iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Claire Branston @clairebranston.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Looking forward to joining @rspbnorthayrshire.bsky.social on Friday 11th Sept to discuss what we've learnt from six years of monitoring at the @scotwildlife.bsky.social Gailes Marsh artificial sand martin bank. Details below. Monitoring gives us views like this. Such a privilege and a joy!

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Claire Branston @clairebranston.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

I’m excited to share our new paper in Ecology! Our 9‑year study across an urban–rural gradient shows native trees, especially oaks, boost blue tit breeding success. More native foliage supports more of the birds preferred prey and improves reproductive success. 📃 doi.org/10.1002/ecy.... #ornithology

doi.org

Native trees are related to advanced bird breeding phenology and increased reproductive success along an urban gradient

Urban areas are altered from natural landscapes in several ways that can impact wildlife. Birds are widespread in urban areas, and it is well documented that there are phenotypic differences between ...

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Reposted by Claire Branston

Joanna Bagniewska @joannabagniewska.com · 17/12/2025

Great talk from @clairebranston.bsky.social at #BES2025, with a Glasgow urban gradient setup similar to that of @mszulkin.bsky.social in Warsaw. Earlier egg laying with greater oak availability. 🧪

Conference talk with a slide showing an urban gradient of nest boxes for blue tits.

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Claire Branston @clairebranston.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

I'm looking forward to #BES2025 & hearing about lots of exciting science! I'm kicking things off with the inlabru workshop, before presenting my research on Wednesdsy. If you're interested in urban ecology, phenology, passive acoustic monitoring, bats or birds, please come and say hello! 👋

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Claire Branston @clairebranston.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

Huge congratulations to @jayofthetriffids.bsky.social & Pat White for all their hard work getting this fab MSc course accredited by @cieem.bsky.social Fancy joining us @edinburghnapier.bsky.social? Take a look at the posts below for more course info & how to apply. Any questions, please ask!

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Claire Branston @clairebranston.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

Do you have 10 minutes to help an @edinburghnapier.bsky.social MSc student complete her final research project? Please consider letting us know your opinions towards herring gulls, by completing this short questionnaire tinyurl.com/tfntmfbk Thank you!

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Claire Branston @clairebranston.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

A break in the unpredictable Scottish weather let us visit Lady Isle yesterday, where I helped the team with long term monitoring of the gull colonies on the island. Lots of chicks now metal and colour ringed (under licence). Look out for them and report any you spot to cr-birding.org!

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Claire Branston @clairebranston.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

A fantastic day on Inchkeith yesterday helping out with ringing shag chicks for a long term study. If you're out along the east coast of Scotland, keep your eyes peeled for colour ringed shag & report all sightings to @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social. All monitoring and handling was done under licence.

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Claire Branston @clairebranston.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

What a cracking start to the @edinburghnapier.bsky.social MSc Wildlife Biology & Conservation field tour. Today we were at St. Abbs NTS reserve learning about their seabird monitoring, seals & reserve management! Thanks to all the reserve staff for their knowledge and enthusiasm, it was infectious!

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Claire Branston @clairebranston.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

A gorgeous day in the Trossachs, with a soundtrack of wood warbler, willow warbler and garden warbler a plenty. Lots of robins and chaffinches, with beaks full of invertebrates, busy feeding their young. I love this time of year!

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Claire Branston @clairebranston.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

A great day in the field with @edinburghnapier.bsky.social MSc Wildlife Biology & Conservation students who were carrying out BBS & WeBS surveys. We were also treated to a tour of the @scotwildlife.bsky.social Bawsinch & Duddingston reserve! A fab intro to my new job at ENU!

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Reposted by Claire Branston

British Ornithologists’ Union (BOU) @bou.org.uk · 25/03/2025

LOOKING BACK in IBIS The phenology and clutch size of UK Blue Tits does not differ with woodland composition | onlinelibrary.wiley.... Claire J. Branston, Mark J. Whittingham, Albert B. Phillimore, Dave Leech, Stephen G. Willis | #ornithology 🪶

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Claire Branston @clairebranston.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

This weekend I was invited to talk at the @btobirds.bsky.social NE Ringers Conference about the @scotwildlife.bsky.social Gailes Marsh sand martin bank. A great set of talks and a chance to catch up with old friends was rounded off by beautiful sunshine and hearing my first chiffchaff of spring.

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Claire Branston @clairebranston.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

A nice morning to be out counting gulls for the monthly Glasgow Gull Count across the city. First time counting at the Science Centre @glasgowscience.bsky.social for me and the gulls were very obliging! Nice to see some common gulls in the mix #ornithology

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Reposted by Claire Branston

UWS @uniwestscotland.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science! 👩‍🔬 In our latest #LifeAtUWS blog, Anna is sharing what a day in the life of an Applied Bioscience and Zoology student looks like. 👀 www.uws.ac.uk/university-life/blog/a-day-in-the-life-of-an-applied-bioscience-and-zoology-student-at-uws

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Claire Branston @clairebranston.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

If you're a final year zoologist @uniwestscotland.bsky.social (or anywhere else in the UK!) make sure to have your say! The National Student Survey is now open. Let us know what you've enjoyed about your time at UWS, and what we could improve on.

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Reposted by Claire Branston

British Ornithologists’ Union (BOU) @bou.org.uk · 06/12/2024

🔈 ANNOUNCING! BOU Summer Placement Scheme Financially supporting undergraduate students to carry out summer #ornithology research placements Applications open Jan 2025 More details: bou.org.uk/funding/s... 🪶

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Claire Branston @clairebranston.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

It was fantastic to be involved with The NERD Club's first meeting. It was lovely to meet such an enthusiastic bunch of young people and introduce them to @btobirds.bsky.social bird ringing. If you know of any young person who would like to join the group, please contact @kat-jones.bsky.social!

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Claire Branston @clairebranston.bsky.social · 11/11/2024

Thanks to all the organisers of the @btobirds.bsky.social Scottish Ringers Conference for a really exciting and inclusive conference! Thanks for inviting me to present my work! It was lovely to catch up with both old and new friends! I'm already looking forward to next year!

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