Alastair Grizzell’s Post

‘Like Finding a Unicorn’: The Moment Researchers Rediscover the Black-Naped Pheasant-Pigeon, a Bird Lost to Science for 140 Years. 💡 After dealing with challenging terrains, wilderness and engaging with local communities for a month, an expedition team led by researchers Jordan Boersma from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and John C. Mittermeier from the American Bird Conservancy achieved a monumental discovery. 🎥 In the final hours of their expedition on Fergusson Island, off the east coast of Papua New Guinea, the team was astonished to uncover video on one of their trail-cameras of the Black-naped Pheasant-Pigeon, a species not scientifically documented since 1882. 🌳 Their discovery not only sheds light on the resilience of nature but also underscores the invaluable role of indigenous knowledge in conservation science. The rediscovery could not have happened without guidance from local hunters with intimate knowledge of the island’s forests, demonstrating the invaluable role of Indigenous communities in ongoing efforts to relocate lost species. 🐦 The expedition's success brings to the forefront the urgent need to protect habitats from threats like deforestation. The existence of the Black-naped Pheasant-Pigeon, now known to the world once more, symbolises hope and emphasises the necessity of collaborative efforts in conservation to safeguard our planet's rich biodiversity. 🤝 This rediscovery of a species thought lost to time, proves that the combined efforts of scientific researchers and indigenous scientists can unearth and help conserve the world's overlooked natural wonders. #Conservation #Rediscovery #FergussonIsland

#naturetech in action! What a great story, just in time for my #GreenBiz24 session this week on 'A Roadmap for Measuring and Monitoring #Biodiversity'!

Camera and Action, Part 2: The Importance of Technology for Generating Ecological Data and Supporting Species Conservation Strategies Today, Birds Canada, in partnership with Environment and Climate Change Canada, released the State of Canada’s Birds report, evaluating 463 bird species in the country. Shockingly, shorebirds face a 42% decline since 1980. Among them, the Hudsonian Godwit has plummeted by over 90%. This species, one of North America's least studied shorebirds, migrates to southern South America, facing minimal research along its route. A crucial study in 2011 used portable digital cameras to observe the foraging behaviors of migrating Hudsonian Godwits in Brazil. The findings revealed their preference for "surface pecking” over "bill burying” techniques, feeding mostly on wet ground. They fed on average 31.91 ± 15.48 times per minute and walked an average of 4.40 ± 2.29 meters per minute. The Hudsonian Godwit traveled similar distances during both disturbed and undisturbed occasions  Despite traveling similar distances, human disturbances led to reduced foraging. These results underscore the species' vulnerability during migration, especially in areas with recreational activities. For more insights, see Cestari, C. 2011, Foraging behavior of Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) in human-disturbed and undisturbed occasions in the Atlantic coast of Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Ornithology 19(4): 535-538. https://lnkd.in/epGGp5Zf State of Canada Birds report: https://lnkd.in/eTstxW4c

🌿🔍 Revolutionizing Wildlife Surveys with Thermal Imaging 🔍🌿 In the world of ecology and conservation, staying ahead with innovative tools is crucial. Enter thermal imaging: a game-changer for wildlife surveys. This non-invasive technology is paving the way for more efficient and accurate data collection on species that are tricky to study with traditional methods. Here's why it's making waves: 1. Non-invasive Monitoring: Perfect for observing cryptic and nocturnal species without disturbing their natural behavior. 2. Enhanced Species Detection: Discover elusive species like the ptarmigan, wild boar, and red squirrels even in challenging terrains. 3. Behavioral Insights: Gain insights into habitat selection and nocturnal behaviors, especially valuable for nocturnal birds and mammals. 4. Improved Bat Surveys: Boost accuracy by complementing acoustic monitoring and identifying roost sites. 5. Versatile Use Across Environments: Day or night, thermal imaging adapts to diverse conditions and species behaviors. 6. Broader Monitoring Applications: From insects' heat signatures to reptiles’ basking spots, its applications are vast. 💡 Considerations: - Be mindful of seasonal and weather conditions that can alter heat signature visibility. - Choose your equipment wisely; detection distance and resolution matter. - Continuous training and practice are essential for optimal results. Dive deeper into the transformative power of thermal imaging. 🌟 Explore comprehensive guides and research to make informed choices for your next wildlife survey. 🔗 Ready to explore further? Check out Wildlifetek's guide and read the detailed article here: [Thermal Imaging for Wildlife Surveys](https://lnkd.in/g7qZHwUU) Stay ahead in ecology and conservation. Unleash the potential of thermal imaging today! 🌍✨ #WildlifeConservation #ThermalImaging #Ecology #InnovationInConservation #WildlifeResearch #ConservationTechnology #LinkedInInsights

I recently designed a detailed map of the American River Marine Estuary on Kangaroo Island, South Australia, through an ESRI tutorial in ArcGIS Pro. This project focused on map design and layout, showcasing the estuary's diverse ecosystems, including seagrass beds, sand areas, saline patches, and tidal classifications. The map highlights the protected Pelican Lagoon Sanctuary Zone, an important area for marine biodiversity. With careful visual organization and annotation, I aimed to create a map that effectively communicates the region's rich variety of habitats and conservation efforts. #GIS #MapMaking #SpatialAnalysis

While we can - and should - manage our artificial light year round, it is absolutely critical to ensure that buildings are constructed with bird safe design in mind. It’s also important to note that bird safety needs to extend beyond urban centers: suburban and rural campuses are especially high risk for birds, offering landscaping that’s appealing to birds as well as humans. The average high rise and the average low rise kill roughly the same number of birds but there are vastly more low rise buildings. All of them need to take bird safety into consideration.

