I am senior researcher at Sovon Dutch Centre for Field Ornithology, working at the boundary between fundamental and applied science. My main aim is to increase our understanding of ecosystems and birds to support their science-based conservation. During my PhD I studied the interaction between mallards and plant seeds in freshwater wetlands and switched during my postdoctoral research to the role of waterfowl migration in the spread of avian influenza viruses. In my current position at Sovon I am studying topics related to waterbirds, farmland birds and avian diseases. Much of my spare time I spend on eco-friendly gardening and participating in voluntary bird ringing projects.
ornithology - farmland birds - avian influenza - telemetry - wetland ecology
Research projects:
- Farmland birds and agri-environment schemes
- Mallard project (duckling survival)
- Avian influenza in waterfowl
- Large gulls in urban environment