iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Dr Jenny Dunn

Dr Simon Goodman @phoca-sapiens.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Just out: Supplementary feeding of wild birds on farmland can be an important transmission risk for severe avian parasites such as Trichomonas gallinae, suggesting a rethink is needed on how this conservation practice is managed 🪱🧪🌍🐦 doi.org/10.1111/mec.... @molecology.bsky.social

doi.org

Multiple Strains of <fi>Trichomonas gallinae</fi> are Widespread in Reservoir Hosts and Environmental Resources in <fc>UK</fc> Farmland

Understanding transmission routes of parasites and pathogens is critical for the development of control measures and mitigation of impacts on host populations. Trichomonas gallinae is a widespread pa...

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Dr Jenny Dunn @jennycdunn.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Great to listen to fascinating talks from three of our @wimanet.bsky.social working group leads today, at the first day of the VII International Conference on malaria and other blood parasites of wildlife 🦠 🔬 🐦

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Dr Jenny Dunn @jennycdunn.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Excited to be at the opening of the Malaria and One Health exhibition this evening @wimanet.bsky.social

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Dr Jenny Dunn @jennycdunn.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Very practical conference bag contents here in Badajoz - even with the @wimanet.bsky.social logo!!

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Dr Jenny Dunn @jennycdunn.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Quick birding detour on my way to the first day of the @wimanet.bsky.social phylogenomics pre-conference workshop #badajoz

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Dr Jenny Dunn @jennycdunn.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

And in stark contrast to yesterday’s UK train escapades, I have received an email apologising that my Spanish train is running 1 minute late 😳😂

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Dr Jenny Dunn @jennycdunn.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Trying to recall the last time I took a train in the UK and wasn’t subsequently eligible for a full refund due to delays 🤔. Safe to say, it’s been a while… but looking forward to @wimanet.science events in Spain over the next fortnight 😊. Thankfully, I fly tomorrow ✈️

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Reposted by Dr Jenny Dunn

Barbara Tschirren @btschirren.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

🌟🌟 Postdoc position in Disease Ecology & Nature-Based Solutions 🌟🌟 We are looking for a creative and highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to join the UKRI @netpositivecentre.bsky.social and the @uniexecec.bsky.social in beautiful Cornwall, UK. careers.exeter.ac.uk/vacancies/11... 🦠🌳🏙️🌍🗺️🐝 🦌🕷️

careers.exeter.ac.uk

Postdoctoral Research Associate / Fellow in Cornwall | University of Exeter

View details and apply for this Postdoctoral Research Associate / Fellow vacancy in Cornwall. Postdoctoral Research Associate / Fellow This UKRI funded full-time post is available from 01/1...

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Reposted by Dr Jenny Dunn

Will Smith @willjsmith.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

St Kilda Wrens weigh ~14g (large birds >16g!). 7-11g is usual for mainland GB/continental Wrens. So this subspecies can weigh the same as some Great Tits or Blackcaps. GINORMOUS! Congrats @jezierskimt.bsky.social on the paper! #ornithology doi.org/10.1093/evol...

Mean body mass of St Kilda and Great Britain Wrens.

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Reposted by Dr Jenny Dunn

Michał Jezierski @jezierskimt.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Our (Jenny Dunn, Carolina Chagas, @willjsmith.bsky.social) paper on the evolution of island Wrens is finally out @evojlinnsoc.bsky.social! We describe the evolution of island gigantism in the St Kilda and Shetland subspecies. academic.oup.com/evolinnean/a...

St Kilda Wren perched on a lichen-covered rock, part of a dry stone wall on Hirta, St Kilda.

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Reposted by Dr Jenny Dunn

British Ornithologists’ Union (BOU) @bou.org.uk · 01/05/2026

🔊 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS OPEN #BOU2027 | 6-8 April 2027 | Nottingham, UK & Zoom & Bluesky Avian disease ecology: combining avian ecology and OneHealth to understand and mitigate disease Keynote line-up ⬇️ Submit your talk, poster or Bluesky abstract now! bou.org.uk/event/avi... #ornithology 🪶

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Reposted by Dr Jenny Dunn

WiMaNet @wimanet.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

As Chair, she sees the network as a unique opportunity to bring people together and foster meaningful scientific exchange 🌍 She highlights the importance of having conversations in person 🤝 and emphasises the value of providing funding opportunities for younger researchers 💶🧑‍🎓

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Reposted by Dr Jenny Dunn

WiMaNet @wimanet.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Workshops and Short-Term Scientific Missions enable training, mobility, and the development of new skills, promoting collaborations that inspire and sustain continued research on wildlife malaria. Check the last interview here 👉 www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd53...

youtube.com

Meet WIMANET members - Jenny Dunn (Chair of WIMANET)

YouTube video by WIMANET.science

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Reposted by Dr Jenny Dunn

WiMaNet @wimanet.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Dr. @jennycdunn.bsky.social research at Keele University (UK) focuses on avian haemosporidian parasites 🦠, with particular emphasis on parasite diversity, host–parasite coevolution📊, and the impacts of infection on hosts 🐦🕊️🐦‍⬛

