I completed my MSci in Zoology (with a work-placement year) from the University of Glasgow. During my work-placement year Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) I worked for both the seabird research group on the Isle of May and the freshwater research group at Loch Leven, Scotland. It was during this year that a real love for working with long-term datasets came about, as well as a passion for working with marine birds. During my degree I had the privilege to work with Professor Bob Furness (Glasgow University) on long-term Arctic skua Stercocarius parasiticus and Great skua Stercocarius skua datasets, and for my masters research with Drs Laurence Carvalho and Francis Daunt (CEH).

Following that, I completed a PhD with the University of Aberdeen’s Lighthouse Field station in Cromarty, with Professors Paul Thompson and Andy Meharg on non-breeding foraging of the northern fulmar Fulmarus glacialis. Further work in the seabird ecology field has led me to work with Dr Erpur Hansen from South Iceland Research Centre on an island-wide Atlantic puffin Fratercula arctica survey of Iceland, to work for CEH on European shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis winter survival rates, to work for the RSPB on the FAME (Future for the Atlantic Marine Environment) tracking project, and I have been fortunate in being able to work on various small seabird islands around the UK and Ireland, which most definitely instilled in me a love for island life.

I started work in autumn 2014 for BAS as the zoological field assistant in charge of carrying out the data collection for the albatross research on Bird Island. I feel hugely lucky to get to work on Bird Island in my dream job, and will hopefully continue to work here until spring 2017. The work includes extensive population monitoring for all the albatross species here on Bird Island, as well as helping out with fur seal, leopard seal, penguin, giant petrel and burrow-nesting bird research. Outside the zoology-related work on Bird Island, I enjoy hill-walking, cycling, crafting, cooking, playing the piano, and wildlife-watching – thankfully all of which I can still do here on Bird Island, minus the cycling on anything other than an exercise bike, obviously!

Research interests

I have a particular interest in foraging ecology and how differential foraging can have population-based effects. As such, I have extensive experience in using tracking technology to investigate where birds go when they are at sea and in modelling reproductive or survival carry-over effects for the individual. My other research interest lies in marine plastic pollution ingestion by seabirds, and am a member of a group of researchers, led by Dr Jan van Franeker, at IMARES (Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystems Research). This group investigates quantities and types of marine plastic found in seabirds, particularly fulmars, around the North Sea coasts and beyond.

1. ANTARCTIC BLOG: Leopard seals, wanderer chicks and…superheroes?!

   When I last wrote a web diary, back in April, it was at the end of the summer season and the first few intrepid weeks of winter. It’s hard to […]

   Read more of: ANTARCTIC BLOG: Leopard seals, wanderer chicks and…superheroes?!

   

2. Bird Island Diary – April 2015

   April has been an extraordinarily busy month both work-wise and base-wise. It’s also been a month of change as we have gone from 10 people down to just 4, reflecting […]

   Read more of: Bird Island Diary – April 2015

   

1. Sounds of Christmas from Bird Island

   Dr Lucy Quinn is zoological field assistant at the British Antarctic Survey research station on Bird Island, South Georgia – a job which involves daily expeditions come rain or shine […]

   Read more of: Sounds of Christmas from Bird Island