Students and staff

Laboratory of Ornithology

Laboratory of Ornithology

Address: Jelgavas Street 1, LV-1004 Riga and o.Vācieša Street 4, LV 1004 Rīga

e-mail: ornlab@latnet.lv

Head of the laboratory: Dr. biol. Oskars Keišs oskars.keiss@lu.lv

Staff

The laboratory has 18 employees, incl. 6 doctors of biological sciences

  • Dr. biol. Martins Briedis - leading researcher
  • Dr. biol. Mara Janaus - leading researcher
  • Dr. biol. Maris Strazds - leading researcher
  • Dr. biol. Dmitrijs Boiko - researcher
  • Dr. biol. Viesturs Vintulis - researcher
  • Dr. biol. Aivars Mednis - emeritus, 
  • M. Sc. Antra Stīpniece - researcher
  • M. Sc. biol. Viesturs Vīgants (PhD student)
  • M. Sc. Donāts Spalis - research assistant
  • M. Sc. Arturs Laubergs - research assistant
  • M. Sc. Jānis Bētiņš - research assistant
  • B.Sc. Ivo Dinsbergs  - research assistant (master student)
  • M.Sc. Rasma Aupmane - laboratory assistant
  • Andris Stīpnieks - laboratory assistant
  • Toms Endzins - laboratory assistant
  • Zacmane Elza - laboratory assistant

The laboratory conducts research on various issues related to birds and their habitats, mainly population ecology and demography. The research takes place mainly in two areas:

1)  In a Latvian Long-Term Ecological Research Network (LTER) site  - the Engure Lake Nature Park, where the LU Jānis Vīksne Engure Lake Ornithological Research Center is located;
2) LU Jānis Baumanis Pape Ornithological Research Center in Rucava Parish (bird and bat migration research).

The main goal of the research is to explain the factors directly and indirectly influencing the changes in the number of birds, including anthropogenic influences, climate change, hunting, etc. At the same time, practical recommendations are being developed to prevent negative impacts and to preserve biodiversity.

Research directions

Dynamics of Latvian avifauna
Ecology of waterbird populations
Bird and bat migration and its influencing mechanisms
Protection of birds and their habitats
Measures to improve bird habitats

Current activities

The scientists of the laboratory carry out research projects related to the study of game waterfowl (nesting success and factors influencing it, introduction of artificial nesting sites, scale and impact of hunting, migratory geese conflict with agriculture), wintering waterfowl, seabirds, white stork, black stork, corncrake and various bats and detailed research on migratory birds. Research of carry over effects and energetic fitness with a model species - Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) in specially designed nest box plots (Lake Engure, Gulbene region, Limbaži region) is also being carried out, equipping birds with geolocators.

Laboratory scientists supervise master's and bachelor's theses of LU and LUA students.

The main achievements of scientific research work

  • An original ringing method for newly hatched ducklings has been developed, providing a wide range of possibilities in the study of migration and population demography of these birds. The method is widely used in many European countries and North America.
  • Methods have been developed for attracting hole-nesting birds to forest stands for pest prevention.
  • The bird population regulation patterns hav been revealed, the knowledge of which is important for the sustainable use, protection or control of populations.
  • Techniques have been developed to increase the carrying capacity of waterfowl nesting habitats.and waterfowl nesting success
  • Significantly enriched knowledge about bird and bat migrations.

Consultative activity

Development of recommendations for increasing the biological capacity of bird habitats. Assessment of the impact of economic activity on birds (their habitats). Consultations on various practical issues related to birds and their protection.

International cooperation

Field research bases

1. Engure Ornithological Research Center (Engure Parish, Bērzciems) - field research station, which includes a two-storey building on the shore, a floating base, boats for work on the lake, a 12 m observation tower on Lielrova Island, etc. It is the technical basis for all ornithological research carried out in Lake BI OL Engure since 1958, and in the last 20 years also for hydrobiological, botanical and entomological research, incl. with the participation of scientists from Germany, France, Finland, the USA, Sweden, the Netherlands, Ukraine, the Czech Republic and other countries.

