Tómas G. Gunnarsson
@tomasgunnarsson.bsky.social
Animal ecologist at the University of Iceland. Migratory birds, waders/shorebirds, conservation.
#ornithology #waders #shorebirds
#ornithology #waders #shorebirds
Reposted by Tómas G. Gunnarsson
Dunlin now VULNERABLE on Iceland's RED LIST.
One of the waders most impacted by new forestry plantations:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2022/06/18/i...
Over 50% of Europe's Dunlin nest in Iceland so recent declines are of concern to whole East Atlantic Flyway.
#ConservationScience🌍
One of the waders most impacted by new forestry plantations:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2022/06/18/i...
Over 50% of Europe's Dunlin nest in Iceland so recent declines are of concern to whole East Atlantic Flyway.
#ConservationScience🌍
January 9, 2026 at 6:11 AM
Dunlin now VULNERABLE on Iceland's RED LIST.
One of the waders most impacted by new forestry plantations:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2022/06/18/i...
Over 50% of Europe's Dunlin nest in Iceland so recent declines are of concern to whole East Atlantic Flyway.
#ConservationScience🌍
One of the waders most impacted by new forestry plantations:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2022/06/18/i...
Over 50% of Europe's Dunlin nest in Iceland so recent declines are of concern to whole East Atlantic Flyway.
#ConservationScience🌍
Reposted by Tómas G. Gunnarsson
Putting this in context:
About 75% of Europe's Whimbrel breed in Iceland.
Over 50% of Europe's Dunlin.
About 50% of Europe's Golden Plover.
About 20% of Europe's Redshank.
SCARY!
#ornithology
About 75% of Europe's Whimbrel breed in Iceland.
Over 50% of Europe's Dunlin.
About 50% of Europe's Golden Plover.
About 20% of Europe's Redshank.
SCARY!
#ornithology
New Icelandic RED LIST (in Icelandic):
www.natt.is/is/frettir/2...
Country's populations of Dunlin, Golden Plover, Redshank and Whimbrel are now VULNERABLE (Threatened).
Blog in English about recent declines:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/02/20/i...
#ornithology
www.natt.is/is/frettir/2...
Country's populations of Dunlin, Golden Plover, Redshank and Whimbrel are now VULNERABLE (Threatened).
Blog in English about recent declines:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/02/20/i...
#ornithology
January 8, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Putting this in context:
About 75% of Europe's Whimbrel breed in Iceland.
Over 50% of Europe's Dunlin.
About 50% of Europe's Golden Plover.
About 20% of Europe's Redshank.
SCARY!
#ornithology
About 75% of Europe's Whimbrel breed in Iceland.
Over 50% of Europe's Dunlin.
About 50% of Europe's Golden Plover.
About 20% of Europe's Redshank.
SCARY!
#ornithology
Reposted by Tómas G. Gunnarsson
New Icelandic RED LIST (in Icelandic):
www.natt.is/is/frettir/2...
Country's populations of Dunlin, Golden Plover, Redshank and Whimbrel are now VULNERABLE (Threatened).
Blog in English about recent declines:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/02/20/i...
#ornithology
www.natt.is/is/frettir/2...
Country's populations of Dunlin, Golden Plover, Redshank and Whimbrel are now VULNERABLE (Threatened).
Blog in English about recent declines:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/02/20/i...
#ornithology
January 8, 2026 at 11:47 AM
New Icelandic RED LIST (in Icelandic):
www.natt.is/is/frettir/2...
Country's populations of Dunlin, Golden Plover, Redshank and Whimbrel are now VULNERABLE (Threatened).
Blog in English about recent declines:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/02/20/i...
#ornithology
www.natt.is/is/frettir/2...
Country's populations of Dunlin, Golden Plover, Redshank and Whimbrel are now VULNERABLE (Threatened).
Blog in English about recent declines:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/02/20/i...
#ornithology
New response piece in New Forests by Wasowicz et al on using lodgepole pine in forestry in Iceland.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Lodgepole pine in Iceland: biomass gains cannot be interpreted without ecological costs. Response to Riege et al. - New Forests
We respond to Riege et al. (New For 56:68, 2025), who present valuable new data on early biomass accumulation by lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) in Iceland. We argue that this finding cannot be evalua...
link.springer.com
December 6, 2025 at 2:37 PM
New response piece in New Forests by Wasowicz et al on using lodgepole pine in forestry in Iceland.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Tómas G. Gunnarsson
At the end of every new road/track in Iceland is a new summer cottage, a tourist development, a newly planted forest or energy infrastructure.
