Hannah Coburn

Hannah Coburn

Profile

I graduated in 2022 with a BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences (Ecology) at the University of Edinburgh. During my honours project I investigated the intrinsic protection offered by colour polymorphism and how this can vary with predator species, working with wild corvids as a model system. After graduating, I worked as a field ornithologist at an ecological consultancy, carrying out breeding bird and flight activity surveys for clients in the renewables sector. I also have a range of ornithological surveying and bird ringing experience through volunteering for organisations such as the BTO, RSPB and various bird observatories. My primary interests are ornithology, movement ecology and conservation, which led me to this PhD.

Hannah Coburn

PhD title: "Migration, movement and the effects of hunting on birds in a changing world"

Anthropogenic challenges such as climate change and habitat loss are impacting all natural populations, and some animals, such as wildfowl, have the additional threat of hunting to contest with. However, there are still many gaps in our understanding of how these factors interact in the context of European duck species, such as mallard, teal and wigeon.

In this project I will seek to disentangle the effects of harvest mortality, climate change and land use change on duck productivity, movement and survival. I will also aim to improve understanding of aspects of duck ecology such as breeding habitat and life history characteristics in wild and released populations. The outcomes of this project may help inform more sustainable hunting practices and land management in habitats important to wildfowl.