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WiMaNet @wimanet.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Meet #MisaShimizu from Japan, a 2º year PhD student at the Nature Research Centre in Lithuania studying avian haemosporidian parasites from The Gambia 🌍. She uses both microscopy 🔬& molecular 🧬 techniques to study parasite diversity and host–parasite relationships, focusing on Haemoproteus species 🦠

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WiMaNet @wimanet.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

📆❗REMINDER! You have until the 16th of April to apply for reimbursement for any of the three events of #WiMaNet: 1️⃣The pre-conference summer school: bsky.app/profile/wima... 2️⃣ The conference: bsky.app/profile/wima... 3️⃣ The summer school: bsky.app/profile/wima...

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Reposted by Dr Jenny Dunn

WiMaNet @wimanet.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

📰📢 We have now opened a call for funding for the following three events, taking place in Spain during August/September. Take notes! 📝

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Reposted by Dr Jenny Dunn

WiMaNet @wimanet.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

1️⃣ Phylogenomics summer school, 31st August - 1st September, Badajoz. 🌐 The training school will consist of three days of lectures and practical activities designed to introduce students to phylogenomics analysis 💻

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Reposted by Dr Jenny Dunn

WiMaNet @wimanet.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

3️⃣ 3rd WIMANET summer school, 7th - 11th September, Doñana, Spain. It will consist of five days of lectures and practical activities designed to introduce students to a broad range of research activities and skills related to vector capture and identification, and bioinformatics analysis 🦟🧬👩‍💻

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Reposted by Dr Jenny Dunn

Mongabay @mongabay.com · 28/03/2026

Critically endangered hooded vultures are being driven to extinction in Benin. Recent research found 522 birds for sale across nine markets, fueled by belief-based demand. With populations down by up to 96%, experts are calling for urgent law enforcement to stop this illegal trade. Learn more 👇️

mongabay.cc

‘Staggering’ trade for belief-based use drives hooded vultures to near-extinction in Benin

The hooded vulture, a small, scruffy-looking raptor native to sub-Saharan Africa, gets its name from a patch of beige feathers on its head: It appears to be wearing a hood. Unlike other vulture…

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Reposted by Dr Jenny Dunn

wildlifecongress26.bsky.social @wildlifecongress26.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

📢 Announcement: We are delighted to announce the VII International Congress on Malaria and Other Blood Parasites of Wildlife, taking place in Badajoz, Spain, from September 2-5, 2026.

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WiMaNet @wimanet.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

We invited you to ⏯, stay 3 minutes with us and know more about his work! 👇 youtu.be/YozYP_ZeeN0?...

youtu.be

Meet WIMANET members - Dr. Josué Martínez de la Puente (WG3 Leader)

YouTube video by WIMANET.science

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Reposted by Dr Jenny Dunn

WiMaNet @wimanet.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

In this interview, Vaidas highlights that his main motivation for joining WIMANET was to build connections ↔️ and to have a platform to share his experience with the new generation of researchers 🤝. Press ▶️ and know more about him: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyQN...

youtube.com

Meet WIMANET members - Dr. Vaidas Palinauskas

YouTube video by WIMANET.science

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Dr Jenny Dunn @jennycdunn.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

I’ve definitely had worse views from the office! Long-tailed glossy starling, plantain eater and broad-billed roller (host to a new Leucocytoon lineage) added bonus/distractions 😁

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Dr Jenny Dunn @jennycdunn.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

After a thoroughly surreal day involving mild car peril, (temporary) police detention of samples, and a broken plane, I find myself still in the Gambia, still with a fabulous group of people looking forward to exploring the gardens in this 5-star resort tomorrow morning!

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Reposted by Dr Jenny Dunn

Dr Jenny Dunn @jennycdunn.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Absolutely magical on the Gambian beach at night, optimistically trying to catch storm petrels, enjoying the stars, and bioluminescent plankton in the waves

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Dr Jenny Dunn @jennycdunn.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Absolutely magical on the Gambian beach at night, optimistically trying to catch storm petrels, enjoying the stars, and bioluminescent plankton in the waves

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Reposted by Dr Jenny Dunn

WiMaNet @wimanet.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

If you want to know more about what we do and hear about the ecology of wildlife malaria in a changing world, join us in the symposium at #ICOPA2026 in Montréal. See you in 6 months! :)

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Dr Jenny Dunn @jennycdunn.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

I’m still astounded by the diversity of birds in the Gambia - we have samples from well over 200 bird species as part of our blood parasite project, and we’re still catching new species daily! So far today, four new species, including two of these beautiful Abyssinian rollers. Photo by Richard Geary

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Reposted by Dr Jenny Dunn

Keith McMahon @mcmahok.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

We are hiring at the Wytham Woods for the upcoming field season. 4 roles available. Please share with anyone who might be interested. #UKbirds #birdringing