All these developments impact breeding waders but the birds' problems start with the road.
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/12/02/r...
#ConservationScience🌍
All these developments impact breeding waders but the birds' problems start with the road.
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/12/02/r...
#ConservationScience🌍
December 5, 2025 at 7:11 AM
At the end of every new road/track in Iceland is a new summer cottage, a tourist development, a newly planted forest or energy infrastructure.
All these developments impact breeding waders but the birds' problems start with the road.
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/12/02/r...
#ConservationScience🌍
All these developments impact breeding waders but the birds' problems start with the road.
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/12/02/r...
#ConservationScience🌍
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 Tómas G. Gunnarsson
We saw a colour-ringed Oystercatcher on West Sands, St Andrews, yesterday. @jengill.bsky.social
She nests on the 9th green at Selfoss Golf Club (Iceland).
St Andrews seems an appropriate winter home!
A blog abou c.r. project:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2021/02/02/o...
#BirdingScotland
She nests on the 9th green at Selfoss Golf Club (Iceland).
St Andrews seems an appropriate winter home!
A blog abou c.r. project:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2021/02/02/o...
#BirdingScotland
November 13, 2025 at 11:50 AM
We saw a colour-ringed Oystercatcher on West Sands, St Andrews, yesterday. @jengill.bsky.social
She nests on the 9th green at Selfoss Golf Club (Iceland).
St Andrews seems an appropriate winter home!
A blog abou c.r. project:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2021/02/02/o...
#BirdingScotland
She nests on the 9th green at Selfoss Golf Club (Iceland).
St Andrews seems an appropriate winter home!
A blog abou c.r. project:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2021/02/02/o...
#BirdingScotland
Reposted by Tómas G. Gunnarsson
Restoring peatland.
Capturing carbon and providing breeding habitat for waders.
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/08/16/p...
Paper by Rob Hughes & Chris Bingham
#ConservationScience🌍
Capturing carbon and providing breeding habitat for waders.
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/08/16/p...
Paper by Rob Hughes & Chris Bingham
#ConservationScience🌍
November 17, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Restoring peatland.
Capturing carbon and providing breeding habitat for waders.
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/08/16/p...
Paper by Rob Hughes & Chris Bingham
#ConservationScience🌍
Capturing carbon and providing breeding habitat for waders.
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/08/16/p...
Paper by Rob Hughes & Chris Bingham
#ConservationScience🌍
Reposted by Tómas G. Gunnarsson
1.5 million pairs of wader return to #Iceland each spring.
Where do they nest and how vulnerable are they to habitat changes, many of which are linked to 'development' proposals?
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/08/27/i...
#ConservationScience🌍
Where do they nest and how vulnerable are they to habitat changes, many of which are linked to 'development' proposals?
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/08/27/i...
#ConservationScience🌍
November 26, 2025 at 4:24 PM
1.5 million pairs of wader return to #Iceland each spring.
Where do they nest and how vulnerable are they to habitat changes, many of which are linked to 'development' proposals?
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/08/27/i...
#ConservationScience🌍
Where do they nest and how vulnerable are they to habitat changes, many of which are linked to 'development' proposals?
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/08/27/i...
#ConservationScience🌍
Reposted by Tómas G. Gunnarsson
Why track waders?
This blog has two aims – to share important scientific and conservation stories revealed through shorebird tracking work and to encourage scientists to make their data available via the Global Wader platform.
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/05/06/m...
#ornithology
Whimbrel tracks 👇
This blog has two aims – to share important scientific and conservation stories revealed through shorebird tracking work and to encourage scientists to make their data available via the Global Wader platform.
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/05/06/m...
#ornithology
Whimbrel tracks 👇
November 5, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Why track waders?
This blog has two aims – to share important scientific and conservation stories revealed through shorebird tracking work and to encourage scientists to make their data available via the Global Wader platform.
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/05/06/m...
#ornithology
Whimbrel tracks 👇
This blog has two aims – to share important scientific and conservation stories revealed through shorebird tracking work and to encourage scientists to make their data available via the Global Wader platform.
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/05/06/m...
#ornithology
Whimbrel tracks 👇
Reposted by Tómas G. Gunnarsson
A juvenile wader/shorebird does not travel with its parents, so how does it establish its personal annual migration itinerary?
Black-tailed Godwit blog from 12 Sep 2024 🎂
wadertales.wordpress.com/2024/09/12/j...
Paper by @tomasgunnarsson.bsky.social et al
#ornithology
Black-tailed Godwit blog from 12 Sep 2024 🎂
wadertales.wordpress.com/2024/09/12/j...
