Prof. Nir Sapir

Head of the Animal Flight Group
Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology
Faculty of Natural Sciences

 

Field of Research:
Aeroecology, Bird Conservation, Animal Migration

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Decoding Animal Flight – Safeguarding Ecosystems and Aviation

“Migration is not only fascinating, it’s also an important ecological process on a global scale. But we must also be able to prepare for and prevent the negative consequences of bird migration on aviation collisions, spread of diseases and damage to crops.”

– Prof. Nir Sapir

The Project 


I invite you to join me in establishing the National Center for Aeroecology, the first of its kind in the world dedicated to studying the mysteries of flying animals, mitigating their harmful impact, and safeguarding the skies we share.

This research center will:

  • Acquire sophisticated radar systems, day and night cameras, and high-performance computational platforms to run numeric simulations that predict animal flight.
  • Deliver precise forecasts of when, where, and how many birds are about to migrate, allowing us to plan ahead and prevent negative consequences when migration is intense.
  • Apply cutting-edge technological systems and advanced modeling platforms to prevent aviation collisions, curb the spread of zoonotic diseases such as avian flu, and reduce agricultural damage from migratory birds.
  • Support students researching animal movement in the airspace.

Fundraising Goals

Through philanthropic support, we can establish this groundbreaking National Center for Aeroecology.

  • Transforming our understanding of animal aeroecology and fostering bold attempts to resolve its detrimental consequences through precise prediction of bird migration.
  • Equipping and mentoring students to apply advanced technologies in tackling real-world challenges of animal flight.


Meet Nir Sapir

I earned my BSc and MSc from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, where I studied stopover ecology of migrating birds, and completed my PhD at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, focusing on the flight behavior and energetics of bee-eaters during their migration above the Negev Desert. I was awarded a Rothschild Fellowship for postdoctoral training at the University of California, Berkeley (USA), where I studied hummingbird biomechanics, followed by another postdoctoral period at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, investigating stork migration. 

I am the head of the Animal Flight Lab and Chair of the Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology at the University of Haifa. My lab studies the aeroecology of bats, birds, and insects using biotelemetry tracking systems and radars. We employ various modeling tools to study and predict the abundance and distribution of animals in the airspace and to examine the impact of environmental factors on animal flight. We also work to mitigate the harmful consequences of animal flight, including the risk of aircraft–bird collisions.

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