Ron Efrat
@moveandconserve.bsky.social
Conservation*Movement Ecology.
Postdoc, Max Planck Inst. of Animal Behavior.
Soaring, running, swimming, if it moves and can carry a GPS tag, I'm in.
Postdoc, Max Planck Inst. of Animal Behavior.
Soaring, running, swimming, if it moves and can carry a GPS tag, I'm in.
Would have been really interesting if that was the real result of the SDM.. Luckily, it was just a small mistake in my R code.
November 14, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Would have been really interesting if that was the real result of the SDM.. Luckily, it was just a small mistake in my R code.
These amazing birds breed and roost in what can only be described as Martian Habitat. They find shade under trees that were washed centuries ago when the Dead Sea reached further north.
Feeding seems to mainly occur in nearby agriculture fields
Feeding seems to mainly occur in nearby agriculture fields
September 18, 2025 at 9:14 AM
These amazing birds breed and roost in what can only be described as Martian Habitat. They find shade under trees that were washed centuries ago when the Dead Sea reached further north.
Feeding seems to mainly occur in nearby agriculture fields
Feeding seems to mainly occur in nearby agriculture fields
In 2014, a car hit a strange bird in the northern Dead Sea area. The driver found a dead Egyptian #Nightjar, and saw another one flying away. First observation for that area.
Multiple efforts started - surveys, ringing, tagging - and a breeding population was discovered!
Multiple efforts started - surveys, ringing, tagging - and a breeding population was discovered!
September 18, 2025 at 9:14 AM
In 2014, a car hit a strange bird in the northern Dead Sea area. The driver found a dead Egyptian #Nightjar, and saw another one flying away. First observation for that area.
Multiple efforts started - surveys, ringing, tagging - and a breeding population was discovered!
Multiple efforts started - surveys, ringing, tagging - and a breeding population was discovered!
Larger than a blackbird, in one of the most populated areas in the world, but still unseen for who knows how long.
A second paper from the story of the discovery of the Egyptian #Nightjar in the Dead Sea area was published recently.
🧪🐾🌎🪶
📷 Y. Wasserlauf
#ornithology #conservation #ecology
A second paper from the story of the discovery of the Egyptian #Nightjar in the Dead Sea area was published recently.
🧪🐾🌎🪶
📷 Y. Wasserlauf
#ornithology #conservation #ecology
September 18, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Larger than a blackbird, in one of the most populated areas in the world, but still unseen for who knows how long.
A second paper from the story of the discovery of the Egyptian #Nightjar in the Dead Sea area was published recently.
🧪🐾🌎🪶
📷 Y. Wasserlauf
#ornithology #conservation #ecology
A second paper from the story of the discovery of the Egyptian #Nightjar in the Dead Sea area was published recently.
🧪🐾🌎🪶
📷 Y. Wasserlauf
#ornithology #conservation #ecology
Another touristic site with my parents, another cool #bird_behavior. This time, Mainau and its beautiful trees present a cool Nuthach.
#ornithology
#ornithology
September 11, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Another touristic site with my parents, another cool #bird_behavior. This time, Mainau and its beautiful trees present a cool Nuthach.
#ornithology
#ornithology
Took my parents to see the Rhine Falls today.
They enjoyed the falls, I enjoyed other things enjoying the falls 🙃
#ornithology
They enjoyed the falls, I enjoyed other things enjoying the falls 🙃
#ornithology
September 10, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Took my parents to see the Rhine Falls today.
They enjoyed the falls, I enjoyed other things enjoying the falls 🙃
#ornithology
They enjoyed the falls, I enjoyed other things enjoying the falls 🙃
#ornithology
Someone's being enjoying our garden 🤩
September 5, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Someone's being enjoying our garden 🤩
A great thank you to the organizers of #BESMove2025!
It was really nice meeting new and old friends, hearing about so many interesting studies and even enjoying nice weather that allowed me to see the local wildlife 😅.
See you next year?
It was really nice meeting new and old friends, hearing about so many interesting studies and even enjoying nice weather that allowed me to see the local wildlife 😅.
See you next year?
September 4, 2025 at 11:35 AM
A great thank you to the organizers of #BESMove2025!
It was really nice meeting new and old friends, hearing about so many interesting studies and even enjoying nice weather that allowed me to see the local wildlife 😅.