Paper by @tomasgunnarsson.bsky.social et al
#ornithology
September 12, 2025 at 6:09 AM
A juvenile wader/shorebird does not travel with its parents, so how does it establish its personal annual migration itinerary?
Black-tailed Godwit blog from 12 Sep 2024 🎂
wadertales.wordpress.com/2024/09/12/j...
Paper by @tomasgunnarsson.bsky.social et al
#ornithology
Black-tailed Godwit blog from 12 Sep 2024 🎂
wadertales.wordpress.com/2024/09/12/j...
Paper by @tomasgunnarsson.bsky.social et al
#ornithology
Reposted by Tómas G. Gunnarsson
Best bits of Iceland for waders.
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/08/27/i...
New WaderTales blog - Number 150 🥳
Paper by Verónica Méndez et al
#ConservationScience🌍
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/08/27/i...
New WaderTales blog - Number 150 🥳
Paper by Verónica Méndez et al
#ConservationScience🌍
August 27, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Best bits of Iceland for waders.
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/08/27/i...
New WaderTales blog - Number 150 🥳
Paper by Verónica Méndez et al
#ConservationScience🌍
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/08/27/i...
New WaderTales blog - Number 150 🥳
Paper by Verónica Méndez et al
#ConservationScience🌍
New distribution models for Icelandic waders show how temperate to arctic species overlap across climatic and environmental gradients. Led by Dr. Verónica Méndez
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
@wildlifebiology.bsky.social
#ornithology #waders #shorebirds #ConservationScience🌍
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
@wildlifebiology.bsky.social
#ornithology #waders #shorebirds #ConservationScience🌍
August 12, 2025 at 9:02 PM
New distribution models for Icelandic waders show how temperate to arctic species overlap across climatic and environmental gradients. Led by Dr. Verónica Méndez
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
@wildlifebiology.bsky.social
#ornithology #waders #shorebirds #ConservationScience🌍
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
@wildlifebiology.bsky.social
#ornithology #waders #shorebirds #ConservationScience🌍
Reposted by Tómas G. Gunnarsson
WaderTales blogs were read in 80 countries in May.
The most widely downloaded tale highlights some of the latest results from wader/shorebird tracking:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/05/06/m...
#ConservationScience🌍
Map shows tracks of one Whimbrel monitored for several years by Camilo Carneiro et al
The most widely downloaded tale highlights some of the latest results from wader/shorebird tracking:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/05/06/m...
#ConservationScience🌍
Map shows tracks of one Whimbrel monitored for several years by Camilo Carneiro et al
June 1, 2025 at 7:09 PM
WaderTales blogs were read in 80 countries in May.
The most widely downloaded tale highlights some of the latest results from wader/shorebird tracking:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/05/06/m...
#ConservationScience🌍
Map shows tracks of one Whimbrel monitored for several years by Camilo Carneiro et al
The most widely downloaded tale highlights some of the latest results from wader/shorebird tracking:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/05/06/m...
#ConservationScience🌍
Map shows tracks of one Whimbrel monitored for several years by Camilo Carneiro et al
Spot the golden plover nest - is a good game.
May 29, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Spot the golden plover nest - is a good game.
Phalaropes are wonderfully tame.
#ornithology
#ornithology
May 18, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Phalaropes are wonderfully tame.
#ornithology
#ornithology
Reposted by Tómas G. Gunnarsson
Southern Iceland is the most important area in Europe for breeding Whimbrel. New study measures decline of nearly 50% in twelve years.
Blog:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/02/20/i...
Paper:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
#ConservationScience🌍
Blog:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/02/20/i...
Paper:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
#ConservationScience🌍
February 21, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Southern Iceland is the most important area in Europe for breeding Whimbrel. New study measures decline of nearly 50% in twelve years.
Blog:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/02/20/i...
Paper:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
#ConservationScience🌍
Blog:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/02/20/i...
Paper:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
#ConservationScience🌍
Reposted by Tómas G. Gunnarsson
Dunlin is the biggest loser in Southern Lowlands of Iceland.
Breeding numbers down 60% in eleven years.
Blog:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/02/20/i...
Paper (Aldís Pálsdóttir et al):
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
THREAD #ornithology
Breeding numbers down 60% in eleven years.
Blog:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/02/20/i...
Paper (Aldís Pálsdóttir et al):
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
THREAD #ornithology
February 22, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Dunlin is the biggest loser in Southern Lowlands of Iceland.
Breeding numbers down 60% in eleven years.
Blog:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/02/20/i...
Paper (Aldís Pálsdóttir et al):
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
THREAD #ornithology
Breeding numbers down 60% in eleven years.
