Nils Warnock
@dunlin.bsky.social
Ornithologist. Especially interested in shorebirds and migration. Based in California with affinity for Alaska and Rhode Island. Unless noted, photos are my own. All photos taken with Sony RX10 IV or iphone.
Reposted by Nils Warnock
A ground-breaking study has revealed that migratory songbirds follow an unexpectedly rigid and genetically driven flight pattern, challenging long‑held views of migration as a flexible, externally dictated process:
Migratory songbirds follow precise internal flight plan, study finds
A new study on Red-backed Shrikes reveals that migratory flights are organised into highly structured segments under an internal circannual genetic programme, rather than being solely driven by environment. The findings challenge traditional views of bird migration and raise concerns over how climate‑induced disruptions of external cues may interfere with these deeply programmed flight patterns.
bit.ly
November 27, 2025 at 12:46 PM
A ground-breaking study has revealed that migratory songbirds follow an unexpectedly rigid and genetically driven flight pattern, challenging long‑held views of migration as a flexible, externally dictated process:
These fences can be dangerous for birds, especially placed out into the water. Point Reyes National Seashore. #birds #shorebirds
November 26, 2025 at 10:41 PM
These fences can be dangerous for birds, especially placed out into the water. Point Reyes National Seashore. #birds #shorebirds
Marbled Godwit feeding amongst spider webs in the salt grass. Abbott's Lagoon, Point Reyes National Seashore, CA #birds #shorebirds
November 24, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Marbled Godwit feeding amongst spider webs in the salt grass. Abbott's Lagoon, Point Reyes National Seashore, CA #birds #shorebirds
Sun rising over Point Reyes Station, CA on a late Fall morning.
November 23, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Sun rising over Point Reyes Station, CA on a late Fall morning.
Watching the waves come in - Marbled Godwit feeding along the shoreline. Cypress Grove, Marshall, CA #birds #shorebirds
November 21, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Watching the waves come in - Marbled Godwit feeding along the shoreline. Cypress Grove, Marshall, CA #birds #shorebirds
The smallest of the shorebirds - Least Sandpiper feeding at Abbott's Lagoon, Point Reyes National Seashore, CA #shorebirds #birds
November 16, 2025 at 2:31 AM
The smallest of the shorebirds - Least Sandpiper feeding at Abbott's Lagoon, Point Reyes National Seashore, CA #shorebirds #birds
Rush hour on the shorebird highway. Point Reyes National Seashore, CA #shorebirds #birds
November 11, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Rush hour on the shorebird highway. Point Reyes National Seashore, CA #shorebirds #birds
Fly by Marble Godwit. Abbott's Lagoon, Point Reyes National Seashore, CA #shorebirds #birds
November 10, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Fly by Marble Godwit. Abbott's Lagoon, Point Reyes National Seashore, CA #shorebirds #birds
Reposted by Nils Warnock
Want your modelling to save birds? PhD with me at UvA (Amsterdam): build spatial integrated population model for black-tailed godwits with world-class dataset and strong team here & @birdeyes-gfn.bsky.social/RUG). werkenbij.uva.nl/en/vacancies... Apply by 1 Dec 2025: #Ecology #Bayesian #Conservation
November 4, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Want your modelling to save birds? PhD with me at UvA (Amsterdam): build spatial integrated population model for black-tailed godwits with world-class dataset and strong team here & @birdeyes-gfn.bsky.social/RUG). werkenbij.uva.nl/en/vacancies... Apply by 1 Dec 2025: #Ecology #Bayesian #Conservation
Reposted by Nils Warnock
Safety first when marking waders shorebirds.
Blog from 29 Oct 2018 🎂
wadertales.wordpress.com/2018/10/29/l...
Another blog with safety advice:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2020/09/04/f...
#ConservationScience🌍
Blog from 29 Oct 2018 🎂
wadertales.wordpress.com/2018/10/29/l...
Another blog with safety advice:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2020/09/04/f...
#ConservationScience🌍
Leg-flags and nest success
For ornithologists studying birds by adding colour-rings, flags and tracking devices, a question of fundamental importance is always “am I affecting the birds’ survival or behaviour by requiring th…
wadertales.wordpress.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Safety first when marking waders shorebirds.
Blog from 29 Oct 2018 🎂
wadertales.wordpress.com/2018/10/29/l...
Another blog with safety advice:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2020/09/04/f...
