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Prof Rob Heinsohn

Prof. Robert Heinsohn

I have had great success at running field projects in evolutionary and conservation biology, often in remote and difficult conditions. Over the last 18 years I have run a research program on Cape York Peninsula to study the remarkable Eclectus Parrot and Palm Cockatoo. The skills we developed on our Cape York program, including surveys by ground and air, aerial radio-tracking, tree-climbing, and catching parrots, together with specialist analytical techniques such as population viability analysis, left us ideally poised to work on difficult Tasmanian and other bird species that have long been left in the ‘too hard basket’. The recent research of my group has revealed major threats to Tasmanian birds, and substantially added to the body of information available for critically endangered nomadic species such as the regent honeyeater. Through our intensive field research and communication with the government and general public our aim is to continue to draw attention to the species most at risk from extinction, and to conduct research targeted at pulling these species back from the ‘brink’ before it is too late.

 

Dr Dejan Stojanovic

 
 
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Dr Ross Crates

DR DEJAN STOJANOVIC

I am the lead postdoc of the DBRG, and manage a range of projects primarily in Tasmania and elsewhere around Australia. I am a conservation scientist interested in the factors that affect small and declining populations, and am responsible for managing operations of the DBRG. I undertook my PhD research on the breeding biology of the endangered swift parrot in their Tasmanian breeding range. My research shed light on details about the breeding ecology of a species for which there were no data in spite of its severely threatened status. Since then, I have become increasingly involved in the conservation management of orange-bellied parrots. I lead an ongoing research program to help address key knowledge gaps that hinder recovery efforts of orange-bellied parrots. I am involved in the national recovery teams for the orange-bellied and swift parrots. I supervise several staff and students on a range of species across Tasmania, mainland Australia and Norfolk Island. Prospective students can contact me via email (or twitter).

Find me on twitter: @teamswiftparrot

 

dr ROSS CRATES

I am a postdoctoral fellow within the DBRG. I studied a BSc in Ecology at the University of East Anglia, UK. I spent a year as an exchange student at the University of Wollongong, where I studied the ecology of fairy wrens. After graduating, I worked as a research assistant at the Edward Grey Institute, University of Oxford, on a large scale study into the social ecology of wild songbirds using novel tracking devices. In 2015 I returned to Australia to commence my PhD into the ecology and conservation of the Regent Honeyeater. I have broad interests in avian ecology and conservation, with a focus on woodland birds in southeastern Australia. I manage national monitoring programs for the Regent Honeyeater (breeding) and Swift Parrot (wintering). My current research topics include: 1) Reducing Noisy Miner numbers in areas of high conservation value; 2) Dynamics of Regent Honeyeater song culture, 3) Nest predators, nest depredation and nest protection, 4) Conservation genomics, 5) Estimating bushfire impacts on the Regent Honeyeater, 6) Threatened species monitoring, 7) Conservation of King Island's small brown birds

 

Dr Fernanda Alves

 

dr Fernanda Alves de Amorim

I am a conservation biologist with an interest in population ecology and management of threatened species and their habitat. I am interest in how populations interact with the environment after landscape changes and how management interventions can help the persistence of populations. I got my Bachelor in Biological Sciences in 2007 and since then I have collaborated on field work with several endangered species. In 2014, I completed my Masters in Zoology at the University of São Paulo in Brazil. For my Masters’ research I estimated population density and investigated habitat selection by the endangered red-billed curassow (Crax blumenbachii) in one of the remaining lowland Atlantic Forest stronghold for this species. I have been working with ANU research team since September 2015 on a training program to develop a research project on the endangered forty-spotted pardalote (Pardalotus quadragintus). During my training I have also helped with field work on Swift parrots. Recently, I was awarded a PhD scholarship at the Research School of Biology to conduct my research on Forty-spotted pardalotes. My research on forty spotted pardalotes focusses on their landscape scale patterns of occupancy and abundance, plus fine scale aspects of their breeding success and parasite ecology.

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Adam Cisterne

Adam Cisterne

I graduated with a BSc (Hon) in microbiology, cell biology and genetics from the University of Sydney and worked for many years in cancer research. I have an enduring interest in ecology and evolution. In 2012-2014 I gained a Masters Degree from James Cook University, where my research compared behavioural responses of an invasive and a native sympatric gecko, to predator cues, and to direct competition between the species over resources.

I have joined the DBRG as a PhD candidate. I am initiating a new project studying the spatial ecology and conservation of the Tasmanian masked owl. Two key features of my research are the use of, conservation sniffer dog surveys to increase detection probabilities of this elusive bird, and GPS telemetry to estimate masked owl home range distributions and the landscape characteristics that affect them.        

