Nicola Crockford
@numenini.bsky.social
RSPB Principal Policy Officer. BirdLife Global Flyways Programme policy lead. Privileged to work full time for the world's migratory birds. Love snorkelling. The views I express here are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the RSPB.
Reposted by Nicola Crockford
Extensive effort by multiple law enforcement / science / conservation partners to determine this as a wildlife crime. But of course, yet again the offender hasn't been identified, charged, prosecuted etc. Something needs to change.
#RaptorResearch
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/24/h...
#RaptorResearch
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/24/h...
Hen Harrier found dead in Northumberland National Park with shotgun damage to satellite tag
This is a blog about one of those dead Hen Harriers for whom we’ve been waiting over a year for Natural England to confirm the cause of death. A Hen Harrier (photo by Pete Walkden) The young …
raptorpersecutionuk.org
November 24, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Extensive effort by multiple law enforcement / science / conservation partners to determine this as a wildlife crime. But of course, yet again the offender hasn't been identified, charged, prosecuted etc. Something needs to change.
#RaptorResearch
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/24/h...
#RaptorResearch
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/24/h...
Reposted by Nicola Crockford
#OnThisDay in 1859, Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species was first published.
Much of the original manuscript was used as scrap paper by Darwin's children. On the back of this painting of a house is an original manuscript page from Origin!
#CambridgeUniversityLibrary (DAR 185)
Much of the original manuscript was used as scrap paper by Darwin's children. On the back of this painting of a house is an original manuscript page from Origin!
#CambridgeUniversityLibrary (DAR 185)
November 24, 2025 at 11:26 AM
#OnThisDay in 1859, Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species was first published.
Much of the original manuscript was used as scrap paper by Darwin's children. On the back of this painting of a house is an original manuscript page from Origin!
#CambridgeUniversityLibrary (DAR 185)
Much of the original manuscript was used as scrap paper by Darwin's children. On the back of this painting of a house is an original manuscript page from Origin!
#CambridgeUniversityLibrary (DAR 185)
Reposted by Nicola Crockford
Exploring the power of volunteering in conservation and what motivates volunteers, such as the amazing Breckland Flora Group. youtu.be/qh_BBXCm4vc?...
Volunteering for conservation: motivations and results
YouTube video by Bill Sutherland's Conservation Concepts
youtu.be
November 24, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Exploring the power of volunteering in conservation and what motivates volunteers, such as the amazing Breckland Flora Group. youtu.be/qh_BBXCm4vc?...
Reposted by Nicola Crockford
Studying for an MSc in the UK this year and looking for a research project? 🧪🌍
Check out our list of available MSc projects now live: www.rspb.org.uk/helping-natu...
Check out our list of available MSc projects now live: www.rspb.org.uk/helping-natu...
Postgraduate opportunities
The RSPB is offering a variety of exciting research projects for postgraduate students in 2026.
www.rspb.org.uk
November 24, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Studying for an MSc in the UK this year and looking for a research project? 🧪🌍
Check out our list of available MSc projects now live: www.rspb.org.uk/helping-natu...
Check out our list of available MSc projects now live: www.rspb.org.uk/helping-natu...
Reposted by Nicola Crockford
A rare freshwater bryozoan found in the River Foss, Yorkshire
www.neyedc.org.uk/updates-insi... @teamneyedc.bsky.social @ynuorg.bsky.social @freshwaterhabitats.bsky.social
www.neyedc.org.uk/updates-insi... @teamneyedc.bsky.social @ynuorg.bsky.social @freshwaterhabitats.bsky.social
Yorkshire’s Crystal Moss Animal — neyedc
A few weeks ago, we received an exciting email from the Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project regarding a record of a very interesting species on the River Foss. In over 20 years of collating and dissemi...
www.neyedc.org.uk
October 19, 2025 at 8:19 AM
A rare freshwater bryozoan found in the River Foss, Yorkshire
www.neyedc.org.uk/updates-insi... @teamneyedc.bsky.social @ynuorg.bsky.social @freshwaterhabitats.bsky.social
www.neyedc.org.uk/updates-insi... @teamneyedc.bsky.social @ynuorg.bsky.social @freshwaterhabitats.bsky.social
Reposted by Nicola Crockford
Reposted by Nicola Crockford
Are you an MSc student based at a UK university? Or do you know one?