2. Pape Ornithological Research Center (Pape, Rucava Parish) - a field research base with a large trap for catching birds and bats in Pape, as well as nets that provide for catching birds and bats for various studies, incl. for physiological and animal orientation experiments in field conditions. The research center actively cooperates with scientists from Germany, Finland and Switzerland.

The Ornithology Laboratory works in close cooperation with the Latvian Ringing Center

All issues related to bird and bat ringing are settled and a database is maintained in Latvia and in communication with foreign ringing centers. Phone: 67945393; e-mail: ring@latnet.lv

FOX A.D., STĪPNIECE, A. 2024. Interactions between stoneworts (Charales) and waterbirds. Biological Reviews. 99(2), pp. 390–408, doi: 10.1111/brv.13027

Briedis, M., Wong, J.B., Adamík, P., ... Porkert, J., Hahn, S. 2025. Seasonal variation in migration routes of Common Whitethroat Curruca communis. Journal of Ornithology, 166(1), 29–38, e9566

Jenni-Eiermann, S., Liechti, F., Briedis, M., Rime, Y., Jenni, L. 2024. Energy supply during nocturnal endurance flight of migrant birds: effect of energy stores and flight behaviour. Movement Ecology, 2024, 12(1), 41

Bell, F., Ouwehand, J., Both, C., ... Bearhop, S., Burgess, M. 2024. Individuals departing non-breeding areas early achieve earlier breeding and higher breeding success. Scientific Reports, 2024, 14(1), 4075

Rhyne, G.S., Stouffer, P.C., Briedis, M., Nussbaumer, R. 2024. Barometric geolocators can reveal unprecedented details about the migratory ecology of small birds | Los geolocalizadores barométricos pueden revelar detalles sin precedentes sobre la ecología migratoria de las aves pequeñas. Ornithology, 2024, 141(3), 141.

Briedis, M., Hahn, S., Bauer, S. 2024. Duration and variability of spring green-up mediate population consequences of climate change. . Ecology Letters, 2024, 27(2), e14380. 

Rimša, A., Schmid, R., Ilgaža, A., ... Keišs, O., Hahn, S. 2024. Haemosporidian parasites (Apicomplexa, Haemosporida) of breeding common starling Sturnus vulgaris in Latvia, Wildlife Biology, e01293 1-9.

JANAUS, M., DEKANTS, A. 2023.  Number of White Stork Ciconia ciconia  nests in Latvia between 1934 and 2014. Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of sciences. Section B, 77 (3/4) (744/745), 141-152. doi: 10.2478/prolas-2023-0022 https://sciendo.com/fr/article/10.2478/prolas-2023-0022

Häkkinen, H., Taylor, N.G., Pettorelli, N., Sutherland, W. J., Aldar, J., Anker-Nilssen, T., Aulert, C., van Bemmelen, R.S.A., Burnell, D., Cadiou, B., Stīpniece, A.... [et al.]. 2023. Co-developing guidance for conservation: An example for seabirds in the North-East Atlantic in the face of climate change impacts. Conservation Science and Practice Vol. 5, N 8 p.1-16. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12985 ,

MARCACCI, G., BRIEDIS, M., DIOP, N., DIALLO, A. Y., KEBEDE, F., JACOT, A. 2023. A roadmap integrating research, policy, and actions to conserve Afro-Palearctic migratory landbirds at a flyway scale. Conservation Letters, 16, e12933. doi: 10.1111/conl.12933

NUSSBAUMER, R., GRAVEY, M., BRIEDIS, M., LIECHTI, F. 2023. Global positioning with animal-borne pressure sensors. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 14, 1104–1117. doi: 10.1111/2041-210X.14043

NUSSBAUMER, R., GRAVEY, M., BRIEDIS, M., LIECHTI, F., SHELDON, D. (2023). Reconstructing bird trajectories from pressure and wind data using a highly optimized hidden Markov model. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 14, 1118–1129. doi: 10.1111/2041-210X.14082

