Nina O'Hanlon
Birder | Research Ecologist | #ornithology | #CaithnessBirds | she/her
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonNot only have storms been hampering our plans to get to #islands recently, they've also been causing difficulties for #seabirds foraging on their wintering grounds at sea. We can help seabirds when they come to land, ensuring nest sites are free of invasive predators www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
- Reposted by Nina O'Hanlon#Seabird Journal issue #37 is complete and has been sent out to those who requested a physical copy 😊 Remember to check your mailboxes! It is also available to read online here ➡️ www.seabirdgroup.org.uk/seabird-37 #science #seabirds
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonWe are receiving increased reports of dead auks, including Puffins, particularly in North East Scotland. It's quick and easy to report any dead or sick birds you find through the 'Deceased bird' function on the home page of the BirdTrack app Photo: Puffin by Richard Selman / BTO #ukbirding
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonFair Isle Bird Observatory is pleased to announce that 'The Birds of Fair Isle' is now available to pre-order. This richly illustrated two-volume avifauna celebrates 75 years of FIBO survey work. The set is offered for a limited time at £70 plus postage. For details: www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/bofi
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonGPS tracked Icelandic Greylag Goose movements tracker link below. Greylags ‘Alastair’ and ‘Willem’ are currently in Caithness arcgis.stofa.is/portal/apps/... #CaithnessBirds
- Reposted by Nina O'Hanlon1/ Arctic Skuas are on the UK Birds of Conservation Concern Red List. But new BTO-led research reveals just how much we don’t know about their numbers globally. Discover more. ⬇️ #Ornithology #Seabirds 📖 www.bto.org/Arctic-Skua-...
- Reposted by Nina O'Hanlon📢 DON'T FORGET TO REGISTER.... ....for #BOU2026 Birds and people 31 March - 2 April 2026 | University of Nottingham & Zoom & Bluesky Places are selling out fast, so check out the programme and book your place today! Early-bird deadline: 16 Feb bou.org.uk/event/bir... #ornithology 🪶
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonOur new paper led by Madson Freitas shows that global demand for Açaí, a dietary staple for Amazonian people, now marketed as a superfood, is driving widespread estuarine forest degradation leading to impoverishment of their bird communities www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #ornithology 🌎🍴🪶🌴
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonSOC Highland Branch are giving 15 Highland-based young birdwatchers the opportunity to attend the SOC/ @btoscotland.bsky.social Spring Conference on Sat 14 March '26 for just £10! Places are limited & will be allocated through an application process. Application criteria applies tinyurl.com/4cwscusk
- Reposted by Nina O'Hanlon1/🧵 New BTO-led research sheds light on the number and range of Little Egrets with population estimates higher than previously thought – likely exceeding 2,000 pairs in the UK! 🙌 #Ornithology @britishbirds.bsky.social 📖 www.bto.org/little-egret...
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonWas watching two Humpback Whales cruise up the coast from our house, when a pod of Orca went through between the Whales and land this morning @ninaohanlon.bsky.social
- 64 species on our 25 km cycle around NE Cairthness yesterday, with Great-spotted Woodpecker and Tree Sparrow good additions to the 10 km #PWC2026 list. The only photo I took was @rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social admiring his cake! #CaithnessBirds
- A very enjoyable @webs-gsmp.bsky.social count at Dunnet Bay this morning with my first Glaucous Gulls of the year - plus a smart Water Pipit was a great bonus! #CaithnessBirds
- Reposted by Nina O'Hanlon📢 NOMINATE FOR BOU COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP ➡️ Awards Nominations Committee ➡️ Engagement Committee ➡️ IBIS Management Committee ➡️ Meetings Committee ➡️ Records Committee Plus NEW Committee Shadowing Scheme Full details: bou.org.uk/about-the... #ornithology 🪶