RSPB @rspbscience.bsky.social have just released their list of research projects for 2026:
www.rspb.org.uk/helping-natu...
#ornithology #conservationscience 🌍
RSPB @rspbscience.bsky.social have just released their list of research projects for 2026:
www.rspb.org.uk/helping-natu...
#ornithology #conservationscience 🌍
Postgraduate opportunities
The RSPB is offering a variety of exciting research projects for postgraduate students in 2026.
www.rspb.org.uk
November 21, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Are you an MSc student based at a UK university? Or do you know one?
RSPB @rspbscience.bsky.social have just released their list of research projects for 2026:
www.rspb.org.uk/helping-natu...
#ornithology #conservationscience 🌍
RSPB @rspbscience.bsky.social have just released their list of research projects for 2026:
www.rspb.org.uk/helping-natu...
#ornithology #conservationscience 🌍
Reposted by Nicola Crockford
Astonishing that Mongolia has both the Gobi desert and taiga/boreal forest. Here. I try and explain how tiaga works. youtu.be/TjlHz9GwnG8?...
Taiga: the earth’s coldest forests
YouTube video by Bill Sutherland's Conservation Concepts
youtu.be
November 20, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Astonishing that Mongolia has both the Gobi desert and taiga/boreal forest. Here. I try and explain how tiaga works. youtu.be/TjlHz9GwnG8?...
Reposted by Nicola Crockford
In October, our Flyways Conservation Officer, Lilla Barabás, travelled to Cyprus to witness first-hand the amazing work that @birdlifecyprus.bsky.social is doing to tackle the illegal killing of birds. 💔🪶
Find out more about their amazing projects here 👉 flightforsurvival.org/fighting-for...
Find out more about their amazing projects here 👉 flightforsurvival.org/fighting-for...
November 19, 2025 at 3:52 PM
In October, our Flyways Conservation Officer, Lilla Barabás, travelled to Cyprus to witness first-hand the amazing work that @birdlifecyprus.bsky.social is doing to tackle the illegal killing of birds. 💔🪶
Find out more about their amazing projects here 👉 flightforsurvival.org/fighting-for...
Find out more about their amazing projects here 👉 flightforsurvival.org/fighting-for...
Reposted by Nicola Crockford
We just launched our Avian Sensitivity Tool for Energy Planning (AVISTEP) in Australia.🔧
AVISTEP’s maps support sustainable renewable energy planning by showing where birds are most sensitive to energy infrastructure on land and at sea.📍👉 www.birdlife.org/avistep-aust... @birdlifeoz.bsky.social
AVISTEP’s maps support sustainable renewable energy planning by showing where birds are most sensitive to energy infrastructure on land and at sea.📍👉 www.birdlife.org/avistep-aust... @birdlifeoz.bsky.social
‘Game-changer’ AVISTEP expands to Australia
Australia has become the ninth country to launch our Avian Sensitivity Tool for Energy Planning (AVISTEP) at the Australasian Ornithological Conference in Boorloo/Perth.
www.birdlife.org
November 19, 2025 at 9:30 AM
We just launched our Avian Sensitivity Tool for Energy Planning (AVISTEP) in Australia.🔧
AVISTEP’s maps support sustainable renewable energy planning by showing where birds are most sensitive to energy infrastructure on land and at sea.📍👉 www.birdlife.org/avistep-aust... @birdlifeoz.bsky.social
AVISTEP’s maps support sustainable renewable energy planning by showing where birds are most sensitive to energy infrastructure on land and at sea.📍👉 www.birdlife.org/avistep-aust... @birdlifeoz.bsky.social
Reposted by Nicola Crockford
#Seabirds at risk: Common Guillemots concentrate for moulting where wind farms are planned in the German North Sea: see latest aerial suveys by #DDA in September 2025: www.dda-web.de/downloads/ma...
