Olufemi Olubodun

Olufemi’s interest in ecology led him to pursue a bachelor's degree in zoology from the University of Ilorin and a master’s degree in wildlife management at the University of Ibadan. For his master’s, he studied the population density of Mona monkeys in Omo Forest Reserve, Nigeria. During his field research, Olufemi consistently observed a feeding overlap between the monkeys and hornbills, sparking his interest in birds. Then, following the advice of experienced ornithologists, Olufemi joined a local bird club and began volunteering on the Nigeria Bird Atlas Project (NiBAP). On one of the NiBAP birding expeditions, Olufemi’s team recorded the first successful breeding of the endangered endemic Ibadan Malimbe (Malimbus ibadanensis) reinforcing his resolve to pursue a research career in avian ecology. In 2017, he volunteered on a bird monitoring project with a team of ornithologists at the Forest Center, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan. Olufemi was subsequently employed as Research Assistant on this project primarily responsible for the regular monitoring of the IITA Forest Reserve, a designated Important Bird Area.

In 2019, Olufemi joined the FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology as a doctoral student. His PhD research, supervised by A/Prof Robert Thomson, investigated the life history and population dynamics of the African pygmy falcon. This work which involved monitoring the falcon’s population in the Kalahari Desert, including the breeding phenology and movement in relation to weather patterns has been submitted and is currently under examination.

Thesis

Life history and population dynamics of the African pygmy falcon – an obligate associate of the sociable weaver colony.

Peer-reviewed publications

Olubodun, O.P. et al., 2023. Breeding biology of the African Pygmy Falcon: long-term variation and seasonal decline in breeding performance of an arid zone raptor. Journal of Ornithology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-023-02065-9

Lowney, A.M., Beck, T. and Olubodun, O. 2022. Natural history notes. Dispholidus typus (Boomslang). Foraging. African Herp News 37–41.

Awoyemi, A.G., … Olubodun, O.P., et. al., 2020 Notes on the abundance and breeding of the Black-crowned Capuchin Babbler Phyllanthus rubiginosus in southwest Nigeria. Malimbus 42(2):50-57

Awoyemi, A.G., Olubodun, O.P., et al., 2020. Emerald Forest Reserve: a potential Important Bird and Biodiversity Area in south-west Nigeria. African bird club vol. 27 (2): 196 - 203

Awoyemi, A.G., … Olubodun, O., et al., 2020. Breeding phenology and morphology of some forest birds in Benin and Nigeria. Malimbus 42(2):37-49

Awoyemi, A.G., … Olubodun, O.P., et al., 2018. First successful breeding of the Ibadan Malimbe Malimbus ibadanensis. Malimbus 40 (1):3 - 9.