Editorial
Our Editorial section offers reflections, insights, and perspectives on the evolving world of ornithology. From thought-provoking commentaries to magazine updates, this space invites readers to engage with the broader vision and purpose behind The Ornithologist, while challenging conventions, sparking dialogue, and bridging science with society. Expect timely, honest, and occasionally provocative viewpoints. Photo by Tara Swan.
Upstream of Science: The Role of Bird Art in Understanding — An Interview with Szabolcs Kókay
Ornithology begins not with numbers, but with looking. This conversation with Szabolcs Kókay examines how bird art operates upstream from science – shaping what we notice, understand, and value.
Gyorgy Szimuly
In Defence of Bird Conservation in a Broken World
When the world feels fractured beyond repair, speaking about bird conservation can sound almost indulgent. Yet in the quiet persistence of those who still care, a truth endures: to protect the living fabric of the Earth is not a luxury. It is an act of survival — and of humanity.
Gyorgy Szimuly
Shorebirds, one year on: what we won, what we lost, and what must come next
A year of mixed signals for shorebirds: vital site protections and clever science on one side; drying wetlands, development pressure and rising extinction risk on the other. Here’s what moved the needle — and where we urgently need to act.
Gyorgy Szimuly
Three decades of action for migratory waterbirds – AEWA’s landmark role in turning science into cross-continental conservation
For 30 years, the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement has helped safeguard migratory species across continents—through rigorous science, international policy, and hands-on recovery efforts.
Gyorgy Szimuly
The Winter Legacy of Tata: An Interview with Dr László Musicz
Over four decades of monitoring have revealed a quiet revolution in the skies above the Old Lake of Hungary. As the Tundra Bean Goose retreats, the Greater White-fronted Goose has taken its place – and the implications ripple across Europe.
Gyorgy Szimuly