DINSBERGS, I., KEIŠS, O., BRIEDIS, M., 2023. Spring phenology is advancing at a faster rate than arrival times of Common Starling. Journal of Ornithology, 164, 367–375 doi: 10.1007/s10336-022-02044-6

VĪGANTS, V., KEIŠS, O., DINSBERGS, I., JAUNZEMIS, V., ZACMANE, E.M., PRIEDNIECE, A., BRIEDIS, M., 2023. Migration strategies, performance and annual activity budget in a short-distance migrant, the common starling Sturnus vulgaris. Journal of Avian Biology, 2023: e03080. doi: 10.1111/jav.03080

ADAMÍK, P., BUREŠ, S., HAHN, S., OATLEY, G., BRIEDIS, M., 2023. Timing of migration and African non-breeding grounds of geolocator-tracked European Pied Flycatchers: a multi-population assessment. Journal of Ornithology, 164, 875–886. doi: 10.1007/s10336-023-02081-9

RIME, Y., NUSSBAUMER, R., BRIEDIS, M. et al. 2023. Multi-sensor geolocators unveil global and local movements in an Alpine-breeding long-distance migrant. Movement Ecology 11, 19. doi.org/10.1186/s40462-023-00381-6

GAGET, E., JOHNSTON, A., PAVÓN-JORDÁN, D., LEHIKOINEN A.S., SANDERCOCK, B.K., SOULTAN, A., BOŽIČ, L., CLAUSEN, P., DEVOS, K., DOMSA, K., STĪPNIECE, A. ... [et al.] 2022. Protected area characteristics that help waterbirds respond to climate warming. Conservation Biology Vol. 36, N 4. Article number e13877. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13877 , URL: https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cobi.13877 ISSN 1523-1739

BELL, F., BEARHOP, S., BRIEDIS, M., EL HAROUCHI, M., BELL, S. C., CASTELLO, J., & BURGESS, M. 2022. Geolocators reveal variation and sex‐specific differences in the migratory strategies of a long‐distance migrant. Ibis 164: 451-467.

MARCACCI, G., BRIEDIS, M., DIOP, N., DIALLO, A. Y., KEBEDE, F., & JACOT, A. 2022. A roadmap integrating research, policy, and actions to conserve Afro‐Palearctic migratory landbirds at a flyway scale. Conservation Letters, e12933.

PRAKASH, E. A., HROMÁDKOVÁ, T., JABIR, T., VIPINDAS, P. V., KRISHNAN, K. P., HATHA, A. M., & BRIEDIS, M. 2022. Dissemination of multidrug resistant bacteria to the polar environment-Role of the longest migratory bird Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea). Science of The Total Environment, 815, 152727.

LISOVSKI, S., NEUMANN, R., ALBRECHT, T., MUNCLINGER, P., AHOLA, M. P., BAUER, S., CEPAK J., ….. STACH, R., STRÖM, K., VELMALA, W. & BRIEDIS, M. 2021. The Indo‐European flyway: Opportunities and constraints reflected by Common Rosefinches breeding across Europe. Journal of Biogeography, 48(6), 1255-1266. DOI:10.1111/ibi.13017

D LISOVSKI, S., NEUMANN, R., ALBRECHT, T., MUNCLINGER, P., AHOLA, M. P., BAUER, S., CEPAK J., FRANSSON, T., JAKOBSSON, S., JAAKKONEN T., KLVANA, P., KULLBERG, C., LAAKSONEN, T., METZGER, B., PIHA, M., SHURULINKOV, P., STACH, R., STRÖM, K., VELMALA, W. & BRIEDIS, M. (2021). Data from: The Indo-European Flyway: opportunities and constraints reflected by common rosefinches breeding across Europe. Movebank Data Repository. DOI: 10.5441/001/1.034jj41h

