FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology

How can deep learning transform the study of animal behaviour in the wild? Join Dr Rita Covas for our next Fitz seminar, exploring AI-based methods for individual recognition and automated behavioural monitoring.

📅 13 August | 13:00
📍 Niven Library

Do males and females follow the same social rules? An 11-year study of Sociable Weavers found male dominance increased with age, while female dominance did not, suggesting males and females use different strategies or cues to navigate their social world.

🌍️ From nest-scale microclimates to colony-wide patterns, the Hot Birds Research Project at the FitzPatrick Institute is investigating how warming temperatures affect breeding by albatrosses and giant petrels on Marion Island.
https://www.acap.aq/latest-news/hot-birds-how-does-climate-change-affect-breeding-by-albatrosses-and-giant-petrels

Southern Ground-Hornbills are generalist predators, feeding on everything from insects and frogs to snakes, tortoises and small mammals. Groups forage together across the savanna, helping feed both the nesting female and the chick during breeding.

Artificial nesting sites (nestboxes) can boost breeding opportunities for the Southern Ground-Hornbill. In South Africa, nestboxes increased the number of breeding groups, revealing their value as a conservation tool where natural nest sites are scarce.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0959270919000108

🐧 Join us for our next FitzPatrick Seminar! Khaya Ntwimbi will explore African Penguin conservation and rehabilitation, and the marine threats facing these birds, from oil spills to food scarcity. Plus, discover careers in conservation.

Raising a Southern ground-hornbill chick takes a team. These birds live in cooperative groups where helpers assist with feeding and protection. Despite this teamwork, groups can raise only a single chick per breeding attempt, and successful breeding events may be years apart.

🌡️ Hotter and drier conditions pose a challenge for Southern Ground-Hornbill populations. A 17-year study found that high temperatures delayed laying dates and reduced nestling mass, while drought reduced breeding probability.
https://doi.org/10.1086/739305

What is iOrnithology? This emerging field uses web-sourced photos and videos to study birds. A review of 64 studies highlights its growing role in understanding the ecology, biology, and conservation of avian species.
https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.70084

🦅 How much space does Africa's smallest diurnal raptor need? We tracked Pygmy Falcons with miniaturised GPS tags and found that the breeding home range averaged just 0.93 km²; providing vital baseline data for the conservation of small raptors.
bit.ly/3SHwPpu