Keith C Hamer
@keithchamer.bsky.social
Ecologist and seabird biologist, now happily retired
Reposted by Keith C Hamer
Extensive effort by multiple law enforcement / science / conservation partners to determine this as a wildlife crime. But of course, yet again the offender hasn't been identified, charged, prosecuted etc. Something needs to change.
#RaptorResearch
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/24/h...
#RaptorResearch
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/24/h...
Hen Harrier found dead in Northumberland National Park with shotgun damage to satellite tag
This is a blog about one of those dead Hen Harriers for whom we’ve been waiting over a year for Natural England to confirm the cause of death. A Hen Harrier (photo by Pete Walkden) The young …
raptorpersecutionuk.org
November 24, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Extensive effort by multiple law enforcement / science / conservation partners to determine this as a wildlife crime. But of course, yet again the offender hasn't been identified, charged, prosecuted etc. Something needs to change.
#RaptorResearch
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/24/h...
#RaptorResearch
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/24/h...
Reposted by Keith C Hamer
@wadertales.bsky.social has reminded me of his super blog which provides an overview of the migration pathways for our #waders ▶️ wadertales.wordpress.com/2017/07/20/w...
Which wader, when and why?
This is a quick summary of wader migration, for British and Irish birdwatchers. The maps are taken from the migration book Time to Fly by Jim Flegg, published by the British Trust for Ornithology, …
wadertales.wordpress.com
November 22, 2025 at 3:17 PM
@wadertales.bsky.social has reminded me of his super blog which provides an overview of the migration pathways for our #waders ▶️ wadertales.wordpress.com/2017/07/20/w...
Reposted by Keith C Hamer
This is a genuine question: Outside of the UK, does anyone know of another National Park where it is an annual event to release thousands of non-native birds? Or even occasionally? I only ask because the more I think about it, the more barking mad it sounds. #birds #nationalparks
New report on gamebird releases in Cairngorms National Park doesn't tell even half the story.
Study included less than half (45%) of estates rearing & releasing non-native gamebirds. MSPs need to interpret results cautiously & appropriately.
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/21/n...
Study included less than half (45%) of estates rearing & releasing non-native gamebirds. MSPs need to interpret results cautiously & appropriately.
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/21/n...
New report on gamebird releases in Cairngorms National Park doesn’t tell even half the story
In spring 2025, news emerged that the GWCT (Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust) was going to be conducting a pilot study to look at the number of non-native gamebirds (Pheasants & Red-legge…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
November 22, 2025 at 8:29 PM
This is a genuine question: Outside of the UK, does anyone know of another National Park where it is an annual event to release thousands of non-native birds? Or even occasionally? I only ask because the more I think about it, the more barking mad it sounds. #birds #nationalparks
Reposted by Keith C Hamer
This inner compass could help to explain how certain animals can achieve astonishing feats of long-distance navigation
go.nature.com/4pn3KL9
go.nature.com/4pn3KL9
Has birds’ mysterious ‘compass’ organ been found at last?
Multiple lines of evidence suggest that pigeons sense magnetic fields by detecting electric currents in their inner ears.
go.nature.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:08 PM
This inner compass could help to explain how certain animals can achieve astonishing feats of long-distance navigation
go.nature.com/4pn3KL9
go.nature.com/4pn3KL9
Reposted by Keith C Hamer
Cover decision text, not passed yet, unfccc.int/sites/defaul...
No mention of roadmaps for transitioning away from fossil fuels or curbing deforestation.
Bitterly disappointing.
No mention of roadmaps for transitioning away from fossil fuels or curbing deforestation.
Bitterly disappointing.
unfccc.int
November 22, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Cover decision text, not passed yet, unfccc.int/sites/defaul...
No mention of roadmaps for transitioning away from fossil fuels or curbing deforestation.
Bitterly disappointing.
No mention of roadmaps for transitioning away from fossil fuels or curbing deforestation.
Bitterly disappointing.
Reposted by Keith C Hamer
Another 'missing' Hen Harrier, this time in the Moorfoot Hills, south of Edinburgh - a well known hotbed of illegal raptor persecution over several decades.
#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/20/s...
#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/20/s...
Satellite-tagged Hen Harrier ‘Circe’ disappears in suspicious circumstances in Moorfoot Hills, south Scotland
Press release from Hen Harrier Action (20th November 2025) HEN HARRIER ACTION APPEALS FOR INFORMATION AS ANOTHER RARE HEN HARRIER SUSPECTED TO HAVE BEEN ILLEGALLY KILLED IN SCOTLAND A satellite tag…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
November 20, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Another 'missing' Hen Harrier, this time in the Moorfoot Hills, south of Edinburgh - a well known hotbed of illegal raptor persecution over several decades.
#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/20/s...
