has returned from a foraging trip!
January 5, 2026 at 10:09 AM
roasty247.bsky.social
🧵1/5 Our new paper is now published in @avianbiology.bsky.social! The first GPS tagging study of Kentish Plovers in Maio investigated the potential impact of tagging, finding no detectable impacts across multiple aspects of behaviour, reproduction & survival.

doi.org/10.1002/jav....
Kentish Plover with a solar-powered GPS tag just before release, Maio, Cape Verde Kentish Plover with a solar-powered GPS tag just before release after a nocturnal capture, Maio, Cape Verde
January 8, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Reposted by Michael Roast
rspbscience.bsky.social
New PhD opportunity:

Balancing the trade-offs between conservation and restoration in woodland creation and wader protection

Details here: iapetus.ac.uk/studentships...

@chrissuthy.bsky.social
@ps-wildlife-res.bsky.social
@naturescot.bsky.social
@rspbscience.bsky.social

📷Ben Andrew
A solitary Lapwing stands in the grass.
October 28, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Reposted by Michael Roast
avianbiology.bsky.social
NEW PAPER: machine learning and bird physiology: general patterns of heterophil/lymphocyte ratio with respect to age, sex and breeding status across a forest bird community.

➡️ vist.ly/3n4gki7

#ornithology #birds #disease #conservation #hematology 🪶

European robin. Photo: Finja Strehmann Fig. 3 from the article: the predicted H/L values of the model on potentially incubating birds.
May 16, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Reposted by Michael Roast
biobiiana.bsky.social
Great talk, Edina! So proud to have you as part of our group! 🤩
@klivvvienna.bsky.social
April 18, 2025 at 2:04 PM
roasty247.bsky.social
Did you see the “Same data, many analysts” study? There’s going to be a follow-up study! The team are looking for a new post-doc to work on the project! #meta #data #ecology #evolution #statistics

apply.interfolio.com/166608
Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna) - gratuitous flower picture for attention!
April 18, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Reposted by Michael Roast
btobirds.bsky.social
New project alert! 📢 Can you help us count Birds in Greenspaces? 🐦🌳 Sign up ➡️ www.bto.org/greenspa... #Ornithology #UKBirding

This pilot survey is for people who enjoy watching birds, whether experienced birders or new to nature! It’s flexible too so you can take part anywhere in the UK. 📝
Image of a Starling perched with bill open and wings outstretched. Wording alongside reads: Birds in Greenspaces Survey. Can you help? www.bto.org/greenspaces-pilot. BTO logo top right of image. Starling image credit: Edmund Fellowes/BTO.
April 8, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Reposted by Michael Roast
birdguides.bsky.social
New streetlights installed in a Cape Verdean town have caused hundreds of seabird deaths in a matter of days, according to reports:
New lights cause hundreds of seabird deaths in Cape Verde
Hundreds of seabirds are being killed in a Cape Verdean town after the installation of new streetlights. Associação Projecto Vitó, a local conservation NGO, reported that it started receiving calls from fishermen in the town of Tantum on the island of Brava about large numbers of dead seabirds on...
bit.ly
April 1, 2025 at 9:05 AM
roasty247.bsky.social
That’s some serious site fidelity!
andyrickeard.bsky.social Andy Rickeard @andyrickeard.bsky.social · Mar 23
76 Kittiwakes back on the Gateshead Saltmeadows tower this lunchtime. Read 17 colour rings. All 17 birds back on the same face, shelf and area of shelf as they were in 2024. #Kittiwakes #SuperSeabirdSunday
March 24, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Reposted by Michael Roast
behaviour2025.bsky.social
📣🚨 Extension of Early Bird Registration Deadline 🚨📣

We are pleased to announce that the Early Bird Registration deadline for Behaviour Conference 2025 has been extended to accommodate ongoing interest from participants. 🗓

New registration deadline: 7th April 2025. 🗒️
February 22, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Reposted by Michael Roast
bou.org.uk
‼️ VOTE NOW ‼️

For your favourite Early Career Researcher paper published in IBIS in 2024

bou.org.uk/ibis/ibis...

Voting closes: 21 March

Supported by Leica Camera (UK) | #ornithology

🧵 ⬇️
February 24, 2025 at 10:00 AM