We are seeking to appoint four full-time field assistants to work on the Wytham Tit Project for 4-8 weeks in spring 2026.
Two 8-week field assistants will join the nest monitoring team; duties for these posts will include (i) collecting standardised data from nest-box breeding populations of blue and great tits, (ii) catching and ringing parent birds, (iii) ringing nestlings, and (iv) inputting data collected in the field. These positions with run from approximately Tuesday 7th April to Monday 1st June. Successful candidates for these positions must have (or be qualified to obtain) a BTO permit to ring adult great tits and blue tits.
A further two field assistants will be hired to support a project collecting behavioural (foraging) data for great tits breeding in the Wytham population. These roles will involve a significant amount of nightwork. Duties will include (i) setting up and calibrating electronic tracking equipment and nest box cameras in the field, (ii) mapping tracking equipment locations using GPS, (iii) helping with catching and ringing parent birds and fitting tracking devices, (iv) assisting with mistnetting to re-trap tagged parents, and (v) inputting data collected in the field. These positions with be approximately 7 and 4 weeks in duration, starting from 13th April and 4th May, respectively. Possession of a BTO ringing permit with misnet endorsement and driving license are highly desirable for these roles.
All fieldwork will take place in Wytham Woods, near Oxford. All Successful candidates must be able to demonstrate skill and enthusiasm for biological research as well as experience of fieldwork under arduous conditions, and both lone work and working as part of a team. Due to the short-term nature of these posts, successsful applicants must already have the right to work in the UK. Salary & Accommodation: Field assistants will be paid at grade 5.2 (£17.37/hour). Contact eleanor.cole@Biology.ox.ac.uk

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Reposted by Dr Jenny Dunn

lincolnshirelive.co.uk @lincolnshirelive.co.uk · 13/01/2026

The Lincoln Swan Project says it is actively monitoring reports of swan deaths around Lincoln

lincolnshirelive.co.uk

Bird flu outbreak in Lincoln swan population for first time

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Reposted by Dr Jenny Dunn

The Lincoln Swan Project @lincolnswans.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

Happy New Year from the Lincoln Swan Project! Thank you to all our fantastic data collectors who submitted an astounding 918 sightings of individually ringed birds in 2025, giving us fascinating insights. Please carry on submitting your sightings or sign up (link in bio). Big plans for 2026!

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Reposted by Dr Jenny Dunn

The Cheshire Swan Project @cheshireswans.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

Happy New Year from the Cheshire Swan Project! Thank you to everyone who has submitted their sightings through the App - we received an astounding 3,344 sightings of 155 individual swans during 2025! Please carry on submitting your sightings or sign up (link in bio). Big plans for 2026!

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Dr Jenny Dunn @jennycdunn.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

Excited to be part of our @wimanet.bsky.social symposium at ICOPA in August! icopa2026.org #ICOPA2026

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Dr Jenny Dunn @jennycdunn.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

Well, that was different. Google search for starling, pressed a button looking like two birds in flight and the words took off and started flying around the page... well played, google, well played.

Pictures of starlings with the words describing them randomly distributed around the page

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Reposted by Dr Jenny Dunn

Dr Jenny Dunn @jennycdunn.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

New paper! Congratulations to PhD student Misa Shimizu on her first PhD paper: "Review of Genetic Information of Morphologically Described Haemoproteus Parasites Recorded in GenBank and MalAvi Databases" More data needed from non-passerine birds!! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Review of Genetic Information of Morphologically Described Haemoproteus Parasites Recorded in GenBank and MalAvi Databases

This study shows the host specificity of Haemoproteus parasites, with most lineages detected in Passeriformes and Columbiformes. Global distribution patterns show a bias toward Europe and South Ameri...

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Dr Jenny Dunn @jennycdunn.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Review of Genetic Information of Morphologically Described Haemoproteus Parasites Recorded in GenBank and MalAvi Databases

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Dr Jenny Dunn @jennycdunn.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

Good grief. 39 pages of email correspondence, dated from March, about CITES import permits. Several assurances that I will have permits to take with me. Then that they will be with border force waiting for me. Now on a train to the airport and they need more information that I cannot get in time.

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The Lincoln Swan Project @lincolnswans.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

Unfortunately there is no treatment for affected birds. Some do recover, but sick birds should not be moved due to risk of disease spread. Rescues cannot take any birds with suspected avian influenza. Reporting to help us track and understand the spread of the disease is the best way to help. 🦢

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Dr Jenny Dunn @jennycdunn.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

Sadly, the same also goes for Mute Swans, with mortality now reported from both @lincolnswans.bsky.social and @cheshireswans.bsky.social. If you feel comfortable to do so, please do check for rings and report them. This provides invaluable data for wildlife disease research.

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Dr Jenny Dunn @jennycdunn.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

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Kane Brides 🦆 @kanebrides.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

We're now starting to get reports of dead Whooper Swans with rings. If you find a dead bird & feel comfortable doing so - check for rings using the below @btobirds.bsky.social advice 👇🏻 Collecting information on ringed birds helps better understand the impact on different age groups.

Ring on a dead Whooper Swan. Photo by David Tough

Advice from BTO on checking a dead bird for rings

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