#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/20/s...
Reposted by Keith C Hamer
On the 15th November, the Derwent Hunt once again trespassed into our Chafer Wood nature reserve near Ebberston. We are absolutely outraged at their audacity and disrespect.
If you have evidence of the hunt or hounds accessing YWT land, please send to [email protected]
Read our full statement below.
If you have evidence of the hunt or hounds accessing YWT land, please send to [email protected]
Read our full statement below.
November 20, 2025 at 11:01 AM
On the 15th November, the Derwent Hunt once again trespassed into our Chafer Wood nature reserve near Ebberston. We are absolutely outraged at their audacity and disrespect.
If you have evidence of the hunt or hounds accessing YWT land, please send to [email protected]
Read our full statement below.
If you have evidence of the hunt or hounds accessing YWT land, please send to [email protected]
Read our full statement below.
Reposted by Keith C Hamer
For the first time, humans have tracked an individual butterfly, as shown in the Monarch migration of north America.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/s...
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
@bc-suffolk.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/s...
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
@bc-suffolk.bsky.social
We Can Now Track Individual Monarch Butterflies. It’s a Revelation.
www.nytimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:45 PM
For the first time, humans have tracked an individual butterfly, as shown in the Monarch migration of north America.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/s...
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
@bc-suffolk.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/s...
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
@bc-suffolk.bsky.social
Reposted by Keith C Hamer
More work linking irregular iris pigmentation in gannets to prior HPAI infections: likelihood of NP antibody increased with iris pigment irregularity. Moderate correlations for H5 antibodies.
👉 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
👉 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
November 18, 2025 at 10:52 PM
More work linking irregular iris pigmentation in gannets to prior HPAI infections: likelihood of NP antibody increased with iris pigment irregularity. Moderate correlations for H5 antibodies.
👉 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
👉 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Keith C Hamer
Hen Harrier Susie, whose chicks were stamped to death on a Yorkshire Dales grouse moor in 2022, has been found dead on a N Pennines grouse moor with gunshot injuries.
18+ months of silence about this crime from the police & Natural England.
#RaptorResearch
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/14/h...
18+ months of silence about this crime from the police & Natural England.
#RaptorResearch
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/14/h...
Hen Harrier ‘Susie’, whose chicks were stamped to death in 2022, has been found dead on a North Pennines grouse moor with gunshot injuries
If ever there was an example demonstrating the high level of persecution faced by Hen Harriers on UK grouse moors, the lack of consequences for the offenders, and the lack of justice for the victim…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
November 14, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Hen Harrier Susie, whose chicks were stamped to death on a Yorkshire Dales grouse moor in 2022, has been found dead on a N Pennines grouse moor with gunshot injuries.
18+ months of silence about this crime from the police & Natural England.
#RaptorResearch
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/14/h...
18+ months of silence about this crime from the police & Natural England.
#RaptorResearch
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/14/h...
Reposted by Keith C Hamer
Needing to model impacts on seabird populations in Northwest Europe?
Not sure where to find useful values for demographic variables?
Look no further! In this new paper, we provide model-derived values for age-specific survival of 25 species.
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Not sure where to find useful values for demographic variables?
Look no further! In this new paper, we provide model-derived values for age-specific survival of 25 species.
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Demography of marine birds in the Northeast Atlantic: Informed parameter values for population modelling
We developed matrix population models for 54 regional populations of 25 marine bird species in the north-east Atlantic, based on 30 years of monitoring data. In Step 1, we parameterised the models wi...
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Needing to model impacts on seabird populations in Northwest Europe?
Not sure where to find useful values for demographic variables?
Look no further! In this new paper, we provide model-derived values for age-specific survival of 25 species.
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Not sure where to find useful values for demographic variables?
Look no further! In this new paper, we provide model-derived values for age-specific survival of 25 species.
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by Keith C Hamer
" 60 per cent of UK university libraries are considering dropping their big deals with the five major academic publisher"
Many call for diamond open access. A new organisation with many partners, @ojcollective.bsky.social , is launching in January.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
Many call for diamond open access. A new organisation with many partners, @ojcollective.bsky.social , is launching in January.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
Chaos is coming for scholarly publishing - Research Professional News
Buckling of commercial models alongside maturing of community-led efforts promises major shifts, says Caroline Edwards
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:42 PM
" 60 per cent of UK university libraries are considering dropping their big deals with the five major academic publisher"
Many call for diamond open access. A new organisation with many partners, @ojcollective.bsky.social , is launching in January.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
Many call for diamond open access. A new organisation with many partners, @ojcollective.bsky.social , is launching in January.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
Reposted by Keith C Hamer
#LIBresearch: A new study introduces the Global Repository of Insect Traits (GRIT) — a worldwide initiative integrating insect trait data to make insects more understandable and comparable across ecosystems. → doi.org/10.1111/icad.70035
@cscherber.bsky.social
@cscherber.bsky.social
Toward a global repository of insect traits (GRIT)
Biodiversity loss is accelerating, yet insect conservation is hindered by the absence of a centralised, comprehensive trait database. We propose the GRIT, a FAIR, open-access platform uniting datase...
