I am interested in the winter ecology of migratory birds. For many migratory species, our knowledge of their ecology and factors that affect population dynamics declines remarkably once individuals leave their breeding grounds in the autumn. This despite the fact that most migratory bird species spend over 60% of the annual cycle on the wintering grounds and that overwinter survival may be key to understanding population dynamics.

For my PhD I focus on two migratory warbler species, Willow and Great Reed Warblers. Both of which cross the Sahara Desert and journey thousands of kilometers before reaching their African wintering grounds. In Zambia, I track local movements using radio telemetry, take blood samples for parasite identification and physiological indices of condition, and feather samples for stable isotope analysis.

I am using these data to determine how winter movement strategies, winter singing, avian malaria infection, and autumn migration stopover site quality, contribute to individual overwinter success in Africa.