Hermit Thrushes return to downtown Davis…

Hi Bluesky! We are the Genomic Variation Laboratory based at UC Davis. Our current projects include:

🧬 CRISPR-based SHERLOCK assays for eDNA detection

🧬 Metabarcoding to detect animal and plant diversity in predator diets and ecosystems

🧬 Population genetics of fishes

and more!

Cooper’s Hawk finding time to reflect this morning…

#CoopersHawk #urbanraptors

I made an art for a good cause 😊

NEW #SharpshinnedHawk paper out in Journal of Raptor Research - Rings and Pings: Band Encounters and Motus Elucidate the Overwintering Locations and Movements of Sharp-shinned Hawks in Western North America #raptorResearch #Motus rapt.kglmeridian.com/view/journal...

Belize Hawk Watch 2025 team t-shirts featuring the enigmatic Hook-billed Kite available now for a limited time!! Funds go directly towards supporting the #BelizeHawkWatch program: www.bonfire.com/belize-hawk-...

One of the local Barn Owls roosting above a busy parking lot in downtown Davis…

#urbanRaptor #AmericanBarnOwl

Dark morph Red-tailed Hawk on her first fall migration journey along the California coast…

#Redtailedhawk #raptorMigration

*handled with permits

Some recent photos from the field… One of the data points we collect from raptors is eDNA diet swabs, which is done by scrubbin’ microscopic prey 🧬 remains from their beaks. This can help us describe what American Kestrels are eating on California farms.

#AmericanKestrel #RaptorResearch #WildAg

checking occupancy in lots of nest boxes on Northern California farms for a study this year… one surprise this season has been the number of Western Screech-Owl nests, many with impressive stock piles of cached prey!!
#WildAg #raptorResearch

American Kestrels of Napa 🍇 Valley…

#WildAg #raptorResearch #AmericanKestrel

WESOs are getting ready to fledge into the grape 🍇 vines and olive 🫒 orchards of the Sacramento Valley…

📸: A sleepy Western Screech-Owl nestling 💤

#WESOwonderland #WesternScreechOwl #WildAg #RaptorResearch

*handled with multiple permits + research purposes

new Insights paper on the phenomenon of predatory birds flocking to flood irrigated alfalfa 🌱 fields to feast on rodents:

Shortie in the pickleweed marsh…

🔩 Merlin 🔩

red-tailed hawk and red-shouldered hawk soaring majestically together over downtown Davis…