Hot Birds Research Project

For my MSc degree, I will investigate blue waxbill behavioural responses to high temperature and humidity in northern KwaZulu-Natal. Under the supervision of Dr Susan Cunningham and Prof Andrew Mckechnie, we aim to understand how climate change might affect the breeding success and survival of small passerines in mesic environments. This study could potentially highlight the importance of including humidity in thermoregulatory studies on birds. Furthermore, it could also identify whether blue waxbills have reduced capacity to tolerate global heating, therefore urging greater research effort and conservation interventions to help maintain population persistence.