Research Environment

Petra Sumasgutner studies raptors because they are powerful indicators of how wildlife copes with human-driven change. Based at the University of Vienna, she uses biologging tools to follow raptors across landscapes. Petra enjoys working at the interface of field ecology, technology, and conservation, and is particularly passionate about training the next generation of raptor researchers and movement ecologists.

Shane Sumasgutner (nee McPherson) is a wildlife biologist and Principal Investigator of the African Crowned Eagle Project. He offers research services and brings extensive field expertise, from raptor trapping and biologging to tree climbing and drone piloting. Shane is often accompanied by his conservation dog Nala, and together they support field-based research aimed at understanding and conserving raptors. He thrives at the intersection of fieldwork, technology, and applied conservation.

Project title: Movement and accelerometer inferred behaviour of eagles in relation to spatial and temporal patterns in human activity

Supervisor: Petra Sumasgutner

Project title: Interspecific interactions in the foraging context in ravens

(Corvus corax)

Supervisors: Thomas Bugnyar & Petra Sumasgutner

Project title: Eastern imperial eagle in central Europe: Population development and spatial use in relation to direct and indirect threats

Supervisors: Petra Sumasgutner & Erwin Nemeth

Project title: Understanding predator-prey relationships on the Galápagos

Supervisors: Sonia Kleindorfer, Petra Sumasgutner, Andrew Katsis

& Lauren Common

Project title: Following the night hunter in the islands: Movement and feeding ecology of the Galápagos short-eared owls

Supervisors: Petra Sumasgutner

Project title: UrbanBEE: Connecting people, biodiversity and cities with a focus on wild bee health

Supervisors: Petra Sumasgutner & Linde Morawetz

Project: Turmfalkenprojekt Wien & ICARUS Kestrels

Project: LifeTrack Golden Eagles

MSc thesis: Energetic expenditure and prey diversity of crowned eagles in human-dominated environments

Project: AIHAB (AI Helper for Animal Behavior)

MSc thesis: Space use of urban and rural Eurasian kestrels in Austria

Project: Crowned Eagle Research Project

Project: UrbanBEE: Promoting biodiversity, ecosystem services and societal engagement across diverse urban ecosystems

Line managers: Linde Morawetz & Petra Sumasgutner

University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice

PhD project: Factors shaping spatio-temporal distribution, abundance and mortality of avian predators

Nala assists in locating wildlife samples and helping us better understand animal behaviour, ecology, and conservation challenges. With her strong scent detection skills, focus, and enthusiasm for fieldwork, she contributes to advancing non-invasive research methods that help protect biodiversity.