doi.org
November 10, 2025 at 3:49 PM
#LIBresearch: A new study introduces the Global Repository of Insect Traits (GRIT) — a worldwide initiative integrating insect trait data to make insects more understandable and comparable across ecosystems. → doi.org/10.1111/icad.70035
@cscherber.bsky.social
@cscherber.bsky.social
Reposted by Keith C Hamer
Reposted by Keith C Hamer
Direct publisher link:
academic.oup.com/beheco/advan...
academic.oup.com/beheco/advan...
Plan ahead, or wing it? How storm-petrel parents adjust food delivery to young chicks
New technology reveals how storm-petrels choose to allocate more food to their single chick as it grows older. These pelagic seabirds fly hundreds of kilom
academic.oup.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Direct publisher link:
academic.oup.com/beheco/advan...
academic.oup.com/beheco/advan...
Reposted by Keith C Hamer
📢 APPLICATIONS OPEN
For BOU Member Conference Attendance Grants
Now funding member attendance at any #ornithology conference 🪶
Low-carbon travel encouraged
⏰ Deadline: 5 January 2026
bou.org.uk/funding/m...
For BOU Member Conference Attendance Grants
Now funding member attendance at any #ornithology conference 🪶
Low-carbon travel encouraged
⏰ Deadline: 5 January 2026
bou.org.uk/funding/m...
November 7, 2025 at 9:30 AM
📢 APPLICATIONS OPEN
For BOU Member Conference Attendance Grants
Now funding member attendance at any #ornithology conference 🪶
Low-carbon travel encouraged
⏰ Deadline: 5 January 2026
bou.org.uk/funding/m...
For BOU Member Conference Attendance Grants
Now funding member attendance at any #ornithology conference 🪶
Low-carbon travel encouraged
⏰ Deadline: 5 January 2026
bou.org.uk/funding/m...
Reposted by Keith C Hamer
🐦⬛ | Wild seabirds are more likely to split up in windy weather, according to a newly published study led by #EdNapier.
The paper reveals that environmental conditions before the breeding season appear to have an impact on mate faithfulness.
Full story ➡️ orlo.uk/Zfiqf
#MustBeNapier
The paper reveals that environmental conditions before the breeding season appear to have an impact on mate faithfulness.
Full story ➡️ orlo.uk/Zfiqf
#MustBeNapier
November 5, 2025 at 9:37 AM
🐦⬛ | Wild seabirds are more likely to split up in windy weather, according to a newly published study led by #EdNapier.
The paper reveals that environmental conditions before the breeding season appear to have an impact on mate faithfulness.
Full story ➡️ orlo.uk/Zfiqf
#MustBeNapier
The paper reveals that environmental conditions before the breeding season appear to have an impact on mate faithfulness.
Full story ➡️ orlo.uk/Zfiqf
#MustBeNapier
Reposted by Keith C Hamer
This is an exciting project as part of an exciting larger grant - excellent opportunity
I am recruting a #postdoc for a project investigating the evolution of avian heat tolerance in @erc.europa.eu project #HotLife. Fieldwork over broad latitudinal gradients, common-garden experiments, and more. Read more and apply👇
shorturl.at/WA1Qa
Would appreciate a re-post!
@evoldir.bsky.social
shorturl.at/WA1Qa
Would appreciate a re-post!
@evoldir.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 8:52 AM
This is an exciting project as part of an exciting larger grant - excellent opportunity
Reposted by Keith C Hamer
Victorian attitudes towards birds of prey in the UK are fueled by sensationalist fear-mongering like this, published routinely by mainstream media.
#RaptorResearch
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/10/28/a...
#RaptorResearch
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/10/28/a...
Absurd claim that White-tailed Eagles ‘snatched’ five Shetland ponies leads to inevitable call to ‘shoot eagles’
The absurd claim that White-tailed Eagles had ‘snatched’ five Shetland pony foals on South Uist hit the headlines at the end of August. A crofter / farmer named Donald Cameron said that…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
October 28, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Victorian attitudes towards birds of prey in the UK are fueled by sensationalist fear-mongering like this, published routinely by mainstream media.
#RaptorResearch
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/10/28/a...
#RaptorResearch
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/10/28/a...
Reposted by Keith C Hamer
New in @natrevbiodiv.nature.com: our review of the influence of #seabirds, via their nutrient transfer, on islands & adjacent marine ecosystems 🐦🏝️🪸
We highlight knowledge gaps & future directions ✨
"The circular seabird economy is critical for oceans, islands and people": doi.org/10.1038/s443...
