Nina O’Hanlon
Post-doctoral research associate
Environmental Research Institute, University of Highlands and Islands
Thurso, Scotland
Follow Nina on Twitter @Nina_OHanlon
Most likely to be found…
…Wandering around the coast, looking at gulls
Involved with the BOU as:
ECR Member; Engagement Committee Social Media Support Officer
BOU member since: 2013
Why are you a member of the BOU?
I first joined the BOU to take advantage of the reduced ECR registration for the 2013 Spring Conference on ‘Avian Demography in a Changing World’. It was one of the first conferences of my PhD and it was a fantastic experience especially getting to meet many new people, absorbing a huge amount of ornithology research and generally feeling part of a larger community. I have been a BOU ECR member since and have attended several BOU conferences, which are now the meetings I look forward to the most.
What is your role on the BOU Council or committee on which you sit?
In my support role on the Engagement Committee, I get to do two of the things I enjoy most (other than being outside watching birds themselves!) reading new ornithology research and communicating this to the wider ornithology community, via Instagram and Wikipedia. I also get to live Tweet everything ‘ornithology’ at the conferences I attend.
What do you enjoy most about your involvement with the BOU?
Being part of an amazing ornithology community!
What would you say to anyone who is considering joining (or leaving!) the BOU?
Do it – you will definitely not regret joining, and make sure you get to a conference.
When did your interest in ornithology begin?
I have loved birds and natural history in general for as long as I remember but especially from watching Barn Owl chicks peeking out of their tree nest hole when I was very small, just a few miles from home.
What is your most memorable bird-y experience?
There are so many but one of the most recent was going on a pelagic off Cape Town and watching my first ever Albatross soar over my head – incredible!
Why birds?
Because you can enjoy them everywhere, and they are fascinating to study!