Marc Illa is an ornithologist who has been passionate about nature since childhood. He is currently actively involved in several citizen science projects run by the Catalan Ornithological Institute (ICO) and has been a licensed expert bird ringer since 2012. He takes part in scientific bird ringing projects in Catalonia as well as in international ringing campaigns, including at Yasmina (Morocco) and other locations. One of his main interests in bird ringing, in addition to collecting the highest-quality data possible, is the detailed study of moult strategies and ageing techniques. He has worked with a wide range of bird species and collaborates on several research projects in this field.
In his talk, Marc will explore moult, a vital process for all birds. Plumage serves a variety of essential functions, from enabling flight and regulating body temperature to fulfilling highly specialised roles. However, feathers are non-living structures that become worn over time. To keep their plumage in optimal condition—and therefore maintain these functions efficiently—birds must replace old feathers with new ones through a tightly regulated process known as moult.
Because of the wide variety of moult strategies and their close relationship with other physiological, biological and ecological processes, moult is a complex phenomenon that is not always fully recognised as an essential part of a bird’s annual cycle. This complexity also makes it a subject that is often unfamiliar to many birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts.
During this talk, we will review some of the key concepts of bird moult, highlight its importance in the lives of birds, and explore practical tips on how this knowledge can be applied in the field to improve bird observation and identification.
