Examining relationships between human well-being and avian biodiversity within natural and urban soundscapes

The student will work extensively with the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Cymru office located in the School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University. Dr Callum Macgregor, an ecologist interested in understanding avian responses to changing environments in the Anthropocene, will be the

main BTO contact for the student. This project aligns with the BTO's focal research area, Urban Birds and Urban Planning, and specifically 'interpreting the value of urban wildlife for human well-being'. The student will make valuable connections with this world-renowned ornithological research and conservation organisation whilst developing research and professional skills. Regular meetings will be

held between Dr Macgregor, the student, and the rest of the supervisory team to shape the research (e.g., composition of soundscapes; experimental design, including identification of study participants). Further, BTO will facilitate training in passive acoustic monitoring of avifauna, enabling the student to

acquire transferable advanced quantitative analysis skills. The student will be supported in preparing regular written and verbal research updates to the BTO, facilitating their networking with conservation professionals. Moreover, potential exists to link the student with the BTO's citizen scientists (e.g., to pilot

survey instruments for measuring human well-being when exposed to different bird soundscapes).