Background

Ph.D. Zoology, Tel Aviv University, 2003

Development of a soaring bird migration model for Israel and the Middle East

Supervisors: Prof. Yoram Yom-Tov & Dr. Yossi Leshem, The George Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University and Prof. Peter Berthold, Max Planck Institute, Vogelwarte, Germany

This study focused on modeling the relation between local and regional meteorological conditions and various aspects of soaring bird migration in Israel and the Middle East.  Modeling techniques included non-parametric general additive models as well as generalized linear models, with data from remote sensing, satellite telemetry, motorized glider observations and visual observations using a geographic information system (GIS) for data visualization and integration.  Meteorological data used in analysis included locally measured variables provided, as well large scale data provided by NCEP which combines remotely sensed data, measurements and models.   The combination of these fairly new techniques facilitated an interdisciplinary study of the interaction between migration and weather at a scale previously unobtainable. 

The convection model ALPTHERM, was used to predict local changes in maximum altitudes of migration and compare the use of thermal convection between several soaring species in central Israel. On a regional scale, the relation between migration speed of white storks and wind, temperature, relative humidity, latitude and season, among other factors was analyzed along the migration route for the first time.  Migration timing and intensity in Israel of several species was influenced by temperature, barometric pressure, relative humidity and wind, in the breeding grounds and in Turkey several days prior to arrival in Israel. 

M.Sc. Zoology, Tel Aviv University, 1995

The structure of downy barbules of bird feathers: their diagnostic and taxonomic significance

Supervisor: Prof. Yoram Yom-Tov & Dr. Yossi Leshem, The George Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University

The microstructure of downy barbules of body coverts from 150 species of Palearctic birds were analyzed, described and catalogued in an atlas. The microstructure of feathers, particularly the downy barbules, contains diagnostic characteristics that facilitate the identification of birds.  This approach to bird identification is particularly useful in the identification of minute bird remains after bird-aircraft collisions.  Expert bird remains identification is an essential step in establishing unbiased birdstrike statistics to assess the bird strike risk as well as management policies.

In addition, these diagnostic characteristics are of taxonomic value, which was compared to other techniques used in avian taxonomy studies. 

The Bird Remains Identification System (BRIS) an expert identification system on CD-ROM, was the result of a unique cooperation between Tel Aviv University, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, the Israel Air Force, University of Amsterdam, ETI and the Royal Netherlands Air Force: