In a sustained effort to communicate bird migration science to a wide audience, I guest edited a special issue on farmland bird conservation , and co-authored 14 articles in regional ornithology journals and popular scientific reports.

thematic issues

Natuur.oriolus - Themanummer Akkervogels.

Vansteelant. W (Ed.). 2018. Natuur.oriolus 84 (3). pp. 122. Natuurpunt Studie. Mechelen. [link]

“I instigated this thematic issue of Natuur.oriolus at a time of strong developments in both the policy and execution of farmland bird conservation in Flandres, Belgium. The foremost experts in Flandres authored timely contributions on the state of regional farmland bird conservation, including (citizen) scientists, conservationists and practicioners. The publication of this thematic issues is widely said to have helped putting urgent challenges and opportunities on the relevant political and policy agendas.”

Natuur.oriolus is the foremost ornithological magazine in Flandres, published by the research department of Natuurpunt (BirdLife Flandres).

 

popular/regional ornithology journals

Rascher Verlust von Feuchtgebieten im Doñana- und Guadalquivir-delta: Aus der Sicht der Uferschnepfe.

Vansteelant W.M.G.
Der Falke (2023), 10/2023: 41:45.

Long-read article recounting the origin story of Batumi Raptor Count, a prosaic description of the autumn migration season, and explaining our approach to monitoring and conservation. Originally published in English in British Birds and translated in Dutch for Natuur.oriolus and Russian for Raptors Conservation.

Batumi Raptor Count: from migration counts to conservation in a raptor flyway under threat.

Hoekstra B., J. Jansen, D. Engelen, F. de Boer, R. Benjumea, J. Wehrmann, S. Cavailles, T. Kaasiku, D. Jansen, P. Fetting, A. Aintilla & W.M.G. Vansteelant
British Birds (2020), 113: 439-460.

Hoekstra B., J. Jansen, D. Engelen, F. de Boer, R. Benjumea, J. Wehrmann, S. Cavailles, T. Kaasiku, D. Jansen, P. Fetting, A. Aintilla, W. Bovens, O. Dochy & W.M.G. Vansteelant
Natuur.oriolus (2020), 86(3): 85-103.

Zaytseva O., Hoekstra B., J. Jansen, D. Engelen, F. de Boer, R. Benjumea, J. Wehrmann, S. Cavailles, T. Kaasiku, D. Jansen, P. Fetting, A. Aintilla & W.M.G. Vansteelant
Raptors Conservation (2022), 44: 10-42.

Monitoring of migratory soaring birds in the East African-Eurasian flyway: a review and recommendations for future steps.

Jobson B., T. Allinson, R. Sheldon, W. Vansteelant, E. Buechley, S. Oppel & V.R. Jones
Sandgrouse (2021), 43 (1): 2-23.

  • This article was part of a BirdLife-lead special issue of Sandgrouse on monitoring soaring bird migration in the East African-Eurasian flyway.

Opportunistic in-flight foraging behaviour of Black Kites Milvus migrans during spring migration through the Batumi bottleneck, Georgia.

Tal T., D. Jansen & W.M.G. Vansteelant

Sandgrouse (2021), 43 (2): 247-252.

Ornithological masterclass: Navigation.
BTO News (2019) 332: 16-19.

Van kompas to GPS: oriëntatie en navigatie door trekvogels. Natuur.oriolus (2020) 86: 16-23.

  • An invited contribution summarising the state of our knowledge on avian orientation and navigation for the BTO News - the BTO’s member magazine, translated to Dutch for Natuur.oriolus.

Photographic evidence of a 2nd calendar-year female European Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus on autumn migration in the Western Palearctic.
Wright J., S. Cavaillès & W.M.G. Vansteelant
Sandgrouse (2019), 41: 101-104.

Understanding hunters´ habits and motivations for shooting raptors in the Batumi raptor-migration bottleneck, southwest Georgia.
Sandor A., J. Jansen & W.M.G. Vansteelant
Sandgrouse (2017), 39(1): 2-15.

Recordaantallen Wespendieven over de Lage Landen in augustus-september 2013.
Desmet E. & W.M.G. Vansteelant
Natuur.oriolus (2014), 80(3): 83-90.

Opmerkelijke Ruigpootbuizerdinvasie in de winter 2010-2011: oorzaken in een historische en Europese contex.
Vansteelant W.M.G., W. Faveyts & J. Buckens
Natuur.oriolus (2011), 77(3): 87-98.

Batumi Raptor Count: Monitoring van geconcentreerde roofvogeltrek aan de Oostelijke Zwarte Zee.
Vansteelant W.M.G., J. Jansen J. & B. Verhelst
Natuur.oriolus (2010), 76(3): 82-93.