 

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Giselle Owens

Giselle Owens

I am a PhD candidate studying the swift parrot and the ecological interactions contributing to population decline in the parrots breeding range. This research aims to address critical gaps in knowledge about the synergistic effects of threatening processes that currently impede effective recovery action of this critically endangered species.

I joined the DBRG in 2018 as an honours student investigating a potential nest predation deterrent for the swift parrot. I have since worked as a research tech on swift parrot nest monitoring, assisted on our teams numerous projects and species, and undertaken habitat modelling with ANU and government agencies. My research interests are broad across bird ecology and conservation with a particular focus on hollow-nesting species. 

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Mclean Cobden

McLean Cobden

I am a PhD candidate studying superb parrots, addressing critical knowledge gaps in the species’ ecology that prevent robust assessment of conservation status and possible management action. Incorporating GPS tracking data and measures of reproductive output, I hope to identify critical breeding, foraging, and wintering sites, and maximise conservation gains from broad-scale habitat and connectivity restoration efforts. I have a broad research interest in ecology, with a focus on using robust ecological science to inform the management of threatened species. Having completed a BSc (Hons) in environment science, and later a MSc with the DBRG, I have experience in a diverse range of systems and species. I’ve come to enjoy working on birds (in particular parrots) and continue to be motivated by the often complex and challenging questions associated with these species.

Daniel Gautschi

DANIEL GAUTSCHI

I am currently undertaking an PhD at the ANU, and will be contributing to the DBRG through my research on the Norfolk Island green parrot. For my Hons I focussed on the impact of predation on the regent honeyeater; exploring nest predator abundance, its predictors and its influence on nest success within the Capertee Valley, NSW. My research aims to increase understanding of nest predation to inform future management of the species. Prior to undertaking my honours I completed a Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Commerce at the ANU and worked for 18 months as a management consultant. I am particularly interested in behavioural ecology and its application to the conservation of vulnerable species.

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A very good boy

zorro

Zorro is a young border collie X springer spaniel, who’s in training to search for Tasmanian masked owl habitat.  Working with scientists at the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Detection Dogs for Conservation program, Zorro is learning how to search forests for tell-tale owl pellets, which will allow us to identify potential nesting and roosting habitat for these elusive owls.  Zorro belongs to DBRG’s Masters student Nicole Gill, who’s investigating the efficiency and accuracy of dogs in detecting Tasmanian masked owl pellets in different forest environments.  Zorro will be joined by one of the Detection Dogs for Conservation’s experienced detection dogs, and PhD student Adam Cistern will be comparing the dogs’ rates of masked owl habitat discovery to those of humans searching the same sites using audio playback techniques.  Unlike the humans, the dogs will be able to search during daylight hours, and are expected to be significantly faster and more accurate than ecologists working alone.

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Nicole Gill

Nicole gill

My background is in environmental management, with an invasive species focus.  I did my Honours degree at UTAS, looking at predicting factors for weeds on Tasmanian beaches, and since then, have worked as a botanist and invasive species management specialist both as an independent consultant and for various NGOs, private enterprises, local government bodies and State government departments. 

I’m currently doing my Masters with the Difficult Birds Research Group, looking at the efficacy of conservation dogs for the detection of Tasmanian masked owl habitat with my dog, Zorro, as well as some of the scientists and dogs from the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Detection Dogs for Conservation program.  I’m also an environmental writer – my work has featured in Good Weekend Magazine, The Monthly and The Guardian.  My children’s book, Animal Eco-Warriors, profiled a series of animal/human teams working to solve environmental problems, reflecting my interest in the area of harnessing skilled animals’ talents to obtain good conservation science outcomes.

Dr George Olah

GEORGE OLAH

I am a conservation biologist interested in evolutionary genetics and tropical ecology. I gained my MSc degree in Applied Zoology from the University of Veterinary Sciences in Budapest, Hungary. I obtained extensive field experience on psittacines in many Latin-American countries in the Neotropics. During my PhD at the Australian National University I became an expert in modern molecular genetics. Before and during my PhD research I worked years in the Peruvian Amazon with local communities and the eco-tourism industry. I recently produced a documentary movie about this work (www.macawmovie.com). My interest in genetic analyses and my endeavour to preserve biological diversity via well established conservation management found their common niche in conservation genetics and genomics.