PRAKASH, E. A., HROMÁDKOVÁ, T., JABIR, T., VIPINDAS, P. V., KRISHNAN, K. P., HATHA, A. M., & BRIEDIS, M. 2021. Dissemination of multidrug resistant bacteria to the polar environment-Role of the longest migratory bird Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea). Science of The Total Environment, 152727. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152727

ĆIKOVIĆ, D., BARIŠIĆ, S., HAHN, S., TUTIŠ, V., KRALJ, J., & BRIEDIS, M. 2021. Tracking migration of black‐headed buntings Emberiza melanocephala reveals the Iranian Plateau as an ecological barrier along the Indo‐European flyway. Journal of Avian Biology. DOI: 10.1111/jav.02783

HAHN, S., BRIEDIS, M., BARBOUTIS, C., SCHMID, R., SCHULZE, M., SEIFERT, N., SZÉP, T. & EMMENEGGER, T. 2021. Spatially different annual cycles but similar haemosporidian infections in distant populations of collared sand martins. BMC Zoology, 6(1), 1-11. DOI:10.1186/s40850-021-00071-z

KRIST, M., MUNCLINGER, P., BRIEDIS, M., & ADAMÍK, P. 2021. The genetic regulation of avian migration timing: combining candidate genes and quantitative genetic approaches in a long-distance migrant. Oecologia, 1-15. DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-04930-x

BELL, F., BEARHOP, S., BRIEDIS, M., EL HAROUCHI, M., BELL, S. C., CASTELLO, J., & BURGESS, M. (2021). Geolocators reveal variation and sex‐specific differences in the migratory strategies of a long‐distance migrant. Ibis. DOI: 10.1111/ibi.13017

ALCALDE, J. T., JIMÉNEZ, M., BRILA, I., VINTULIS, V., VOIGT, C. C., & PĒTERSONS, G. 2021. Transcontinental 2200 km migration of a Nathusius’ pipistrelle (Pipistrellus nathusii) across Europe. Mammalia, 85(2): 161-163. DOI: 10.1515/mammalia-2020-0069.

HROMADKOVA T., PAVEL V., FLOUSEK J., BRIEDIS M., 2020. Seasonally specific responses to wind patterns and ocean productivity facilitate the longest animal migration on Earth. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 638, pp 1-12.

LINDECKE O., ELKSNE A., HOLLAND RA., PĒTERSONS G., VOIGT CC. (2019): Experienced migratory bats integrate the sun’s position at dusk for navigation at night. CURR BIOL 29, 1369-1373.

LINDECKE O., ELKSNE A., HOLLAND RA., PĒTERSONS G., VOIGT CC. (2019): Orientation and flight behaviour identify the Soprano pipistrelle as a migratory species at the Baltic Sea coast. J ZOOL, 308, 56-65.

FOX, AD., DALBY, L., CRISTENSEN, TK., NAGY,S., BALSBY, TJS., CROWE, O., CLAUSEN, P., DECEUNICK, B., DEVOS, K., HOLT, CA., HOMMAN, M., KELLER, V., LANGENDOEN, T., LEHIKOINEN, A., LORNTSEN, SH., MOLINA, B., NILSSON, L., STIPNIECE, A., SVENNING, FRAIXEDAS, S., LINDEN, A., MELLER, K., LINDSTRÖM, A., KEIŠS, O., KALAS, J.A., HUSBY, M., LEIVITS, M. and LEHIKOINEN, A., 2017. Substantial decline of Northern European peatland bird populations: Conequences of drainage. Biological Conservation, 214, pp. 223-232.

BRIEDIS, M. and KEIŠS, O. 2016. Extracting historical population trends using archival ringing data—an example: the globally threatened Aquatic Warbler. Journal of Ornithology 157 (2): 419-425.

CERA, I. and KEIŠS, O., 2016. Spider species new to the fauna of Latvia and new localities for Gnaphosa lapponum and G. nigerrima (Araneae: Gnaphosidae). Latvijas Entomologs, 53, pp. 122-124.

