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Reposted by Simon Vandepitte

Clemens Küpper @chorlnev.bsky.social · 10d

The diversity in plumage and behaviors of #ruffs is stunning and probably an underused asset for their #conservation @simonvandepitte.bsky.social #IWSG2025 #shorebirds #ornithology

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Simon Vandepitte @simonvandepitte.bsky.social · Aug 5

The #hunting season in #France on #waterfowl opened again on the 2nd of August. It is absolutely outrageous and stupid. Waterfowl have already very #difficult times in the #changing #world. The argument of cultural traditions is stupid, everything changes, even traditions.

see: shorturl.at/8rJx8

L’ouverture de la chasse en Baie de Somme - Nos Viventia

NOS VIVENTIA documente la chasse des oiseaux d'eau en baie de Somme, révélant des massacres cruels et illégaux, et porte plainte pour actes de cruauté.

www.nosviventia.com

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Simon Vandepitte @simonvandepitte.bsky.social · Jul 6

5/5 In addition, a huge effort is made to protect the #critically #endangered southern #dunlin. With expertise of Vroni Rohr-Bender and others, 26 chicks got an advantage be growing up in our aviary, before they got released back in the meadows, hopefully successfully #boosting the #population.

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Simon Vandepitte @simonvandepitte.bsky.social · Jul 6

4/5 Most time of the field season was spent searching for nests and to ringing the #chick and #adult ruffs. We found 65 nests in total which is an excellent result. Adult birds also got a radio or #GPStag to investigate #habitat use and behaviour. Aren't the chicks cute?

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Simon Vandepitte @simonvandepitte.bsky.social · Jul 6

3/5 Independent males have striking colours and are #aggressive. #Satellite males are mostly white coloured and have more #sneaky behavior. Female-looking faeders are extremely rare.

Here an independent male is pecking a satellite to show its dominance.

More:
simonvandepitte.com/i-am-sexy-an...

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Simon Vandepitte @simonvandepitte.bsky.social · Jul 6

2/5: Fieldseason started in early May when the #ruffs arrived in the coastal meadows of the #BothnianBay. Male ruffs are known for their fascinating #lekking #behavior! A true spectacle! The existence of the different male morphs is unique.

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Simon Vandepitte @simonvandepitte.bsky.social · Jul 6

1/5 - What.an.increadible.fieldseason! Together with @koivulakari.bsky.social , @jelenasubotic.bsky.social , @chorlnev.bsky.social , @vmpakanen.bsky.social, Kristzi Kupan, Vroni Rohr-Bender and others we managed to find plenty of ruff nests (65!) and headstarted a bunch of Southern Dunlins (26!).

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Simon Vandepitte @simonvandepitte.bsky.social · Jan 29

Meet the #Tuit-Tuit or #Reunion #Cuckooshrike, a #critically #endangered bird, the #rarest bird I saw so far. . I was happy to observe one bird during my stay last year. The bird was #colour-ringed. Read more in my blog about this bird and #endemism

visit: simonvandepitte.com/blog

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Simon Vandepitte @simonvandepitte.bsky.social · Jan 24

They are #fascinating, very very fascinating!
Very nice and #interesting paper about how the striking male morphs emerge in #ruff populations. By - among others - @chorlnev.bsky.social and his group from mpiforbi.bsky.social
... #genetics started to reveal their #magic!

Science Magazine @science.org · Jan 23

A single gene underlies male mating morphs in ruff sandpipers, a new Science study finds. The results show how evolutionary changes in a single gene's structure, sequence, and regulation can drive significant diversity within a single species.

Learn more in our new issue: https://scim.ag/4arzNmU

A breeding ruff male (Calidris pugnax) in alert posture scans the breeding area for mating opportunities at Liminka Bay, Finland. Ruff males deploy one of three mating tactics that differ in aggressive and courtship behaviors. Differences in aggression between tactics are tied to concentrations of circulating androgens, which are modulated by the actions of a single gene.

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Simon Vandepitte @simonvandepitte.bsky.social · Jan 19

One last image from the #ruffs before heading to some pictures from a more tropical location...

From left to right: A #satellite male, three #independent males and one female...

In case you are #wandering what is going on, read the story about these #waders on
simonvandepitte.com/i-am-sexy-an...

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Simon Vandepitte @simonvandepitte.bsky.social · Jan 15

Who says #nature #documentaries need classical music?
In July I also worked on a project related to the #behavioural #ecology of #ruffs. Their #courtship #behaviour is memorizing. My new blog on my website tries to tries to convey this feeling.

More: simonvandepitte.com/i-am-sexy-an...

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Simon Vandepitte @simonvandepitte.bsky.social · Dec 4

Do not underestimate the #powerof the #pony from Ursula von der Leyen! #Coexistence with #wolves is #inevitable, bridging gaps between #stakeholders needed . Hopefully this is not the start of more downgrades...

WWF EU @wwf.eu · Dec 3

💔 Today, the Bern Convention voted to lower the wolf's protection status.

It's extremely disappointing to see the EU & other countries prioritise political decisions over science

Instead of supporting coexistence measures, we backtrack on our own conservation success: www.wwf.eu?16132891/Nat...

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Simon Vandepitte @simonvandepitte.bsky.social · Dec 3

Exactly, head starting alone is "a" solution, not "the" solution. Habitats are deteriorated and I also think a better cooperation between farmers-nature organizations-policy makers is needed in order to hold the decline of waders living en anthropogenic meadows...

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Simon Vandepitte @simonvandepitte.bsky.social · Dec 2

Thanks for sharing Graham!

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Simon Vandepitte @simonvandepitte.bsky.social · Dec 2

Hi! I am a biologist, graduated in '23 at Ghent University. I am passionated about #ecology, #conservation and #birds, especially #waders. I am also a #photographer. On my website you can find a blog too. For example about the highly endangered #dunlin from the #Bothnian Bay near #Oulu. Enjoy!

simon vandepitte - SOS Baltic dunlin

The dunlin is a shorebird species with an extensive distribution in the northern hemisphere. Several subspecies are known, and this blog highlights a particular one: the southern dunlin, or in fancy s...

simonvandepitte.com

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