#ConservationScience🌍
Blog from 29 Oct 2018 🎂
wadertales.wordpress.com/2018/10/29/l...
Another blog with safety advice:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2020/09/04/f...
#ConservationScience🌍
Western Sandpipers are molting into their non-breeding plumage. A few Dunlin have already molted. Point Reyes National Seashore, CA #birds #shorebirds
October 25, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Western Sandpipers are molting into their non-breeding plumage. A few Dunlin have already molted. Point Reyes National Seashore, CA #birds #shorebirds
Early morning wing stretch by the Black Oystercatcher. Cypress Grove, Marshall, CA #shorebird #bird
October 22, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Early morning wing stretch by the Black Oystercatcher. Cypress Grove, Marshall, CA #shorebird #bird
Reposted by Nils Warnock
EARLY VIEW in IBIS
Challenges in population monitoring: Bar-tailed Godwits (Limosa lapponica) on the East Atlantic Flyway defy assumed population structure | onlinelibrary.wiley....
Jesse R. Conklin, Roeland A. Bom, Åke Lindström, Pierrick Bocher, Theunis Piersma | #ornithology 🪶
Challenges in population monitoring: Bar-tailed Godwits (Limosa lapponica) on the East Atlantic Flyway defy assumed population structure | onlinelibrary.wiley....
Jesse R. Conklin, Roeland A. Bom, Åke Lindström, Pierrick Bocher, Theunis Piersma | #ornithology 🪶
October 14, 2025 at 5:00 AM
EARLY VIEW in IBIS
Challenges in population monitoring: Bar-tailed Godwits (Limosa lapponica) on the East Atlantic Flyway defy assumed population structure | onlinelibrary.wiley....
Jesse R. Conklin, Roeland A. Bom, Åke Lindström, Pierrick Bocher, Theunis Piersma | #ornithology 🪶
Challenges in population monitoring: Bar-tailed Godwits (Limosa lapponica) on the East Atlantic Flyway defy assumed population structure | onlinelibrary.wiley....
Jesse R. Conklin, Roeland A. Bom, Åke Lindström, Pierrick Bocher, Theunis Piersma | #ornithology 🪶
Reposted by Nils Warnock
We'll be interested to see how many Short-eared Owls cross the North Sea and spend the winter in Britain. 🦉 Read about BTO’s research tracking Short-eared Owls here ➡️ bit.ly/TrackingSEO #Ornithology #RaptorResearch
📷 Short-eared Owl by Liz Cutting/BTO
📷 Short-eared Owl by Liz Cutting/BTO
October 14, 2025 at 5:00 PM
We'll be interested to see how many Short-eared Owls cross the North Sea and spend the winter in Britain. 🦉 Read about BTO’s research tracking Short-eared Owls here ➡️ bit.ly/TrackingSEO #Ornithology #RaptorResearch
📷 Short-eared Owl by Liz Cutting/BTO
📷 Short-eared Owl by Liz Cutting/BTO
First year Dunlin roosting in a sea of Western Sandpipers (Long-billed Dowitchers in the background). Point Reyes National Seashore, CA #birds #shorebirds
October 10, 2025 at 6:05 PM
First year Dunlin roosting in a sea of Western Sandpipers (Long-billed Dowitchers in the background). Point Reyes National Seashore, CA #birds #shorebirds
Dropping in - a flock of Marbled Godwits arriving at the roost site. Bodega Bay, CA #birds #shorebirds
October 6, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Dropping in - a flock of Marbled Godwits arriving at the roost site. Bodega Bay, CA #birds #shorebirds
A little serenity for a very disturbed world - preening Black Turnstone, Cypress Grove, Marshall, CA #birds #shorebirds
October 2, 2025 at 8:56 PM
A little serenity for a very disturbed world - preening Black Turnstone, Cypress Grove, Marshall, CA #birds #shorebirds
The drizzly weather continues on the central California coast but the Black Turnstones appear to enjoy it. Marshall, CA. #birds #shorebirds
October 1, 2025 at 8:38 PM
The drizzly weather continues on the central California coast but the Black Turnstones appear to enjoy it. Marshall, CA. #birds #shorebirds
A little bit of rain and the Rough-skinned Newts are popping out at Cypress Grove, Marshall, CA
October 1, 2025 at 2:41 AM
A little bit of rain and the Rough-skinned Newts are popping out at Cypress Grove, Marshall, CA