The RSPB supports and supervises a wide range of MSc projects each year. If you are interested in any of the projects below and you are already enrolled on an MSc course at a university, send an e-mail with “MSc project” as the subject to the project coordinator listed in the advert.
Woodland expansion in the presence of deer
At RSPB Abernethy in the Scottish Highlands, native woodland expansion is a core aim. Tracking the success of this relies on regular field surveys. This project offers a chance to monitor the effect of recent elevated deer control on woodland expansion, as part of the Cairngorms Connect Partnership.
Supervisor: Pip Gullett
Timescale: May - September 2024 (fieldwork June-August ideally)
Location: RSPB Abernethy, Scottish Highlands
Closing date: 01-Feb-24
For more information, please see the project brief 7725.1781.7875.8304.6076.3107.Woodland expansion in the presence of deer.pdf.
Habitat use of wintering Wood Warblers in Ghana
Analysis of data obtained from the tracking of 9 Wood Warblers Phylloscopus sibilatrix to identify tree and habitat preferences on the wintering grounds at a cocoa-dominated site in the forest zone in Ghana.
Supervisor: John Mallord and Alison Beresford
Timescale: End of 2024
Location: Home-based / University
Closing date: Till position filled
For more information, please see the project brief 4338.8463.4760.7206.7181.5672.Habitat use of wintering Wood Warblers in Ghana.pdf
Quantifying wildfowl grazing on saltmarsh
Grazing by livestock and wildfowl determines saltmarsh habitat condition. Saltmarsh conservation efforts focus on optimising livestock grazing while wildfowl grazing is often overlooked. This project seeks to quantify likely wildfowl grazing pressures on UK saltmarshes using national wildfowl abundance data.
Supervisor: Lucy Mason
For more information, please see the project brief 6038.6180.0815.0246.1488.6557.Quantifying wildfowl grazing on saltmarsh.pdf
Ring ouzel breeding site suitability
There is limited information on the habitat features characterising the suitability of breeding sites for Ring ouzels within the UK. As part of ongoing habitat manipulation trials, this project will collect new field data to identify which features distinguish between occupied and unoccupied territories across two reserves in northern England.
Supervisor: Nick Wilkinson
Timescale: April-July inclusive
Location: Dove Stone (Peak District) and Geltsdale (North Pennines) RSPB reserves
Closing date: 31-Jan-24
For more information, please see the project brief 1106.8156.1803.3660.7711.8623.Ring ouzel breeding site suitability.pdf
Analysing 30 years of vegetation monitoring data
We want to repeat historic surveys and analyse the data to understand the impacts of different grazing regimes on upland vegetation.
Supervisor: Ian Johnstone
Timescale: Summer field work, potentially some flexibility to fit around student's availability
Location: Lake Vyrnwy
For more information, please see the project brief 2158.3757.7607.1643.6470.3681.Analysing 30 years of vegetation monitoring data .pdf
Annual variation in Pheasant abundance
The student will undertake fieldwork to understand the annual variation in Pheasant abundance and behaviour in mid-Wales
Supervisor: Michael MacDonald
Timescale: Flexibility around field work depending on student availability
Location: mid-Wales
For more information, please see the project brief 2677.5008.5670.7446.6237.8836.Annual variation in Pheasant abundance.pdf
Predictors of fox abundance
We are interested in using existing data, and fresh field data collection to determine the predictors of fox abundance in Wales.
Timescale: Spring and summer field work, but some flexibility about other times of year
Location: RSPB reserves - Lake Vyrnwy and Tan Rallt
For more information, please see the project brief 7002.8877.2018.0247.8132.7711.Predictors of fox abundance .pdf
Understanding Willow Tit habitat in Wales
We are interested in understanding what habitat variables predict Willow Tit presence and abundance in Welsh woodlands.
Timescale: Spring or summer field work, some desk work
For more information, please see the project brief 5857.6747.1667.4745.8358.6735.Understanding Willow Tit habitat in Wales.pdf
Do apex and mesopredator interactions influence wader nest predation rates?
Mammalian mesopredators including foxes are major predators of wader nests. This project will test whether the presence of an apex predator alters mesopredators’ ranging behaviour and reduces nest predation rates.
Supervisor: David Douglas
Timescale: April - July 2024
Location: England/Scotland
For more information, please see the project brief MSc template - nest predation.pdf