See you next year?
It was really nice meeting new and old friends, hearing about so many interesting studies and even enjoying nice weather that allowed me to see the local wildlife 😅.
See you next year?
What a wonderful day at the #BESMove2025! Fascinating talks, great people, beautiful campus (see pic).
Really excited to talk about the migratory movements of Steppe Eagles tomorrow.
Really excited to talk about the migratory movements of Steppe Eagles tomorrow.
September 2, 2025 at 10:10 PM
What a wonderful day at the #BESMove2025! Fascinating talks, great people, beautiful campus (see pic).
Really excited to talk about the migratory movements of Steppe Eagles tomorrow.
Really excited to talk about the migratory movements of Steppe Eagles tomorrow.
First time in England (kind of)!
Excited for the @besmovesig.bsky.social #BES #Movement_Ecology annual meeting.
Excited for the @besmovesig.bsky.social #BES #Movement_Ecology annual meeting.
September 1, 2025 at 2:41 PM
First time in England (kind of)!
Excited for the @besmovesig.bsky.social #BES #Movement_Ecology annual meeting.
Excited for the @besmovesig.bsky.social #BES #Movement_Ecology annual meeting.
How come I never heard of this amazing butterfly?
Lesser Emperor Butterfly (I think..), changing colors from brown to purple depending on the angle of light. Beautiful!
Southern Germany, Aug 2025
Lesser Emperor Butterfly (I think..), changing colors from brown to purple depending on the angle of light. Beautiful!
Southern Germany, Aug 2025
August 27, 2025 at 4:01 PM
How come I never heard of this amazing butterfly?
Lesser Emperor Butterfly (I think..), changing colors from brown to purple depending on the angle of light. Beautiful!
Southern Germany, Aug 2025
Lesser Emperor Butterfly (I think..), changing colors from brown to purple depending on the angle of light. Beautiful!
Southern Germany, Aug 2025
By combining #conservation and #movement #ecology, we were able to add another piece to our understanding of the effects of the #anthropocene on migratory birds.
This was achieved thanks to a great team. Thanks everyone!
This was achieved thanks to a great team. Thanks everyone!
August 22, 2025 at 1:15 PM
By combining #conservation and #movement #ecology, we were able to add another piece to our understanding of the effects of the #anthropocene on migratory birds.
This was achieved thanks to a great team. Thanks everyone!
This was achieved thanks to a great team. Thanks everyone!
Human habitats, especially in the desert, provide predictable food sources that seem to attract the juveniles. But they also come with risks that the adult eagles avoid.
This avoidance means that the adult eagles take detours around these habitats, and use less ideal wind conditions.
This avoidance means that the adult eagles take detours around these habitats, and use less ideal wind conditions.
August 22, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Human habitats, especially in the desert, provide predictable food sources that seem to attract the juveniles. But they also come with risks that the adult eagles avoid.
This avoidance means that the adult eagles take detours around these habitats, and use less ideal wind conditions.
This avoidance means that the adult eagles take detours around these habitats, and use less ideal wind conditions.
Using Integrated Step Selection we found something which we did not expect (really!):
Adults avoided human-altered habitats, juveniles preferred them more than randomly available, and sub-adults just used what they had.
Juveniles also used straighter routes with stronger tail-winds.
But why?
Adults avoided human-altered habitats, juveniles preferred them more than randomly available, and sub-adults just used what they had.
Juveniles also used straighter routes with stronger tail-winds.
But why?
August 22, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Using Integrated Step Selection we found something which we did not expect (really!):
Adults avoided human-altered habitats, juveniles preferred them more than randomly available, and sub-adults just used what they had.
Juveniles also used straighter routes with stronger tail-winds.
But why?
Adults avoided human-altered habitats, juveniles preferred them more than randomly available, and sub-adults just used what they had.
Juveniles also used straighter routes with stronger tail-winds.
But why?
We tagged Steppe Eagle chicks in the steppes of Kazakhstan with #Ornitela #GPS tags.
We tracked the birds for up to 7 years and used satellite imaging and weather models to understand their movements.
Fig showing satellite-derived human-altered habitat in the study area. Pic: a tagged eagle chick
We tracked the birds for up to 7 years and used satellite imaging and weather models to understand their movements.
