Chris Roy

To Solve the Mallard's Mysterious Decline, Researchers Turn to Hi-Tech Trackers Biologists are using the devices to better understand the bird's behavior and, ultimately, what might be driving our most common duck's population drop.

I started reporting and writing this story in May 2024, then had a baby, then reported more to learn project updates, and FINALLY our story is live! Check it out to learn more about the decline of a common species, and an ambitious project trying to understand why.

www.audubon.org/magazine/sol...

We’re recruiting for a multi-university (and ECCC) cross-city project on urban biodiversity, connectivity, and ecosystem services: 1) a Concordia or U Laval MSc student (PhD possible), 2) a UBC MSc student, 3) a postdoc.

I’ll link to each position below. Please share broadly!

The #Arctic might be a cold place, but microclimates can get HOT! The cliffs where murres nest can get to a whopping 46.5°C in the full sun.

New work by MSc student Frederique Tremblay, @emilyschoy.bsky.social, @tattersallg.bsky.social & many others available free:

doi.org/10.1016/j.cb...

A lovely summery illustration by Shay Stenback showing a downy loon chick being fed by its parents. Text includes the Birds Canada Logo, Inventaire canadiens des Plongeons huards 2025 and the start of the volunteer letter.

Cette semaine débute l'Inventaire Canadian des Plongeons huards 2025 !
Avec 2 millions de lacs au Canada, vous pouvez trouver un lac à apprécier tout en surveillant les huards.
Pour en savoir plus, consultez le site birdscanada.org/loons #oiseaux #lacs #oiseaux #lacs #birds

Band recovery data illustrate spatiotemporal and taxonomic patterns of seabird collisions with anthropogenic structures Seabird populations are declining rapidly due to numerous anthropogenic threats, including habitat destruction, invasive species, longline fisheries bycatch, and plastic ingestion. However, few stu...

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Our own Riley Lawson led this work to study #seabird #collisions using long-term data from the #USGS #BirdBandingLaboratory.

Yep, seabirds hit #windows, too.

#ornithology @wilsonornithsoc.bsky.social #BirdWindowCollisions
#OKState #NREM

new publication by our team member @thiemokarwinkel.bsky.social about the multi-year and multi site tracking of long-tailed ducks (Clangula hyemalis) from the Arctic to the Baltic Sea. @ifv-whv.bsky.social read here open access: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

A flyer describing the AOS Student Research Grant Seminar series and my talk title: Investigating the Evolutionary and Genetic Underpinnings of Dichromatic Plumage in Waterfowl (Anseriformes)

🦆 If ya like hearing about ducks (and/or genetics) I'm giving a public seminar with @amornith.bsky.social on them next Monday (3/31) at noon! You can sign up here: americanornithology-org.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Journal of Field Ornithology: Effectiveness of stewardship and management strategies to conserve coastal bird populations in the northern Gulf of Mexico: a literature review Shorebirds, seabirds, and wading birds (hereafter coastal birds) have experienced considerable losses over the last century and require proactive conservation management to stabilize or grow populatio...

Excited to see this literature review of coastal bird stewardship & management strategies w/ a focus on the Gulf published in JFO. This was Jennifer Fuller's first first-authored paper, & we worked with an amazing team of scientists to prepare & publish this work! journal.afonet.org/vol96/iss1/a...

Do you study the impacts #cats have on #birds? Myself and @gowelizabeth.bsky.social are organizing a symposium on the impacts of cats on birds in Canada! We have a number of invited talks, but consider submitting an abstract for our #SCO-SOC symposium if you'd like to join us! See you in Saskatoon!

Predicted possible locations for American Woodcock Singing-Ground Survey (SGS) expansion that are readily accessible by road.

We also used the model output to identify roads that could support more SGS routes in Manitoba, Ontario, Québec, and Newfoundland which could help improve woodcock monitoring and conservation. #BirdConservation #WoodcockResearch #SGS

Predicted occurrence (A) and abundance (B) of American Woodcock in Canad and the associated error with those predictions.

That is to say that male timberdoodle habitat selection and use during the breeding season in predominantly influenced by the presence of display habitats (typical male behavior I know!). As expected, potential display habitats extend north of the SGS coverage but also in Manitoba and Newfoundland.

Relationships between landscape composition (A–G) and configuration (I) and American woodcock abundance index within a 310-m hexagonal grid cell

New paper: We used the woodcock Singing-Ground Survey (SGS) data in Canada from 2000-2019, and we found American woodcock occurrence and abundance were most influenced by habitat within a 310m radius. tinyurl.com/3ttuv4w4

The 2025 U.S. #StateOfTheBirds report was released today. The report finds that birds continue to decline unabated across most habitats—habitats that are also vital to human well-being.
Read the report & take action! www.stateofthebirds.org/2025/
#bringbirdsback

Territoriality Modulates the Effect of Conspecific Encounters on the Foraging Behaviours of a Mammalian Predator We monitored the movements and behaviours of Arctic foxes using neighbouring home ranges and evaluated if conspecific interactions influenced where they foraged. The probability of encountering consp...

