A concrete project with a clear subject and real-world context.
The colony of griffon vultures nesting on the eastern cliff of the Sierra de Gredos required a systematic record of nest occupancy, material composition, and structural integrity. Previous observations were scattered across field notebooks and lacked a unified format. The goal was to design a simple, repeatable method for cataloguing each nest site, its builder species, and the physical state of the structure.
We defined a set of measurable criteria: nest diameter, depth, predominant woody species in the weave, presence of moss or lichen, exposure to prevailing wind, and distance to the nearest active nest. Each parameter was recorded on a single A5 card with a sketch of the nest profile. The team of three ecologists spent two weeks in the field, using binoculars and a telescopic pole with a measuring tape.
Data from 47 nests was transcribed into a shared spreadsheet with columns for species, location code, structural score, and thermal insulation estimate. Photographs were cross-referenced with each entry. The portal itself is a static HTML page that displays the dataset as a sortable table and a series of annotated diagrams. No login or backend is needed — the page is a reference document for the research group.
The portal now serves as the primary reference for the 2024–2025 breeding season. It has been used by two visiting ornithologists to compare nest architecture between colonies. The data shows a clear correlation between wind exposure and the density of woody material in the nest rim. A follow-up study on thermal regulation is planned for next spring.