NYC Audubon scientists have estimated that up to a quarter million birds die from window collisions in NYC annually. But a coalition of researchers (led by NYC Audubon’s Katherine Chen) have determined a new factor to help make our solutions to prevent collisions even more effective: weather. By combining local weather forecast data, BirdCast radar technology that tracks migration, and five years of Project Safe Flight collisions analysis, we can now determine which nights will be the most high-risk for birds. By looking at factors like wind and cloud cover, we can now predict when birds will be most susceptible to collide with buildings—and therefore on what nights it will be most critical to turn #LightsOutNYC and other collision reduction measures. These findings from Columbia University’s and University of Canterbury’s Dr. Sara Kross, American Bird Conservancy’s Kaitlyn Parkins, Great Hollow Nature Preserve and Ecological Research Center’s Dr. Chad Seewagen, Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Dr. Andrew Farnsworth, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Dr. Benjamin Van Doren, published in the Journal of Applied Ecology this week, will help organizations throughout New York City (and potentially, similar metropolises across the nation) determine when bird-friendly practices will have the highest conservation impact, better protecting our migratory birds. Read the full article below. https://lnkd.in/gXGK-YHs

Discoveries on the moon illumination 🌗 influence on the daily life of tropical mammals 🐘 🐆 🐗 ! Even below the canopy of tropical forests 🌴 🌳 , many species respond to the changes in lunar illumination. Key findings: Out of 86 mammal species studied, 43 showed a response. Overall, 30% of the species reduced their activity during brighter moonlight 🌕, whereas 20% showed increased activity under the same conditions. "Nocturnal species, especially rodents 🐀 , were (unsurprisingly) well-represented among species that avoided moonlight, while more flexible species (mainly ungulates 🦌 ) were more prominent among those that were more active. Our findings highlight the importance of understanding natural light cycles in natural habitats. We speculate that light pollution and forest degradation could have complex and far-reaching effects on mammalian behavior and ecology." Douglas Sheil This study was only possible thanks to the TEAM (Tropical Ecological Assessment Monitoring) Network camera-trap 📸 monitoring. Data was collected in 16 countries and three continents in the tropical region 🌍 🌎 🌏. This showcases the importance of monitoring understudied sites such as tropical forests. Paywalled version here: https://lnkd.in/e5dKNPpQ Preprint (open access) here: https://lnkd.in/ebJ-vYZ6 #wildlife #moonlight #conservation #research #tropicalforests #lunar #cameratrapping #WUR #CIFOR-ICFRAF #NMBU #TEAM #CI #WCS @Richard Bischof , Andrea F. Vallejo Vargas, Patrick Jansen, Jorge Ahumada, Lydia Beaudrot, Badru Mugerwa, Emmanuel Akampurira, PhD, Douglas Sheil, Simon D. Schowanek, @Asunción Semper Pascual, Steig Johnson, @marcela guimarães moreira lima, @fernanda santos, Eustrate Uzabaho, Santiago Espinosa, @Robert Britariho, @julia salvador, Sainge Nsanyi Moses PhD

🦋 📊 Butterfly numbers vary naturally with weather, but long-term trends are shaped by human impacts like habitat loss, climate change, pollution and pesticide use. The UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS) has been telling the story of how butterfly species have changed from almost 50 years of data gathered since 1976. UKBMS data are gathered by thousands of volunteers who record butterfly species every year at more than 3000 sites around the UK using different survey methods. Data are used widely in research and policy: Data from nature, for nature 💚 The UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme is organized and funded by Butterfly Conservation, the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) for Ornithology, and JNCC. The UKBMS is indebted to all volunteers who contribute data to the scheme 👏 The most recent annual UKBMS results were published last month: https://lnkd.in/e_JKtuMu Explore our #DataNature datasets: https://lnkd.in/eUZv_jW6 #conservation #EnvironmentalScience

Lunar rhythms for a jungle moondance Tropical forests teem with wildlife after dark. Rather than fearing the darkest shadows many species avoid the moonlight. Our recent article, led by NMBU’s Richard Bischof and Andrea Vallejo Vargas, is based on over 2.1 million photographs from camera traps deployed across 17 tropical forests worldwide. There was sufficient data to ask how moon phase and behaviour were linked for 86 mammal species. Exactly half (43 species) showed a response. Less, rather than more, activity when the moon was brighter was more common with 30% versus 20% of species accordingly. Nocturnal species, especially rodents, were (unsurprisingly) well-represented among species that avoided moonlight, while more flexible species (mainly ungulates) were more prominent among those that became more active. Our findings highlight the importance of understanding natural light cycles in natural habitats. We speculate that light pollution and forest degradation could have complex and far-reaching effects on mammalian behaviour and ecology. Read the full article to learn more about animal behaviour. Paywalled version here: https://lnkd.in/e5dKNPpQ Preprint (open access) here: https://lnkd.in/ebJ-vYZ6 #wildlife #moonlight #conservation #research #tropicalforests #lunar #cameratrapping #WUR #CIFOR-ICFRAF #NMBU #TEAM #CI #WCS @Richard Bischof , Andrea F. Vallejo Vargas, Patrick Jansen, Jorge Ahumada, Lydia Beaudrot, Badru Mugerwa, Emmanuel Akampurira, PhD