New paper out! We looked at the effect of the probability of encountering conspecifics on the foraging behaviours of territorial and non territorial Arctic foxes.

with @dominiqueberteaux.bsky.social @fredericddb.bsky.social and Marie-Pier Poulin

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

📣PhD opportunity!
We are looking for a candidate to develop a project on the spatial ecology of #waterbirds using rice fields. Check for the complete details below, and get in touch until the 21st of March!
drive.google.com/file/d/1R8MI...

#ornithology #movement #tracking #connectivity

VMC: A Grammar for Visualizing Statistical Model Checks Visualizations play a critical role in validating and improving statistical models. However, the design space of model check visualizations is not well understood, making it difficult for authors to e...

You might our recent paper "VMC: A Grammar for Visualizing Statistical Model Checks" interesting arxiv.org/abs/2408.16702

Recently published research indicating that National Wildlife Refuges embedded in an agricultural matrix may not be a refuge from pesticide contamination 🧪 kwnsfk27.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F...

Visual representation of common garden procedure.

Our common garden experiment with urban and forest great tits is out early view in Evolution! doi.org/10.1093/evol... @denisreale.bsky.social @annecharmantier.bsky.social

Graphic with IBP logo that says "The Institute for Bird Populations could really use your help right now."

🪶 Today, more than 1/3 of the federal grant $$ we were relying on to finance our science & conservation work in 2025 is paused w/ no indication of when, or if, we will be able to access it again. Your tax-deductible donation helps us weather this period of uncertainty. birdpop.org/pages/do... 1/2

📢 Job Posting with Bird Protection Quebec 🦅
#ornithology #birding #conservation
🔗 Info here: lc.cx/qTG9C7
📸 Picture below: Barrow's Goldeneye (Garrot d'Islande) – taken close to home!

Help our Flocks Project take flight! We all need a space to feel we belong & are supported. This is what our Flocks Project—our joint effort with Wilson Ornithological Society & Association of Field Ornithologists—aims to do for ornithologists. Donate today!
www.gofundme.com/f/flocks-for...

Come work with us! We're hiring a Senior Manager, Quantitative Science on National Audubon Society's Science Team (1/2)

audubon.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Audubo...

In Feb 23 we undertook a census of the UK naturalised Barnacle Goose population. The aim to produce an updated population estimate & report on winter distribution. Results have now been published in @britishbirds.bsky.social, with our thinking on future monitoring needs #Ornithology 1/7 ⬇️

The State of Canada’s Birds Report Canada’s birds have stories to tell. See how they are doing, how their populations have changed, and what you can do to help.

naturecounts.ca/nc/socb-epoc... In case you missed it last Fall when this was released. I'd never posted it here before. Super informative: pick your fave species and see how it has been trending.

Anas platyrhynchos (Mallard) has been replacing Anas rubripes (American Black Duck) in human-altered landscapes in Ontario, 1996 to 2019 ABSTRACT. Anas rubripes (American Black Duck) has received much attention over the years as a popular game bird species that experienced historical decline

Our paper on Black Duck declines in Ontario is out in Ornithological Applications. We found Black Duck declines weren’t linked to Mallard increases. Instead, Mallards thrived in disturbed areas while Black Ducks avoided agriculture, highlighting the role of habitat. doi.org/10.1093/ornithapp/duae048

Parfaitement camouflé! Ce Petit-duc maculé se fond dans l’écorce de son arbre, un vrai maître du mimétisme.

#easternscreechowl #oiseauxduquebec #oiseaux #ornithologie #birds #birding #birdphotography #wildlifephotography

En cette Journée internationale des femmes et des filles de science, nous tenons à saluer les biologistes qui se dévouent pour la conservation des espèces. On souligne aussi l'apport de toutes les citoyennes qui collaborent aux suivis et autres projets de science participative.

Beaucoup d'informations dans cette chronique sur l'adaptation des oiseaux aux conditions hivernales, sur le nourrissage des oiseaux, etc.

Responses to extreme drought in wintering waterbirds: a multi-species approach - Frontiers in Zoology Background Climate change and anthropogenic activities are accelerating environmental changes, challenging wild animals’ survival. Behavioral plasticity, such as adjusting habitat selection and foragi...

Wintering waterbird responses to extreme drought

frontiersinzoology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....

🌍 🧪 🦤

#Ornithology