Swiss Ornithological Institute
@vogelwarte.bsky.social
We investigate and protect what we are passionate about.
Can high biodiversity and agricultural productivity be reconciled? A community model of the bird–arthropod food web in African cocoa agroforestry indicates that low-intensity farming practices favour certain bird species and enhance the abundance of potential pollinators. doi.org/10.1002/eap....
November 24, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Can high biodiversity and agricultural productivity be reconciled? A community model of the bird–arthropod food web in African cocoa agroforestry indicates that low-intensity farming practices favour certain bird species and enhance the abundance of potential pollinators. doi.org/10.1002/eap....
New study on factors influencing collisions of Red Kite Milvus milvus with wind turbines: findings suggest that turbines with rotor diameters <90m and clearances > 60m may pose a lower relative threat to Red Kites. Read more here: doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...
November 10, 2025 at 1:49 PM
New study on factors influencing collisions of Red Kite Milvus milvus with wind turbines: findings suggest that turbines with rotor diameters <90m and clearances > 60m may pose a lower relative threat to Red Kites. Read more here: doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...
Our team analysed the correlation of N deposition with numbers of territories of 112 Swiss breeding birds species. Insectivous and herbivorous species were more negatively associated with N deposistion, as well as ground-nesting species. Read more here: doi.org/10.1111/cobi...
October 30, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Our team analysed the correlation of N deposition with numbers of territories of 112 Swiss breeding birds species. Insectivous and herbivorous species were more negatively associated with N deposistion, as well as ground-nesting species. Read more here: doi.org/10.1111/cobi...
In Europe, the Skylark Alauda arvensis has shown some sever declines. Populations are more stable in the Swiss Alps. To better inform conservation management, our team studied the limiting factors for these populations. Read more here: doi.org/10.1111/ibi....
September 22, 2025 at 11:10 AM
In Europe, the Skylark Alauda arvensis has shown some sever declines. Populations are more stable in the Swiss Alps. To better inform conservation management, our team studied the limiting factors for these populations. Read more here: doi.org/10.1111/ibi....
Combining high-resolution atmospheric analysis and global positioning system tracking data, @matthiastschumi.bsky.social and his team explored the role of gravity waves in soaring golden eagles, with results supporting the regular use of these waves. Read more here: doi.org/10.1098/rsif...
August 4, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Combining high-resolution atmospheric analysis and global positioning system tracking data, @matthiastschumi.bsky.social and his team explored the role of gravity waves in soaring golden eagles, with results supporting the regular use of these waves. Read more here: doi.org/10.1098/rsif...
Using data of 49 radio-tracked White-back Woodpeckers, A. Ettwein, M. Lanz & G. Pasinelli provide the first estimates for seasonal and total home-range size of the species. For its conservation, at least 116-350 ha of forest should be present for one breeding pair. doi.org/10.1007/s103...
July 30, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Using data of 49 radio-tracked White-back Woodpeckers, A. Ettwein, M. Lanz & G. Pasinelli provide the first estimates for seasonal and total home-range size of the species. For its conservation, at least 116-350 ha of forest should be present for one breeding pair. doi.org/10.1007/s103...
Croatia serves as a connection point for the 3 flyways in the African-Palearctic bird migration system. Using radar data, @baptischmi.bsky.social @barbarahelm.bsky.social et al. provide quantitative evidence that migratory birds cross the region in a variety of directions. doi.org/10.1186/s404...
July 25, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Croatia serves as a connection point for the 3 flyways in the African-Palearctic bird migration system. Using radar data, @baptischmi.bsky.social @barbarahelm.bsky.social et al. provide quantitative evidence that migratory birds cross the region in a variety of directions. doi.org/10.1186/s404...
Together with @wslresearch.bsky.social & @ethz.ch, we looked at the relation between resource pulses and woodpecker density. Our findings showed a strong increase of woodpecker density with the pulse of deadwood, rather than the pulse of bark beetles. Read more here: doi.org/10.1111/1365...
July 22, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Together with @wslresearch.bsky.social & @ethz.ch, we looked at the relation between resource pulses and woodpecker density. Our findings showed a strong increase of woodpecker density with the pulse of deadwood, rather than the pulse of bark beetles. Read more here: doi.org/10.1111/1365...
