The influence of extreme weather events on avian foraging and productivity

The project is due to look at the effect of extreme weather, such as the impacts of climate change, and anthropogenic disturbance on an avian species.

The chosen study species is a black bird which lives in both rural and urban environments and are accessible to collect the data required for the project.

The project itself will be collecting data from fitting the black birds with tags, tracking their location and movement in the environment. Alongside this data regarding nest productivity, hatching success and general biometrics from the birds will be taken.

Across the duration of the PhD, the research will look at how extreme weather events and anthropogenic disturbance is impacting this species to establish what the long term outcome may be for urban and rural dwelling birds through predicted changes in environments.

For example, how the urban heat island effect may be impacting productivity or movement or how the more unpredictable, wetter, seasons may effect movement.