PhD Studentship: Balancing Waterbird Hunting and their Conservation - Towards a Sustainable Harvest

Project Overview

This is an opportunity to conduct fully funded interdisciplinary research under the ‘Sustainable Transitions – Leverhulme Doctoral Training Programme’ at the University of Essex.

The hunting of ducks, geese, and other waterfowl, has long been part of rural cultures across Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia. Whilst it holds significant cultural, recreational, and economic value, hunting also raises concerns regarding its potential impact on bird populations and wetland ecosystems. The increasing pressures from habitat loss, climate change, and human activity have intensified debates over whether hunting can co-exist sustainably with bird conservation. Depending on the candidate’s interest this research has the potential to examine the relationship between waterbird hunting practices and bird conservation, exploring whether and how regulated hunting can contribute to the preservation of wetlands and biodiversity. It will explore the role of hunting organizations and hunter behaviours in supporting bird conservation through habitat management and monitoring programs and their past and current relationships with bird conservationists and recreational birdwatchers. In doing so it will seek to understand the feelings and attachments for birds within these different nature cultures and the arguments about what constitutes socially and ecologically sustainable and acceptable levels of hunting. The relationship between bird conservationists and wildfowlers has historically been mediated by legal and regulatory frameworks, and the research will consider the policies that govern sustainable hunting and conservation.

Interdisciplinary Focus and Methods

The research will draw upon sociological, historical and ecological studies of waterbird hunting, birdwatching and conservation. It will adopt an interdisciplinary approach, combining 1) semi-structured Interviews with hunters, birdwatchers and conservation officers to understand feelings and attachments to wildfowl and perceptions of sustainability of hunting; 2) policy review analysing existing regulatory frameworks, including bag limits, seasonal restrictions, and conservation partnerships; 3) analysis of ecological data of bird population counts and habitats. 

Training and Support

You will be supported through the Sustainable Transitions programme which provides initial training in interdisciplinary research methods, training in the secondary discipline and ongoing training throughout the duration of the programme. All doctoral scholars benefit from the support of Proficio which entitles you to £2,500 that can be used to purchase training courses either within or external to the University. Additionally Sustainable Transitions scholars are entitled to £10,000 that can be used to cover research costs and further training. Scholars are encouraged to audit masters and degree level course where appropriate. You will also have the support of the Sustainable Transitions management team, as well as your own supervisory team. All Sustainable Transitions scholars will become part of the University of Essex ‘Centre for Environment and Society’ through which ongoing events and networking opportunities are available.  

Person Specification

This opportunity would suit a graduate student with expertise in environmental sociology, environmental history or in the environmental sciences with an interest in how understanding people and their behaviours can help develop best practice and policy in applied conservation. 

It is not necessary for the candidate to have prior training in sociology or ecological methods as this will be provided on the programme. 

Research Proposal

The project area is broadly defined, leaving scope for the applicant to develop their own specific research proposal as part of the application. The successful candidate will further develop their proposal in close consultation with the supervisory team.   

Closing Date: 11:59pm GMT on 13^th April 2026

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