Today is #WorldChocolateDay. Did you know that Swiss people eat the most chocolate per capita? Therefore, we take responsability in making cocoa plantations better for birds. Our project in Africa promotes sustainable cocoa agriculture - for birds and for people. shorturl.at/yg5pp
July 7, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Today is #WorldChocolateDay. Did you know that Swiss people eat the most chocolate per capita? Therefore, we take responsability in making cocoa plantations better for birds. Our project in Africa promotes sustainable cocoa agriculture - for birds and for people. shorturl.at/yg5pp
Combining weather radar data with environmental data, @birgenhaest.bsky.social and co-authors found that peak roosting phenology of migrating martins and swallows in the Great Lakes region is paced by both local and distant conditions. Read more on doi.org/10.1111/geb....
July 2, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Combining weather radar data with environmental data, @birgenhaest.bsky.social and co-authors found that peak roosting phenology of migrating martins and swallows in the Great Lakes region is paced by both local and distant conditions. Read more on doi.org/10.1111/geb....
A playback experiment on Wrynecks Jynx torquilla shows that both personal and social information seem to affect habitat selection, but that food availability is the main cue for settlement. More on doi.org/10.1002/2688...
June 23, 2025 at 2:13 PM
A playback experiment on Wrynecks Jynx torquilla shows that both personal and social information seem to affect habitat selection, but that food availability is the main cue for settlement. More on doi.org/10.1002/2688...
In a new study using down feathers and regurgitated pellets from nestling barn owls from our population monitoring program, mercury accumulation and biomagnification were investigated. Results show that prey composition significantly influenced fur THg levels. More on doi.org/10.1016/j.jh... .
June 16, 2025 at 8:51 AM
In a new study using down feathers and regurgitated pellets from nestling barn owls from our population monitoring program, mercury accumulation and biomagnification were investigated. Results show that prey composition significantly influenced fur THg levels. More on doi.org/10.1016/j.jh... .
Individual routes of common terns Sterna hirundo are adaptive: they can be flexibly adjusted to environmental variation, as shows Kürten et al. in a new paper based on data from light-level geolocators. Read more on doi.org/10.1098/rspb... . @birgenhaest.bsky.social
June 4, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Individual routes of common terns Sterna hirundo are adaptive: they can be flexibly adjusted to environmental variation, as shows Kürten et al. in a new paper based on data from light-level geolocators. Read more on doi.org/10.1098/rspb... . @birgenhaest.bsky.social
Did you ever want to start with Bayesian statistics but didn't know how to start? Then we encourage you to read "Ten quick tips to get you started with Bayesian statistics": doi.org/10.1371/jour... with co-authored by our Marc #Kery.
May 19, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Did you ever want to start with Bayesian statistics but didn't know how to start? Then we encourage you to read "Ten quick tips to get you started with Bayesian statistics": doi.org/10.1371/jour... with co-authored by our Marc #Kery.
Panter et al. introduce the LIFE EUROKITE Assessment Protocol (LEAP), a framework for determining the timing, locations, and causes of mortality in GPS-tagged birds. LEAP has sufficient potential to improve research on avian mortality and to inform conservation actions. doi.org/10.1002/ece3...
April 26, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Panter et al. introduce the LIFE EUROKITE Assessment Protocol (LEAP), a framework for determining the timing, locations, and causes of mortality in GPS-tagged birds. LEAP has sufficient potential to improve research on avian mortality and to inform conservation actions. doi.org/10.1002/ece3...
Migratory species are particularly vulnerable to global change. Therefore, research at flyway scale is needed. That's were Motus comes into play: as an automated telemetry system, it provides information useful to identify critical stopover sites, for example. Read more here: doi.org/10.1111/cobi...
April 22, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Migratory species are particularly vulnerable to global change. Therefore, research at flyway scale is needed. That's were Motus comes into play: as an automated telemetry system, it provides information useful to identify critical stopover sites, for example. Read more here: doi.org/10.1111/cobi...
