Phil is currently doing postdoctoral research on the Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus vetula at the University of Port Elizabeth, entitled "Is the Kelp Gull really the avian personification of evil"?

Phil graduated in December 2002 after studying for a PhD in statistical sciences, researching the demography of the African Penguin Spheniscus demersus. In particular, the research looked at the degree and pattern of intercolony movements of both young birds and adults, incidence of emigration from and immigration to different breeding colonies and survival and mortality of birds in the wild as compared to rehabilitated sick, injured and oiled penguins. The conservation value of treating sick and oiled African Penguins will be assessed with respect to this.

Supervised by Prof. Les Underhill (ADU) and Dr Rob Crawford (Marine and Coastal Management, South Africa).

Qualifications and experience

Phil qualified with a BSc and BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences at the University of London, UK. Following his studies Phil worked as a software engineer with Marconi Space and Defence Systems, U.K. (October 1980-April 1981). Thereafter he worked as a scientific officer/ornithologist with the British Trust for Ornithology (June 1981 - April 1991). His principle roles included abstraction of data from computer files, supervision of data input, general computer housekeeping and advice to other members of staff, analysis of Common Birds Census maps and fieldwork for the latter long term survey.

Phil has travelled extensively in south-east Asia and Australasia (June 1991 - Sept 1993), and participated in biological, voluntary work in Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Western Samoa. He was a member of the faunal survey of Palas Valley, North West Frontier Province, Pakistan, on behalf of BirdLife International (May - August 1994).

Publications

Longer list of publications

Whittington, P.A. 2000. The Cape Town Harbour oil spill - one year after the event. Avian Demography Unit Research Report 37.

Underhill, L.G., Kemper, J., Whittington, P.A. & Wolfaardt, A.C. 2000. Egyptian Geese Alopochen aeyptiacus moulting on Dassen Island. Marine Ornithology 28: 121-122.

Whittington, P.A., Dyer, B.M. & Klages, N.T.W. 2000. Maximum longevities of African Penguins Spheniscus demersus based on banding records. Marine Ornithology 28: 81-82.

Whittington, P.A. 2000. SANCCOB: A sound investment for saving seabirds. Promerops 242: 15-16.

Underhill, L.G., Whittington, P.A., Crawford, R.J.M., Williams, A.J. & Wolfaardt, A.C. 2000. Five years of monitoring African Penguins Spheniscus demersus after the Apollo Sea oil spill: a success story made possible by ringing. Die Vogelwarte 40: 315-318.

Crawford, R.J.M., Shannon, L.J., Whittington, P.A. & Murison, G. 2000. Factors influencing growth of the African Penguin colony at Boulders,South Africa, 1985-1999. South African Journal of Marine Science 22:111-119.

Crawford, R.J.M., Davis, S.A., Harding, R., Jackson, L.F., Leshoro, T.M., Meyer, M.A., Randall, R.M., Underhill, L.G., Upfold, L., Van Dalsen, A.P., Van Der Merwe, E., Whittington, P.A., Williams, A.J. & Wolfaardt, A.C. 2000. Initial impact of the Treasure oil spill on seabirds off western South Africa. South African Journal of Marine Science 22: 157-176.

Whittington, P.A. 2000. Penguins 2000. Bird Numbers 9(2): 14-15.

Whittington, P.A., Crawford, R.J.M., Huyser, O., Oschadleus, H.D., Randall, R.M., Ryan, P.G., Shannon, L.V., Wolfaardt, A.C., Cooper, J., Lacy, R.C. and Ellis, S. (Eds) 2000. African Penguin Population and Habitat Viability Assessment. IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group: Apple Valley, USA.

Ellis, S., Lacy, R., Underhill, L.G. & Whittington, P.A. 2000. African Penguin PHVA Cape Town, South Africa, April 1999. CBSG News 11(1): 6-8.

Kieswetter, S., Harrison, J.A. & Whittington, P.A. 2001. The ADU's anniversary ABC. Bird Numbers 10(1): 15-17.

South, C. & Whittington, P.A. 2001. Getting down and dirty. Digging in with the African Penguin. Africa - Birds & Birding 6(4): 56-61.

Underhill, L.G., Whittington, P.A. & Calf, K.M. 2001. Shoreline birds of Robben Island, Western Cape, South Africa. Wader Study Group Bulletin 96: 37-39.

Whittington, P.A. 2001. The Adventures of Peter the Penguin. ADU: Cape Town.

Whittington, P.A. 2001. The Earthwatch project on Robben Island. SANCCOB News. June.

Whittington, P.A. 2001. Daylight robbery on Robben Island. Promerops 247: 16.

Whittington, P.A. 2001. One of those days. Promerops 248: 24-25.

Whittington, P.A. 2001. Penguins, condors and strange furry beasts. Promerops 248: 32-34.

Whittington, P.A. 2001. And the bands played on ... Bird Numbers 10(1): 44-45.

Whittington, P.A. 2001. Survivor! Bird Numbers 10(2): 27-30.

Whittington, P.A., Dyer, B.M. & Underhill, L.G. 2001. Leach's Storm petrel breeding in South Africa. Bulletin of the African Bird Club 8(2): 34.

Whittington, P.A. 2001. Treasure beneath the waves. Bulletin of the African Bird Club. 8(2): 129-131.

Whittington, P.A. & Underhill, L.G. 2001. On the track of the African Storks. Bulletin of the African Bird Club 8(2): 127-128.