FOX, A.D., CAIZERGUES, A., BANIK, M.V., DEVOS, K., DVORAK, M.,
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FOURCADE, Y., RICHARDSON, D.S., KEIŠS, O., BUDKA, M., GREEN, R.E., FOKIN, S. and SECONDI, J., 2016. Corncrake conservation genetics at a European scale: The impact of biogeographical and anthropological processes. Biological Conservation, 198, pp. 210-219.

JC., and WAHL, J., 2016. Seeking explanations for recent changes in abundance of wintering Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope) in northwest Europe. Ornis fennica, 93(1), pp. 12-25.

KOFFIJBERG, K., HALLMAN, C., KEIŠS, O. and SCHÄFFER, N., 2016. Recent population status and trends of Corncrakes Crex crex in Europe. Vogelwelt, 136, pp. 75-87.

KONOVALOV, A., KALDMA, K., BOKOTEY, A., BROSSAUT, P., CHAPLAIN, F., DMITRENOK, M., DZYBENKO, N., VÄLI, Ü., STRAZDS, M. and STERNA, L., 2015. Spatio-temporal variation in nestling sex ratio among the Black Stork Ciconia nigra populations across Europe. Journal of Ornitology, 156(2), pp. 381-387.

KAZARINA, A., JAPIŅA, K., KEIŠS, O., SALMANE, I., BANDERE, D., CAPLIGINA, V. and RANKA, R., 2015. Detection of tick-borne encephalitis virus in I. ricinus ticks collected from autumn migratory birds in Latvia. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 6(2), pp. 178-180.

PAVOL-JORDAN, D., FOX, A. D., CLAUSEN, P., DAGYS,  M., DECEUNICK, B., DEVOS, K., HREARN, R.D., HOLT, C.A., HORNMAN, M., KELLER, V., LAGENDOEN, T., LAWICKI, L., LORENSTEN, S. H., LUIGUJOE, L., MEISSNER, W., MUSIL, P., NILSSON, L., PAQET, J. Y., STĪPNIECE, A., STROUD, D. A.,  WAHL, J., ZENATELLO, M., LEHIKOINEN, A., 2015. Climate-driven changes in winter abundance of a migratory waterbird in relation to EU protected areas. Diversity and Distrubitions, 21(5) pp.571-582. DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12300

STRAZDS, M., BAUER, H. G., VÄLI, Ü., KUKĀRE, A. and BARTKEVIČS, V., 2015. Recent impact of DDT contamination on Black Stork eggs. Journal of Ornithology, 1-12., DOI 10.1007/s10336-015-1244-z

CAPLIGINA, V., SALMANE, I., KEIŠS, O., VILKS, K., JAPINA, K., BAUMANIS, V. and RANKA, R., 2014. Prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in ticks collected from migratory birds in Latvia. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 5(1), pp. 75-81.

FOURCADE, Y., KEIŠS, O., RICHARDSON, D.S. and SECONDI, J., 2014. Continental-scale patterns of pathogen prevalence: A case study on the corncrake. Evolutionary Applications, 7(9), pp. 1043-1055.

KRÜGER, F., CLARE, E.L., SYMONDSON, W.O.C., KEIŠS, O. and PETERSONS, G., 2014. Diet of the insectivorous bat Pipistrellus nathusii during autumn migration and summer residence. Molecular ecology, 23(15), pp. 3672-3683.

DUESER, R.D. MONCIERIEF, N.D. KEIŠS, O., MARTIN, J.D. PORTER, J.H.and TRUITT, B.R. (2013) Overwater Movement of Raccoons (Procyon lotor) in a Naturally Fragmented Coastal Landscape.  Northeastern Naturalist, 20(3), pp. 511–528.

VOIGT, C.C., SöRGEL, K., ŠUBA, J., KEIŠS, O. and PĒTERSONS, G. (2012) The insectivorous bat Pipistrellus nathusii uses a mixed-fuel strategy to power autumn migration.  Royal Society ProceedingsB, 279(1743), pp 3772-3778.

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