We are committed to protecting migratory landbirds - at a workshop in Islamabad we are helping to develop a multi-species action plan for bustards, a family of birds with many threatened iconic species. This also benefits the Great Bustard, which is native to Europe and endangered.
April 17, 2025 at 3:38 PM
We are committed to protecting migratory landbirds - at a workshop in Islamabad we are helping to develop a multi-species action plan for bustards, a family of birds with many threatened iconic species. This also benefits the Great Bustard, which is native to Europe and endangered.
To develop a decision-support tool for the conservation of grassland birds in Switzerland, we produced high-resolution maps of potential habitats for five species. Have a look: webgis.vogelwarte.ch/projects/gra...
April 11, 2025 at 2:44 PM
To develop a decision-support tool for the conservation of grassland birds in Switzerland, we produced high-resolution maps of potential habitats for five species. Have a look: webgis.vogelwarte.ch/projects/gra...
Accounting for collinearity is a challenge in ecological studies. Riecke et al.'s work provides an example of incorporating concepts central to structural equation models to model environmental processes underlying demographic rates in integrated population model. doi.org/10.1016/j.ec...
April 8, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Accounting for collinearity is a challenge in ecological studies. Riecke et al.'s work provides an example of incorporating concepts central to structural equation models to model environmental processes underlying demographic rates in integrated population model. doi.org/10.1016/j.ec...
Jaume Badia-Boher et al. used a spatially explicit IPM to assess the long term dynamics of the Bonelli's eagle population. Results showed that the magnitude of birth and death processes was substantially larger than that of emigration and immigration processes. More on doi.org/10.1002/eap.....
April 3, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Jaume Badia-Boher et al. used a spatially explicit IPM to assess the long term dynamics of the Bonelli's eagle population. Results showed that the magnitude of birth and death processes was substantially larger than that of emigration and immigration processes. More on doi.org/10.1002/eap.....
In a new study, @barbarahelm.bsky.social et al. showed that females were incubating less tightly in areas with increasing artificial light at night, as well as negative correlations between female night restlessness and hatching success. More on doi.org/10.2108/zs24...
March 26, 2025 at 10:09 AM
In a new study, @barbarahelm.bsky.social et al. showed that females were incubating less tightly in areas with increasing artificial light at night, as well as negative correlations between female night restlessness and hatching success. More on doi.org/10.2108/zs24...
Exciting news! Côte d'Ivoire's first-ever Bird Atlas under the direction of the Société Ivoirienne d’Ornithologie is taking flight - thanks to the support of the Swiss Ornithological Institute. A major step for biodiversity and the conservation of our migratory birds.
March 7, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Exciting news! Côte d'Ivoire's first-ever Bird Atlas under the direction of the Société Ivoirienne d’Ornithologie is taking flight - thanks to the support of the Swiss Ornithological Institute. A major step for biodiversity and the conservation of our migratory birds.
In a new paper using metabarcoding Jarret et al. @barbarahelm.bsky.social found that moult is associated with higher diversity of food items in the diet of Common Bulbuls (Pycnonotus barbatus) in Cameroon.
Read more here: doi.org/10.1111/ibi....
#ornithology
📸 Francesco Veronesi via flickr
Read more here: doi.org/10.1111/ibi....
#ornithology
📸 Francesco Veronesi via flickr
March 5, 2025 at 3:19 PM
In a new paper using metabarcoding Jarret et al. @barbarahelm.bsky.social found that moult is associated with higher diversity of food items in the diet of Common Bulbuls (Pycnonotus barbatus) in Cameroon.
Read more here: doi.org/10.1111/ibi....
#ornithology
📸 Francesco Veronesi via flickr
Read more here: doi.org/10.1111/ibi....
#ornithology
📸 Francesco Veronesi via flickr
A new study led by @gabrielmarcacci.bsky.social demonstrates the great potential of bottom-up small-scale grazing exlusions as an adaptive measure to combat land degradation in Burkina Faso. More on doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...
February 14, 2025 at 2:15 PM
A new study led by @gabrielmarcacci.bsky.social demonstrates the great potential of bottom-up small-scale grazing exlusions as an adaptive measure to combat land degradation in Burkina Faso. More on doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...