Ron Efrat

Ron Efrat's picture
Short Interest: 
Optimization of time and energy in the Great White Pelican migration
Interest: 
An enthusiastic bird ringer and bird watcher for several years, since I started my BA it was clear to me that my Msc will be about birds. In the research I am lucky to conduct I examine the Pelicans motivations for their actions during migration: Why do they start flying at the time they start, why do they fly the daily distance they fly etc. Previous studies have shown that birds have two contradicting motivations: the will to save energy and the will to save time. In my research, I wish to understand which of this motivations led to the Pelicans decisions, and by doing so to be able to predict future decisions. For this research I use GPS transmitters which are mounted on the Pelicans on their migration route south, when passing through Israel, this transmitters can "tell me" about the Pelicans location and their behavior in high resolution. Using this data combined with environment and meteorological data, I analyze the Pelicans decisions and motivations.
Role: 
Alumni
Years: 
2015-2017
Phone: 
+972-2-6586110
Fax: 
+972-2-6586080
Address: 
Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 91904, Israel

Publications

Efrat, R., O. Hatzofe, and R. Nathan, (2019) Landscape-dependent time versus energy optimizations in pelicans migrating through a large ecological barrier | Functional Ecology 2161-2171
Efrat, R., R. Harel, O. Alexandrou, G. Catsadorakis, and R. Nathan, (2018) Seasonal differences in energy expenditure, flight characteristics and spatial utilization of Dalmatian Pelicans Pelecanus crispus in Greece | Ibis 415-427