November 16, 2025 at 6:56 PM
#Seabirds at risk: Common Guillemots concentrate for moulting where wind farms are planned in the German North Sea: see latest aerial suveys by #DDA in September 2025: www.dda-web.de/downloads/ma...
Reposted by Nicola Crockford
Today, the EPA proposed a redefinition of "waters of the United States" that would eliminate federal protections for about 85% of the nation's wetlands. Read more about the lead up to this proposal here:
eos.org/research-and...
eos.org/research-and...
EPA Moves to Rewrite Water Rules Following Sackett Decision - Eos
EPA administrator Lee Zeldin announced today that the agency would kick off a review of EPA rules and redefine “waters of the United States” to ensure that the agency aligns with the 2023 Supreme Cour...
eos.org
November 17, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Today, the EPA proposed a redefinition of "waters of the United States" that would eliminate federal protections for about 85% of the nation's wetlands. Read more about the lead up to this proposal here:
eos.org/research-and...
eos.org/research-and...
Reposted by Nicola Crockford
My first PhD paper is now out! We calculate overlap intensity between African penguins and the local purse seine fishery 🐧🐟
Check it out in @jappliedecology.bsky.social
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Check it out in @jappliedecology.bsky.social
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Spatial overlap alone downplays the level of interaction between a central place forager and the local fishery
While spatial overlap is commonly used to quantify interactions, it may underestimate the true degree of competition between foraging predators and fishing vessels. Our alternative population-level m...
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:46 AM
My first PhD paper is now out! We calculate overlap intensity between African penguins and the local purse seine fishery 🐧🐟
Check it out in @jappliedecology.bsky.social
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Check it out in @jappliedecology.bsky.social
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Nicola Crockford
Describing, with Breckland as an example, the idea of ecological palimpsests: how history underpins much of the ecology we see today youtu.be/6pkWmMmv8bY?...
Ecological palimpsests
YouTube video by Bill Sutherland's Conservation Concepts
youtu.be
November 17, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Describing, with Breckland as an example, the idea of ecological palimpsests: how history underpins much of the ecology we see today youtu.be/6pkWmMmv8bY?...
Reposted by Nicola Crockford
@greenleejw.bsky.social Hard to believe that in living memory, English eels were so common. When I went fishing in the the 1960s/70s they were almost a nuisance in some rivers.
“On a willow twig a kingfisher perches. It watches the eels with interest, but these are well-grown and too big for him to catch”
‘What to Look for in Autumn’
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe Writer:
EL Grant Watson
‘What to Look for in Autumn’
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe Writer:
EL Grant Watson
November 16, 2025 at 8:49 AM
@greenleejw.bsky.social Hard to believe that in living memory, English eels were so common. When I went fishing in the the 1960s/70s they were almost a nuisance in some rivers.
Reposted by Nicola Crockford
Seeing a flock of 17 Sociable Lapwings right next to our hotel was very unexpected #birds #oman #nikon #omanbirding #zootherabirding #BirdsSeenIn2025 #birding
November 16, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Seeing a flock of 17 Sociable Lapwings right next to our hotel was very unexpected #birds #oman #nikon #omanbirding #zootherabirding #BirdsSeenIn2025 #birding
Reposted by Nicola Crockford
A common claim is that zebra mussels "clean" lakes. They can certainly clear the water column but also create conditions that reduce oxygen & promote toxic algal blooms:
phys.org/news/2021-06...
www.canr.msu.edu/news/telecou...
cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/...
www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/07/rese...
phys.org/news/2021-06...
www.canr.msu.edu/news/telecou...
cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/...
www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/07/rese...
