Dr. Ivan Pokrovsky

My research mainly focuses on the ecology of northern ecosystems. My current project is the investigation of the migration and foraging strategies of Rough-legged buzzards (Buteo lagopus) and Peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus). I try to find out the answers to the following questions:

1. What is the fundamental determinant of the migration to the high Arctic? There are many benefits of Arctic breeding sites; however, not all of them increase with latitude. One of the unique factors is permanent daylight. Using three-axial acceleration sensors and high-resolution GPS/GSM loggers, we calculate daily and annual dynamic of the buzzards’ energy turnover. After that, we will analyze the link between energy turnover and latitude.
2. How do specialist raptors find their way to the territory with high numbers of rodents? Raptors specialized on small rodents are known to have the nomadic strategy of migration. They change their breeding area, choosing the territory with the peak of rodents. This raises the question of how they find the way to these specific regions. Using GPS loggers, we monitor the migration ways of Rough-legged buzzards and will analyze these tracks.
3. Ontogeny of long-distance migration. We track the migration of Rough-legged buzzards and peregrine falcons from the fledging period to understand how their migration patterns developed during their life.