Fig showing satellite-derived human-altered habitat in the study area. Pic: a tagged eagle chick
August 22, 2025 at 1:15 PM
How are human-altered habitats affecting birds' migratory routes? And what is the role of age and wind conditions?
We tested this for an #endangered #Eagle
authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
🐾🧪🪶 @yaelbird.bsky.social @talavgar.bsky.social
@currentbiology.bsky.social
#conservation #ornithology
We tested this for an #endangered #Eagle
authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
🐾🧪🪶 @yaelbird.bsky.social @talavgar.bsky.social
@currentbiology.bsky.social
#conservation #ornithology
August 22, 2025 at 1:15 PM
How are human-altered habitats affecting birds' migratory routes? And what is the role of age and wind conditions?
We tested this for an #endangered #Eagle
authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
🐾🧪🪶 @yaelbird.bsky.social @talavgar.bsky.social
@currentbiology.bsky.social
#conservation #ornithology
We tested this for an #endangered #Eagle
authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
🐾🧪🪶 @yaelbird.bsky.social @talavgar.bsky.social
@currentbiology.bsky.social
#conservation #ornithology
Got a paper published in early view in @currentbiology.bsky.social today!
I'm to tired to write a proper post, so consider this a teaser :)
I'm to tired to write a proper post, so consider this a teaser :)
August 21, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Got a paper published in early view in @currentbiology.bsky.social today!
I'm to tired to write a proper post, so consider this a teaser :)
I'm to tired to write a proper post, so consider this a teaser :)
OK R, no need to be passive-aggressive, I know I'm asking for too much
Error: [writeRaster] cannot write more than 65535 layers
Error: [writeRaster] cannot write more than 65535 layers
August 7, 2025 at 11:33 AM
OK R, no need to be passive-aggressive, I know I'm asking for too much
Error: [writeRaster] cannot write more than 65535 layers
Error: [writeRaster] cannot write more than 65535 layers
"Why are you so happy to see this small brownish bird*?" I was asked during the first of a 4 day hike in the Alps.
These high altitude habitats, plants, birds and other critters are amazing.
Getting away from everything and celebrating life is important.
*bird too small, in the pic: not-a-bird
These high altitude habitats, plants, birds and other critters are amazing.
Getting away from everything and celebrating life is important.
*bird too small, in the pic: not-a-bird
July 18, 2025 at 8:25 AM
"Why are you so happy to see this small brownish bird*?" I was asked during the first of a 4 day hike in the Alps.
These high altitude habitats, plants, birds and other critters are amazing.
Getting away from everything and celebrating life is important.
*bird too small, in the pic: not-a-bird
These high altitude habitats, plants, birds and other critters are amazing.
Getting away from everything and celebrating life is important.
*bird too small, in the pic: not-a-bird
June 4, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Asked the same thing from DallE in January 2023 and today (May 2025) from sora. Here are the results for "A realistic painting of an Egyptian vulture playing basketball".
I am sure there is no need to explain why I asked this, probably one of the most common requests
I am sure there is no need to explain why I asked this, probably one of the most common requests
May 23, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Asked the same thing from DallE in January 2023 and today (May 2025) from sora. Here are the results for "A realistic painting of an Egyptian vulture playing basketball".
I am sure there is no need to explain why I asked this, probably one of the most common requests
I am sure there is no need to explain why I asked this, probably one of the most common requests
And it even includes a beautiful illustration
April 24, 2025 at 1:07 PM
And it even includes a beautiful illustration
Kruger National Park day 11
Second conference I am participating in Skukuza. Never thought that would happen.
Second conference I am participating in Skukuza. Never thought that would happen.
March 2, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Kruger National Park day 11
Second conference I am participating in Skukuza. Never thought that would happen.
Second conference I am participating in Skukuza. Never thought that would happen.
Kruger National Park day 10
Tree Creeper Scorpion (Opisthacanthus asper)
Tree Creeper Scorpion (Opisthacanthus asper)
March 1, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Kruger National Park day 10
Tree Creeper Scorpion (Opisthacanthus asper)
Tree Creeper Scorpion (Opisthacanthus asper)
Kruger National Park day 9
Sometimes dreams come true.
Sometimes dreams come true.
February 28, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Kruger National Park day 9
Sometimes dreams come true.
Sometimes dreams come true.