Telecoupling and the spillover system: Causes and effects of zebra mussels in the Great Lakes
Examining the impacts of zebra mussels in the Great Lakes and beyond.
www.canr.msu.edu
November 16, 2025 at 2:48 AM
A common claim is that zebra mussels "clean" lakes. They can certainly clear the water column but also create conditions that reduce oxygen & promote toxic algal blooms:
phys.org/news/2021-06...
www.canr.msu.edu/news/telecou...
cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/...
www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/07/rese...
phys.org/news/2021-06...
www.canr.msu.edu/news/telecou...
cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/...
www.greatlakesnow.org/2021/07/rese...
Reposted by Nicola Crockford
Many visionary organisations are now reflecting on the evidence of actions as part of practice and regularly testing actions. The expectation is to be more effective and richer. Please say if your organisation, based anywhere, is keen on this journey. www.conservationevidence.com/content/page...
Conservation Evidence - Page Content
www.conservationevidence.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Many visionary organisations are now reflecting on the evidence of actions as part of practice and regularly testing actions. The expectation is to be more effective and richer. Please say if your organisation, based anywhere, is keen on this journey. www.conservationevidence.com/content/page...
Reposted by Nicola Crockford
This is one of the last known images of the now extinct Slender-billed Curlew taken by Chris Gomersall in 1995.
Chris will kindly be donating £10 from every print sold to Curlew Action.
Find out more and purchase yours now: www.chrisgomersall.co.uk/slender-bill...
Chris will kindly be donating £10 from every print sold to Curlew Action.
Find out more and purchase yours now: www.chrisgomersall.co.uk/slender-bill...
November 14, 2025 at 6:04 PM
This is one of the last known images of the now extinct Slender-billed Curlew taken by Chris Gomersall in 1995.
Chris will kindly be donating £10 from every print sold to Curlew Action.
Find out more and purchase yours now: www.chrisgomersall.co.uk/slender-bill...
Chris will kindly be donating £10 from every print sold to Curlew Action.
Find out more and purchase yours now: www.chrisgomersall.co.uk/slender-bill...
Reposted by Nicola Crockford
Meeting adjourned! 🤝
#AEWAMOP9 concluded in Bonn with the adoption of 11 new resolutions aimed at reducing pressures on migratory waterbirds and strengthening conservation action across the African-Eurasian flyways. 🌏
Learn more about key outcomes & decisions: www.unep-aewa.org/en/news/un-w...
#AEWAMOP9 concluded in Bonn with the adoption of 11 new resolutions aimed at reducing pressures on migratory waterbirds and strengthening conservation action across the African-Eurasian flyways. 🌏
Learn more about key outcomes & decisions: www.unep-aewa.org/en/news/un-w...
November 14, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Meeting adjourned! 🤝
#AEWAMOP9 concluded in Bonn with the adoption of 11 new resolutions aimed at reducing pressures on migratory waterbirds and strengthening conservation action across the African-Eurasian flyways. 🌏
Learn more about key outcomes & decisions: www.unep-aewa.org/en/news/un-w...
#AEWAMOP9 concluded in Bonn with the adoption of 11 new resolutions aimed at reducing pressures on migratory waterbirds and strengthening conservation action across the African-Eurasian flyways. 🌏
Learn more about key outcomes & decisions: www.unep-aewa.org/en/news/un-w...
Reposted by Nicola Crockford
Great to see @cateden91.bsky.social's first PhD paper, showing for first time how rivers/freshwater supports Spotted Flycatchers, a declining woodland bird, by subsidising their diet with energy-rich invertebrates. We should be re-wetting the woodlands and re-wooding the rivers! #ornithology
Super excited to share the first paper from my PhD! 🎉
We found that rivers don’t just matter for wetland birds - they also help support terrestrial insectivores, thanks to the flow of energy and nutrients from aquatic insects. 🌊🦟
Read more here: 👉 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
We found that rivers don’t just matter for wetland birds - they also help support terrestrial insectivores, thanks to the flow of energy and nutrients from aquatic insects. 🌊🦟
Read more here: 👉 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Cross-system transfer of fatty acids from aquatic insects supports terrestrial insectivore condition and reproductive success - Oecologia
Cross-system fluxes of aquatic insects rich in omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 LC-PUFAs), specifically eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), may subsidise ins...