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonAs well as Training Grants, we've also opened up our latest round of Research Grants 📷👛 ❓: To fund #seabird research (eg. camera monitoring, ringing/tracking studies, counts/productivity assessments) 👥: All welcome to apply 💲: Up to £500 📅: Deadline 28 Feb Details ▶️ www.seabirdgroup.org.uk/grants
- Reposted by Nina O'Hanlon2026 Training Grants are now open! 📢🕊️ Are you: 📏 Hoping to gain experience with #seabirds via unpaid work? 🧑 From a BAME background? (though others may apply too) 💸 A grant of up to £250 could help! (to cover travel, accommodation or food) Info: www.seabirdgroup.org.uk/grant Apply by 28 Feb 💌
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonTHE PATCHWORK CHALLENGE 2025 ROUND-UP IS NOW LIVE ON THE BLOG! Go head over and see where you finished #PWC2025 and sign up for #PWC2026! The link for the blog is: patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonAfter an absence last year, White-tailed Eagle flying past our house was a welcome #PWC2026 tick #CaithnessBirds with @ninaohanlon.bsky.social
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonLooking for a new birding challenge for 2026? Why not take up patch birding and participate in Patchwork Challenge? Find out more about this fun birding competition in our guest blog from @patchbirding.bsky.social: www.the-soc.org.uk/blogs/blog/p... #PatchBirding #PWC2026 #LowCarbonBirding
- Can we communicate our reaserch in more fun and accessible ways? I loved working with Anna @btobirds.bsky.social on her fantastic comic illustrating our recent work using seabird poo to look at their diet! Find out more at www.bto.org/our-work/new... #ornithology #seabirds #SciArt
- Grab a cuppa and read our Seabird Poo comic! ➡️ http://www.bto.org/S... ☕📖 Discover how seabird scientists collected bird poo and analysed its DNA contents to determine the types of prey consumed by Shags and Kittiwakes! 😮 #Ornithology ✏️ Illustrations by Anna Dupont-Crabtree
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonGrab a cuppa and read our Seabird Poo comic! ➡️ http://www.bto.org/S... ☕📖 Discover how seabird scientists collected bird poo and analysed its DNA contents to determine the types of prey consumed by Shags and Kittiwakes! 😮 #Ornithology ✏️ Illustrations by Anna Dupont-Crabtree
- Reposted by Nina O'Hanlon📢 NOMINATE FOR BOU COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP ➡️ Awards Nominations Committee ➡️ Engagement Committee ➡️ IBIS Management Committee ➡️ Meetings Committee ➡️ Records Committee Plus NEW Committee Shadowing Scheme Full details: bou.org.uk/about-the... #ornithology 🪶
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonThe first drone census of the St Kilda gannet colony is now published in Scottish Birds! We counted 59,205 AOS in 2023 - similar to previous years. The overall impact of #HPAI appears less than at some other colonies, with notable declines in flatter areas 🧮 #ornithology #seabirds #NTSseabirds
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonThe Taiga Bean Goose at Loch Heilen was ringed in E. Finland in July 2020. Usually wintering in S. Sweden, it was sighted in Norway (26th Sept) before Caithness. Full details can be found here submit.cr-birding.org/animals/1417... #CaithnessBirds
- 16 Taiga Bean Geese at Loch Heilen on my @webs-gsmp.bsky.social count today. One of which looks to have been neck collared in Finland! Will share its history when it comes through #CaithnessBirds
- Reposted by Nina O'Hanlon🎉The good news just keeps coming! Late last night, MSPs voted in favour of using the Natural Environment Bill to close an unintended loophole in legislation to licence grouse moor shooting. This is a major step forward in protecting Scotland’s wildlife. Full quote in image 👇 📷: Andy Hay
- Reposted by Nina O'Hanlon📢 REGISTRATION OPEN #BOU2026 | Birds and people | 31 March - 2 April 2026 University of Nottingham & Zoom & Bluesky Check out the programme and book your place today! bou.org.uk/event/bir... #ornithology 🪶
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonNew large-scale study based on SEAPOP data shows that #ocean #warming threatens #seabirds in the North Atlantic @ninanatureresearch.bsky.social
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonSeasonal field staff needed for @rspbscience.bsky.social projects in 2026 - advert live, closing date 11 Jan. Lots of #seabird (& non-seabird) opportunities! Get in touch if you’d like to know more about any of the #seabird roles 🌊🐦 app.vacancy-filler.co.uk/salescrm/Car... #seabirds #ornithology
