|
Project properties |
|
| Title | MSc Thesis: Tracking birds to assess the potential of nature-inclusive farming |
| Group | Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group |
| Project type | thesis |
| Credits | 36 |
| Supervisor(s) | Rik Waenink |
| Examiner(s) | Thijs Fijen |
| Contact info | rik.waenink@wur.nl |
| Begin date | 2024/04/01 |
| End date | 2026/12/31 |
| Description | Are you passionate about birds, do you like a lot of fieldwork, and do you want to contribute to research on nature-inclusive farming? Then this MSc thesis might be your perfect fit.
You will investigate whether strip cropping benefits field-breeding farmland birds. In strip cropping multiple crops are cultivated in distinct long and narrow strips. Strip cropping can potentially offer many benefits to our threatened farmland birds, as multiple crops are available within a bird’s territory to breed, forage and shelter in. You will track skylarks (Alauda arvensis) and yellow wagtails (Motacilla flava) in and around these strip cropping fields by detailed observations of their landscape use during the breeding season, aided by HD cameras at their nests to monitor food supply to the chicks. The field work is thus dynamic, alternating challenging nest searches, camera work, detailed observations through telescopes and insect sampling (if you are interested). Your own questions of interests can be incorporated. The project involves a lot of field work in beautiful agricultural sites from Zeeland to Groningen and collaborating with other bird researchers and enthusiastic pioneering farmers. More information: Strip cropping: https://weblog.wur.eu/spotlight/more-nature-in-fields-through-strip-cropping/ What do we know so far: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHsSdLYgC3E Note: This thesis is also open to MOA and MPS students. |
| Used skills | Field work
Bird research (Spatial) data analysis |
| Requirements | Driver’s license, speaking Dutch (to communicate with Dutch farmers and project partners). As birds are unpredictable, flexibility and being able to keep an overview is useful. And being a birder is an advantage, since searching nests and tracking birds is challenging (but awesome). |