Dr Kyle-Mark Middleton

I am a behavioural ecologist with a keen focus on cooperative breeding, territorial behaviours, and the impacts of environmental factors on species. I completed my PhD at the FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology in 2023, where I investigated how individuals within cooperatively breeding groups contribute to reproduction and territory defence, using southern ground-hornbills as a model species.

For my postdoctoral research, I am joining Associate Professor Susie Cunningham, Dr Rita Covas, and the Hot Birds Research Project (https://hbresearchproject.wixsite.com/hbresearchproject). My research will focus on the deployment of innovative tracking devices to study how southern ground-hornbills navigate their landscape in such a hot environment, and how high temperatures influence their behaviour, ecology and fitness.

I have been involved with the FitzPatrick Institute’s long-term APNR Ground Hornbill Project (https://apnrgroundhornbillproject.com) for several years and thoroughly enjoy the combination of rigorous research with practical conservation efforts and project management. Alongside this research, I will be using the findings to help the conservation of these charismatic birds, including efforts to recover the population outside of protected areas.