The 10th HNB Conference has finished! The atmosphere was fantastic, and we hope everyone enjoyed both the conference and the city of Olomouc. Congrats to the winners of the student competition: Beau Strijker (Best Poster) and Daisy Abraham (Best Talk)! We’re already looking forward to the next HNB!

While most HNB participants are from Europe, we welcome a plenary by Keith Bowers offering a North American perspective on cavity-nesting research in his talk “Cavity-nesting birds and the evolution of life histories in the New World.” We hope this transatlantic exchange offers valuable insights!

We’ve reached the final number of 100 registered participants from 17 countries, promising a rich conference experience. The venue’s terraces will be open during coffee breaks and used for the group photo; one offering a beautiful view of the city center, the other overlooking an industrial area.

Currently, 40 participants are registered, with numbers rising in recent days. The range of contributions promises an inspiring meeting. Guests at the Arigone Hotel will spot a memorial plaque to Johann Gregor Mendel, who began his university studies in the building opposite the hotel reception.

The first dormice appeared in nest boxes at Dlouhá Loučka last week, later than usual. Luckily for the collared flycatchers, most of them had already fledged before these cute-looking but ferocious predators began occupying the boxes. We're happy dormice don’t occur at Velký Kosíř and Grygov!

A new paper on fledging, based on data collected using RFID readers at Velký Kosíř, is now out: authors.elsevier.com/a/1l82j_4tl1... We’d be happy to discuss experiences with anyone implementing or interested in this technology at the conference. #AnimalBehaviourJournal

Monitoring 500 natural cavities is fascinating but tough work on the slopes of Velký Kosíř. Starlings are the most common species, while middle-spotted woodpeckers and nuthatches are rarer. We look forward to sharing experiences with others studying natural cavities! #ornithology

We hope to welcome many participants from Poland, thanks to its proximity and strong tradition of cavity-nesting bird research. While in Olomouc, they might seek out the house where Polish King Jan Sobieski stayed before his successful defense of Central Europe against the Ottoman forces.

„Timekeeping in hole-nesting birds under extreme light conditions” is the title of the plenary by Barbara Tomotani @babimt.bsky.social. A fitting topic for Olomouc, where the astronomical clock has kept time since medieval days. The avian clock, though, likely resembles the sundial more closely.

Swifts arrived this week! Based on their exploration of our house as a potential nest site last summer, we prepared a multi-chambered nest box designed for them. Fingers crossed they’ll like it. Also hoping for some swift contributions at the conference. Such charismatic birds! #ornithology

Take a look at a short overview of past HNB meetings and a group photo from the 5th conference, which celebrated the 50th season in Vlieland. Thanks to @mevisser.bsky.social for sharing this! Join us in Olomouc to celebrate the 53rd season in Dlouhá Loučka and the 29th in Velký Kosíř! #ornithology

We’re pleased to announce the title of the plenary talk by Marta Maziarz @martamaziarz.bsky.social: “Why do we need studies of hole-nesting birds from a primeval forest?” We’re looking forward to finding out if the answer involves predation risk, cavity space, or something else! #ornithology

First nest box check today at the Grygov study site. Just one egg so far: a blue tit in an Oxford-type nest box, just like in 2023. It seems blue tits either prefer this design, or perhaps great tits are pushing them into it. Gotland-style boxes are the least popular so far.

Registration is now open for the Hole-nesting Birds Conference 2025! Researchers of all career stages are warmly invited to join us in the historic city of Olomouc, Czechia. #ornithology [Link to register: registrace.rapl.upol.cz/Form/HoleNes...