Blog:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/02/20/i...
Paper (Aldís Pálsdóttir et al):
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
THREAD #ornithology
Reposted by Tómas G. Gunnarsson
All is not well in the Southern Lowlands of Iceland - one of the most important wader breeding areas in Europe.
WaderTales blog:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/02/20/i...
Paper by Aldís Pálsdóttir et al in 'Bird Study':
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
#ornithology
WaderTales blog:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/02/20/i...
Paper by Aldís Pálsdóttir et al in 'Bird Study':
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
#ornithology
February 20, 2025 at 6:21 PM
All is not well in the Southern Lowlands of Iceland - one of the most important wader breeding areas in Europe.
WaderTales blog:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/02/20/i...
Paper by Aldís Pálsdóttir et al in 'Bird Study':
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
#ornithology
WaderTales blog:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/02/20/i...
Paper by Aldís Pálsdóttir et al in 'Bird Study':
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
#ornithology
Spooky news just before spring migration.
Starting to hear reports of Avian Influenza hitting Whooper Swans. Please report all sightings of dead birds for possible testing. In 🏴, 🏴 & 🏴 contact DefraGovUK, in N Ireland Daera & in Republic of Ireland Dept of agriculture. Please also report to @birdtrack.bsky.social for monitoring
February 19, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Spooky news just before spring migration.
Reposted by Tómas G. Gunnarsson
February 9, 2025 at 6:39 AM
New paper on population changes in common waders and passerines in Iceland's largest breeding area. Most populations are declining fast.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
February 17, 2025 at 4:02 PM
New paper on population changes in common waders and passerines in Iceland's largest breeding area. Most populations are declining fast.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Tómas G. Gunnarsson
Following Black-tailed Godwits with rings, colour-rings and tracking.
New paper in @jappliedecology.bsky.social by @amigodeaves.bsky.social et al, summarised in WaderTales blog.
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/01/09/h...
#ConservationScience🌏
Paper:
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
New paper in @jappliedecology.bsky.social by @amigodeaves.bsky.social et al, summarised in WaderTales blog.
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/01/09/h...
#ConservationScience🌏
Paper:
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
January 10, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Following Black-tailed Godwits with rings, colour-rings and tracking.
New paper in @jappliedecology.bsky.social by @amigodeaves.bsky.social et al, summarised in WaderTales blog.
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/01/09/h...
#ConservationScience🌏
Paper:
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
New paper in @jappliedecology.bsky.social by @amigodeaves.bsky.social et al, summarised in WaderTales blog.
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/01/09/h...
#ConservationScience🌏
Paper:
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
Reposted by Tómas G. Gunnarsson
New paper! @jappliedecology.bsky.social
https://bit.ly/3C5gYJp
We mapped out the migrations of over 10K ind ⚫-tailed godwits (!) to characterize connectivity between sites in Europe and Africa.
We compiled tracking data, ring recoveries and resightings: >400K records in total! (1/5)
https://bit.ly/3C5gYJp
We mapped out the migrations of over 10K ind ⚫-tailed godwits (!) to characterize connectivity between sites in Europe and Africa.
We compiled tracking data, ring recoveries and resightings: >400K records in total! (1/5)
January 9, 2025 at 9:24 AM
New paper! @jappliedecology.bsky.social
https://bit.ly/3C5gYJp
We mapped out the migrations of over 10K ind ⚫-tailed godwits (!) to characterize connectivity between sites in Europe and Africa.
We compiled tracking data, ring recoveries and resightings: >400K records in total! (1/5)
https://bit.ly/3C5gYJp
We mapped out the migrations of over 10K ind ⚫-tailed godwits (!) to characterize connectivity between sites in Europe and Africa.
We compiled tracking data, ring recoveries and resightings: >400K records in total! (1/5)
Reposted by Tómas G. Gunnarsson
Latest WaderTales blog focuses on the newly red-listed Broad-billed Sandpiper.
It lists all 16 waders/shorebirds that had their conservation status revised in the wrong direction:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2024/12/08/b...
#ornithology
It lists all 16 waders/shorebirds that had their conservation status revised in the wrong direction:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2024/12/08/b...
#ornithology
December 9, 2024 at 6:20 AM
Latest WaderTales blog focuses on the newly red-listed Broad-billed Sandpiper.
It lists all 16 waders/shorebirds that had their conservation status revised in the wrong direction:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2024/12/08/b...
#ornithology
It lists all 16 waders/shorebirds that had their conservation status revised in the wrong direction:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2024/12/08/b...
#ornithology