The IFOS

The International Field Ornithological Survey (IFOS) is a society of professional ornithologist and scientist dedicated to the study and conservation of biodiversity and is mostly working with birds. IFOS was formed in 2008 out of a need for increased research and survey on birds ecology in poorly known sites. The main goals of IFOS are (1) to improve the understanding of birds ecology (2) to enhance societies and ornithologist’s communities to work together on bird’s projects (3) find grants, sponsors, gears to accomplish our projects.

Our first project will takes place in Syria (IFOS Syria), in the Euphrates Valley. We would like to lead a major field work on the post-nuptial migration of birds. To read more about this please go to the Syrian project’s article.


The Syrian's Project - IFOSS


Syria, where takes place this project, is of prior importance for an amount of migratory and sedentary birds but, even if this importance is internationally recognised, this country is still underprospected and our knowledges about bird’s populations who lives there, or who migrates by this region, are clearly lacking. Despite the little number of expeditions realised in this country, they bring back some of the major discoveries about critically endangered species.

For the duration of the IFOSS we will realise a 4 months intensive bird survey, with a permanent team which will be in capability to receive between 15 and 20 ornithologists.

During this 4 months we will realise:

-        An intensive and standardised survey of migration (by direct observation and by use of mist nets and other appropriate systems);

-        The prospection of target spots with great conservational comer;

-        The collect of a defined number of leading data related to species with particular scientific and/or conservation importance;

-        The first molecular data bank on a country’s avifauna.

Permanent team will bring together competences and materials necessary to carry out every field task of the IFOS's project (subtle identification, mist-netting, blood and feathers sampling, etc...), but also to analyse data and to put in advance results on international publications. The IFOSS will allow the first huge report on post-nuptial migration in Syria, with particular attention on Euphrates Valley which is both of particular interest and particularly weakly prospected. We are also convinced that the IFOSS will allow participants to put forward new identification tools on particularly poorly known species or subspecies.

To encourage study and conservation of wildlife in Syria, Syrian nationals takes parts to the IFOSS organisation and realisation and a part of the IFOSS material (identification guide, mists nest, ringing material, etc...) will be left to our Syrian collaborators.


Sadi Wadi - Eric Sansault (copyright)



If you want to know more about our project in Syria click on those links below:

Why Syria? 

Main Research Axes 

If you want to be involved in this project you can send us an e-mail to:

baeta_renaud(at)yahoo.fr  (Please replace (at) by @)