Dr Laura Rayner

Dr Laura Rayner

I am a conservation ecologist studying population dynamics of species in modified landscapes. I am particularly interested in long-term monitoring for the development and evaluation of conservation interventions aimed at safeguarding threatened species and restoring temperate woodland. Within the DBRG, I contribute to the design and implementation of the National Regent Honeyeater Monitoring Program, and coordinate the Superb Parrot Conservation Research Project. I hold a Senior Ecologist position with the ACT Government where I focus my time gathering and interpreting applied scientific evidence to support conservation operators; including land managers, strategic planners, policy makers, recovery teams and local community groups.

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Stacey Taylor

Stacey Taylor

I am a Master’s candidate studying the patterns of occupancy of Gang-gang Cockatoos across the ACT. My research aims to fill critical knowledge gaps about this iconic, yet little understood cockatoo. I am also a Senior Conservation Planner with the ACT Government where I contribute to the development of high-level conservation strategies. I have a keen interest in applied ecology and have lived and worked in many remote locations across Australia facilitating collaborations between indigenous communities, ecological researchers and contemporary land managers.

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Dr Cat Young

dr Catherine Young

I am a behavioural ecologist, interested in breeding systems and the secret lives of birds. I completed a PhD at ANU with Dr Sarah Pryke, Prof Patricia Backwell and Prof Robert Heinsohn, investigating the social system of crimson finches in the east Kimberley region of Western Australia. My research has taken me to all corners of Australia, the UK and South Africa. I joined the DBRG in Tasmania in 2017 as an all-round research tech, helping mostly with fieldwork and data collection in Tasmania but also working with the Canberra based crew. Outside of the DBRG I collaborate with research groups based in Tasmania, NZ and Sydney.

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Liam Murphy

Liam Murphy

I am currently progressing through an undergraduate degree in environmental science (ecological conservation) part time at Charles Sturt University. While I complete my studies I have taken on a role as a research assistant with DBRG. I am primarily involved with fieldwork and data collection for the regent honeyeater research program. This includes undertaking seasonal range-wide surveys and habitat assessments, nest monitoring, installation of nest protection devices and monitoring cameras, and song recording. I also assist where required with various other projects including noisy miner impact studies, post-bushfire habitat assessments, King Island brown thornbill and scrubtit surveys, and the implementation of a new mainland swift parrot monitoring program in collaboration with BirdLife Australia. I have a keen interest in threatened woodland birds and hope to continue working on the conservation of our most endangered species.

Laura Bussolini

 
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Daniel Appleby

Carla Bruinsma

Carla Bruinsma

Laura Bussolini

I started my PhD with the DBRG in 2020 and am based in Hobart. My research will be focused around examining captive breeding programs as a tool for species conservation, with a particular emphasis on the Orange-bellied Parrot recovery efforts. I completed a BSc in Geography & Environmental Science in 2009 at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (USA), and in 2013 completed a MSc at the University of Otago (New Zealand) where I investigated phylogeographic structure in bull kelp populations across the Southern Ocean. My professional background is primarily in field biology, working on a number of projects focusing on the conservation of critically endangered species. I also have a strong background in captive animal husbandry, and have been employed with Tasmania's Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment since 2016 working directly with the OBP captive breeding program. I am interested in bridging the gap between scientific research and management, and hope to investigate practical research questions, tools, and techniques that could contribute directly translate to endangered species management and recovery actions.

 

DANIEL APPLEBY

I am a current PhD student in the DBRG based in Canberra. I graduated from the University of Adelaide with a BSc(hons) in Zoology, Evolution and Ecology, where I researched foraging behaviour in Australian golden whistlers, specifically how habitat use is partitioned between the sexes. I currently work on song-learning and socially learned behaviours of the Regent honeyeater with the aim of improving the fitness of captive birds for release into the wild. My research interests more broadly include animal cognition, behavioural ecology, the role of animal cultures in conservation. I also work as a research assistant in the DBRG exploring tool-use and drumming in Palm cockatoos.

 

Carla Bruinsma

I am an Hons student studying the distribution of forty-spotted pardalote habitat in Tasmania. After studying a Bachelor of Science with the University of Tasmania, I worked on several avian conservation projects and gained a strong interest in threatened species management. I have a particular interest in feral animal eradication, re-introduction ecology and land management. My research aims to validate the modeled distribution of Eucalyptus viminalis, the tree that the endangered forty-spotted pardalote depends upon for foraging. By gaining a better understanding of the quality and distribution of habitat throughout Tasmania, we aim to assess the viability of re-introducing the forty-spotted pardalote into its historical range.


ALUMNI

Dr Matthew H. Webb

Henry Cook

Janneke Voogdt

Dr Debbie Saunders

Ewan Dalladay

Dr Miles Keighley

Ben Oliver

Dr Christina Zdenek