We highlight knowledge gaps & future directions ✨
"The circular seabird economy is critical for oceans, islands and people": doi.org/10.1038/s443...
October 27, 2025 at 7:49 AM
New in @natrevbiodiv.nature.com: our review of the influence of #seabirds, via their nutrient transfer, on islands & adjacent marine ecosystems 🐦🏝️🪸
We highlight knowledge gaps & future directions ✨
"The circular seabird economy is critical for oceans, islands and people": doi.org/10.1038/s443...
We highlight knowledge gaps & future directions ✨
"The circular seabird economy is critical for oceans, islands and people": doi.org/10.1038/s443...
Reposted by Keith C Hamer
Thanks for sharing these important findings from one of the biggest ever marking studies done on butterflies. We knew MF could colonise up to 10km in good years, but good to have this data on how sedentary they normally are. Large Blues not such a surprise as they wander widely in the Alps and UK.
Fascinating Swedish study proving that threatened butterflies can still disperse surprisingly long distances eg Marsh Fritillary >8km and more than 10% of Large Blues travelled at least 1km resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... 🌍
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Thanks for sharing these important findings from one of the biggest ever marking studies done on butterflies. We knew MF could colonise up to 10km in good years, but good to have this data on how sedentary they normally are. Large Blues not such a surprise as they wander widely in the Alps and UK.
Reposted by Keith C Hamer
This was a great paper to work with @tiff-ki.bsky.social and great to see it out now!
Really nice paper from @tiff-ki.bsky.social & co. shows no overall decline in butterfly species richness in Sulawesi over 166 yrs, but changing communities with endemics & forest specialists declining. Short-term trends unreliable measures of long term. royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/... 🌏
October 20, 2025 at 2:59 PM
This was a great paper to work with @tiff-ki.bsky.social and great to see it out now!
Reposted by Keith C Hamer
New Wadertales blog on an important IBIS paper from Jesse Conklin et al: the winter distribution of bar-tailed godwit subspecies is not what we thought:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/10/18/r...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#ornithology @wadertales.bsky.social @globalflyway.bsky.social
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/10/18/r...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#ornithology @wadertales.bsky.social @globalflyway.bsky.social
October 19, 2025 at 9:20 AM
New Wadertales blog on an important IBIS paper from Jesse Conklin et al: the winter distribution of bar-tailed godwit subspecies is not what we thought:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/10/18/r...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#ornithology @wadertales.bsky.social @globalflyway.bsky.social
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/10/18/r...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#ornithology @wadertales.bsky.social @globalflyway.bsky.social
Reposted by Keith C Hamer
New work from @devisatarkar.bsky.social et al on how effects of climate variability- particularly more unusual events - depend on developmental stage & prevailing conditions in Wytham Woods great tits.
New preprint! 🪶
We analysed 60 years of data on 83,000+ great tits to show how extreme climate impacts on nestling growth and survival are stage-specific and context-dependent 🐣 🌍🔥❄️
With @davididiaquez.bsky.social @iremsepil.bsky.social @sheldonbirds.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We analysed 60 years of data on 83,000+ great tits to show how extreme climate impacts on nestling growth and survival are stage-specific and context-dependent 🐣 🌍🔥❄️
With @davididiaquez.bsky.social @iremsepil.bsky.social @sheldonbirds.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
October 14, 2025 at 3:37 PM
New work from @devisatarkar.bsky.social et al on how effects of climate variability- particularly more unusual events - depend on developmental stage & prevailing conditions in Wytham Woods great tits.
Reposted by Keith C Hamer
Why does a pigeon-sized bird purposely throw itself into hurricane-force winds?
With the help of lightweight GPS trackers, WHOI biologist Francesco Ventura has unlocked the Desertas petrel’s secret to success: cyclones!
📲 Find out what surprised researchers the most from BBC: go.whoi.edu/Petrel
With the help of lightweight GPS trackers, WHOI biologist Francesco Ventura has unlocked the Desertas petrel’s secret to success: cyclones!
📲 Find out what surprised researchers the most from BBC: go.whoi.edu/Petrel
October 10, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Why does a pigeon-sized bird purposely throw itself into hurricane-force winds?
With the help of lightweight GPS trackers, WHOI biologist Francesco Ventura has unlocked the Desertas petrel’s secret to success: cyclones!
📲 Find out what surprised researchers the most from BBC: go.whoi.edu/Petrel
With the help of lightweight GPS trackers, WHOI biologist Francesco Ventura has unlocked the Desertas petrel’s secret to success: cyclones!
📲 Find out what surprised researchers the most from BBC: go.whoi.edu/Petrel