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonWe can now announce our panel of #Seabird Career experts for this Friday's online panel session 📣 👩🔬 Laura Shearer @seabirdshearer.bsky.social 👩🔬 Helen Wade 👩🔬 Jenny Coomes @jaycee161.bsky.social 👨🔬 Rob Thomas @robthomasbirds.bsky.social Sign up here by Weds to attend! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonThis table from the new UK Biodiversity Indicators is particularly stark, bleak, and awful. Almost every major group of UK birds is doing badly in the long- and/or short-term. None are showing sustained recovery, most have been declining for 50 years. Awful. #ukbirding #ornithology
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonWant to #BringScienceToPolitics? Scientists can support the National Emergency Briefing on Climate & Nature by signing this Open Letter: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
- We're delighted that tireless advocate for the natural world, @chrisgpackham.bsky.social CBE, will be opening the National Emergency Briefing in Westminster Central Hall on 27th November. Chris speaking with @bbclaurak.bsky.social earlier👇 Please make sure your MP is attending: nebriefing.org #NEB
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonWorrying reports of bird flu (avian influenza) are coming in, including an outbreak in Whooper Swans in the Fens. Other waterbirds are also being affected, and cases are rising. 📷 Sick Whooper Swan by Kane Brides #UKBirding #BirdingWales #BirdingScotland
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonIt took me about three months to get here but... Here's a 🪶 for (nearly) every species of bird, with colors extracted from wikipedia descriptions. 10,151 species. #dataviz #birds #data
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonHow are movement patterns affected by energy expenditure & gain, and what does it mean for fitness? This @iapetusdtp.bsky.social PhD opportunity will use data on movement & demography of kittiwakes & spatio-temporal food abundance across their range iapetus.ac.uk/studentships... #ornithology
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonSpotted a fin whilst making a cup of tea from our house this afternoon. They made a kill too! @ninaohanlon.bsky.social
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonVacancy on BOU Records Committee. Are you up for it? I found it a really interesting and educational experience. Happy to share my experience if you are interested. #RarebirdsUK #UKBirding
- 📢 BOU COMMITTEE NOMINATIONS OPEN ➡️ Awards Nominations Committee ➡️ Engagement Committee ➡️ IBIS Management Committee ➡️ Meetings Committee ➡️ Records Committee Plus NEW Committee Shadowing Scheme More info & to nominate: bou.org.uk/about-the... #ornithology 🪶
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonAnother brilliant Flow Country Research Conference. Big 🏆 for Roxane and team at UHI Thurso. Great to see @rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social's PhD crammed into 30 mins. Loved the Icelandic word for Meadow Pipit and check out those German bog restoration lagoons. @theflowcountry.bsky.social
- Reposted by Nina O'Hanlon📢 BOU COMMITTEE NOMINATIONS OPEN ➡️ Awards Nominations Committee ➡️ Engagement Committee ➡️ IBIS Management Committee ➡️ Meetings Committee ➡️ Records Committee Plus NEW Committee Shadowing Scheme More info & to nominate: bou.org.uk/about-the... #ornithology 🪶
- Still time to apply for this great opportunity with @theseabirdgroup.bsky.social Get in touch if you have any questions! Dealine tomorrow 🐧 #ornithology #seabirds
- Website Manager position on our ExComm! Description ➡️ www.seabirdgroup.org.uk/files/Websit... Apply by sending max. 200 words to secretary@seabirdgroup.org.uk explaining why you're interested 🤩 [Common tern image: Debs Allbrook] #seabirds #teamtern #WebManager
- Reposted by Nina O'Hanlon📣Help nature today.🐦🌱 We’ve a once-in-a-generation chance to turn things around for Scotland's wildlife and wild places. On Thursday MSPs will debate the Natural Environment Bill. Let them know you want a safe future for Red Squirrels, Puffins, Swifts and more 👉 action.rspb.org.uk/page/177329/...