link.springer.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Great to see @cateden91.bsky.social's first PhD paper, showing for first time how rivers/freshwater supports Spotted Flycatchers, a declining woodland bird, by subsidising their diet with energy-rich invertebrates. We should be re-wetting the woodlands and re-wooding the rivers! #ornithology
Reposted by Nicola Crockford
A short 🧵: one astounding thing I learned while researching TIGERS BETWEEN EMPIRES was the existence of the Willow Palisade, a 700-km wall made of interlocking trees, an extension of the Great Wall planted in NE China in the 17th century. This map shows approx. Amur tiger range in 1850. 1/9
November 14, 2025 at 3:07 PM
A short 🧵: one astounding thing I learned while researching TIGERS BETWEEN EMPIRES was the existence of the Willow Palisade, a 700-km wall made of interlocking trees, an extension of the Great Wall planted in NE China in the 17th century. This map shows approx. Amur tiger range in 1850. 1/9
Reposted by Nicola Crockford
On our watch.
Let us not be needing to write obituaries of and eulogies for too many more species.
More importantly, may we alive in 2025 not put more species in the extinction pipeline for future generations to have to do so.
Let us not be needing to write obituaries of and eulogies for too many more species.
More importantly, may we alive in 2025 not put more species in the extinction pipeline for future generations to have to do so.
The Slender-billed Curlew was declared extinct in October 2025.
At #AEWAMOP9, delegates paid tribute to it, with this rare taxidermied specimen on view.
Read personal reflections and testimonies from those who searched for, studied, and cared deeply about it: www.unep-aewa.org/en/news/reme...
At #AEWAMOP9, delegates paid tribute to it, with this rare taxidermied specimen on view.
Read personal reflections and testimonies from those who searched for, studied, and cared deeply about it: www.unep-aewa.org/en/news/reme...
November 13, 2025 at 5:50 PM
On our watch.
Let us not be needing to write obituaries of and eulogies for too many more species.
More importantly, may we alive in 2025 not put more species in the extinction pipeline for future generations to have to do so.
Let us not be needing to write obituaries of and eulogies for too many more species.
More importantly, may we alive in 2025 not put more species in the extinction pipeline for future generations to have to do so.
Reposted by Nicola Crockford
Amendment 40 to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill has been voted down.
Had it passed, it would have meant more precious wildlife would have retained existing protections.
Instead, MPs have bought into the false 'nature vs growth' narrative.
Had it passed, it would have meant more precious wildlife would have retained existing protections.
Instead, MPs have bought into the false 'nature vs growth' narrative.
November 13, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Amendment 40 to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill has been voted down.
Had it passed, it would have meant more precious wildlife would have retained existing protections.
Instead, MPs have bought into the false 'nature vs growth' narrative.
Had it passed, it would have meant more precious wildlife would have retained existing protections.
Instead, MPs have bought into the false 'nature vs growth' narrative.
Reposted by Nicola Crockford
Putting this out there again- An INCREDIBLE accomplishment! GLOBAL CORAL PHYLOGENY! kudos to all involved!
This is an INCREDIBLE advance in our understanding of coral diversification. 🪸🎉 Fantastic new work led by @claudiavaga.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A global coral phylogeny reveals resilience and vulnerability through deep time - Nature
The most recent common ancestor of the stony coral Scleractinia dates to about 460 million years ago and was probably a solitary, heterotrophic and free-living organism.
www.nature.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Putting this out there again- An INCREDIBLE accomplishment! GLOBAL CORAL PHYLOGENY! kudos to all involved!