Influence of Conservation Measures on the Common Red-start

The Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) is a characteristic bird of traditional orchard landscapes and is classified as Near Threatened (NT) in Switzerland. Since 2017, conservation measures such as staggered grassland management and the installation of nest boxes have been implemented in the region Oberthurgau/SG to maintain one of the largest remaining lowland populations. However, despite these measures, the population has not increased.

Evaluate the impact of the implemented conservation measures by investigating:
• population trends and territory occupancy,
• the influence of agricultural management and habitat characteristics on nesting.

The project combines fieldwork (spring 2027) and data analysis. Newly collected data will be analysed together with long-term monitoring data (10 years) from the conservation program to assess the effects of the implemented measures and identify factors influencing population development.

Interest in conservation biology and statistics. Experience with R and QGIS is desirable.
Start no later than March 2027, with fieldwork between April and July 2027. Analyses will be carried out at the Swiss Ornithological Institute in Sempach with the possibility for an additional workplace in Schaffhausen (regional office northeastern Switzerland).

The student will be part of the Species Conservation Unit at the Swiss Ornithological Institute and supervised by Dr. Noëlle Klein.