- And then another on the local patch this afternoon 😍 #PWC2025
- Gorgeous Firecrest at John O'Groats this morning 🧡 🔥 #CaithnessBirds 📸 @rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social
- Gorgeous Firecrest at John O'Groats this morning 🧡 🔥 #CaithnessBirds 📸 @rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonNew Ecologist and Research Support roles for a project in Northern Ireland! @bto-ni.bsky.social Discover more and apply at www.bto.org/jobs These positions are supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). #Ornithology #Ecology
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonOn the importance of incorporating behavioural-state differentiation when identifying key spatial areas for seabirds. #seabirds animalbiotelemetry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
- Reposted by Nina O'Hanlon⏰ DEADLINE APPROACHING ⏰ BOU Small Research Grants & Career Development Bursaries Application deadline: 31 Oct 2025 Full details via links ⬇️ Grants: bou.org.uk/funding/s... Bursaries: bou.org.uk/funding/c... #ornithology 🪶
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonBird migration is changing. What does this reveal about our planet? – visualised
- Was worth spending more time in Dunnet Bay after today's @webs-gsmp.bsky.social count 😅
- We had three Bonaparte’s Gulls (ad and two 1st w’s) in Dunnet Bay this morning!!! Also a Juv Sabine’s Gull, Juv Little Gull, 1st w Mediterranean Gull and a Curlew Sandpiper with @ninaohanlon.bsky.social #CaithnessBirds
- Amazing numbers of seabirds off the coast today!
- Foraging flock of 170+ Sooty Shearwaters off Nybster with 2,400+ Kittiwakes this afternoon!!! Also at least one Sabine’s Gull, 2 Manxies, 2 Common Terns and 5 Arctic Skuas, with large numbers of Gannets and Auks foraging too. #CaithnessBirds
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonIt's also not "just another" extinction, it's the first from mainland Europe in centuries. CENTURIES. And there will be others within our lifetime. That's biodiversity loss. We'll never hear this sound, ever again xeno-canto.org/398794
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonWell, it's official. After our paper last year (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....), the Slender-billed Curlew is officially declared Extinct today. Scientists dream of describing new species, not writing their obituary and epitaph, knowing that they are gone forever #ornithology
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonEARLY VIEW in IBIS Breeding and foraging habitat are important in determining foraging ranges of sympatric generalist species | onlinelibrary.wiley.... Chris B. Thaxter et al | #ornithology 🪶
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonImportant date for your diaries ‼️ Our AGM is Wed 12 Nov - 12 midday (online) 📔👩💻 ALL our members are welcome & we'd love you to join us if you can. A number of roles have also come up within the committee - details on how to apply to follow. Not yet signed up? www.seabirdgroup.org.uk/membership
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonExciting news! We’re planning the upcoming Bird Atlas 2027-31, and have met with @birdwatchireland.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social and @birdsinwales.bsky.social to discuss how we can work together on what we hope will be the most productive Atlas yet. #Ornithology #UKBirding
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonSnow Bunting on Dunnet beach early afternoon #CaithnessBirds
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonVery cool new #seabird paper showing no difference in breeding success between healthy and black-eyed gannets, but a worrying overall decline in productivity following the #avianflu outbreak. 🦠🐣 Read the paper here 👉 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... #seabirds #ornithology
- I loved this course - so much fun thinking about, exploring and visualising bird data in creative ways - and learning a new coding language! #ornithology
- The autumn evening cohort for Binoculars to Binomials starts Thursday. Which means you have a little over 48 hours to jump on board! Get to know your local birds, learn some fun approaches to data viz, and... completely rewire your 🧠? jerthorp.me/learning
- The most recent thing I worked on was visualising my #CaithnessBirds list - using BirdTrack data (so reflects when I summited BirdTrack data rather than when I actually first saw a species in the county😅) - based on code/inspiration from Jer's course.
- Reposted by Nina O'Hanlon1/ The Wild Bird Indicators, using BTO data, have been updated today by Defra! ⬇️ Sadly, the ‘all bird species’ index, comprising the population trends of 130 species, has been in a slow continuous decline in the UK since the 1970s, down by 18% and by 4% in the last five years. 📉 #Ornithology
- Reposted by Nina O'Hanlon🚨 New #seabirds paper 🚨 Following a workshop at the International Seabird Group Conference 2024 & led by @seabirdmortenf.bsky.social, we review opportunities & challenges for new technologies in seabird monitoring 🎥💻🐣 Link below! ⬇️ #ornithology doi.org/10.1093/ices...
- Reposted by Nina O'HanlonToday we are attending the Gull Summit in Inverness because gulls are in trouble and need help. You can read more about how we can learn to live with gulls here: www.rspb.org.uk/scotland/new... 📷: Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com)
