Dr Will Miles

Dr Will Miles

SOTEAG Seabird Monitor

Email
wtsm@st-andrews.ac.uk

 

Research areas

Seabird population monitoring, seabird ecology and marine pollution impacts are my focal interests. Based on Shetland, I run the long-term seabird monitoring programme of the Shetland Oil Terminal Environmental Advisory Group (SOTEAG, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of 58³Ô¹Ï). Key components of my work include quantifying the population dynamics of breeding and wintering seabirds, pollution monitoring and impact assessment, and planning and coordinating wildlife pollution response strategies.

SOTEAG is globally recognised as a model-example environmental advisory organisation, that provides independent scientific monitoring and expert advice to industry and community stakeholders, in the interest of environmentally responsible industrial activity in a distinctive cultural setting and sensitive natural environment.

Please visit our website to find out more about SOTEAG and the ecological monitoring work carried out on Shetland:

History

My professional background is primarily scientific research and monitoring, specialising on seabirds and migratory birds. I have worked in a variety of exciting locations for these groups, for example St Kilda, Fair Isle, Ascension Island and the Falklands. Enabling people to engage with wildlife and science has always been a big part of my working life. Alongside my career as a scientist, working in Cambridge, Glasgow and Aberdeen for example, I have also worked as a reserves warden and wildlife tour guide.

Selected publications

Miles, W. T. S., Bolton, M., Davis, P., Dennis, R., Broad, R., Robertson, I., Riddiford, N. J., Harvey, P., Riddington, R., Shaw, D. N., Parnaby, D. & Reid, J. M. 2016. Quantifying full phenological event distributions reveals simultaneous advances, temporal stability and delays in spring and autumn migration timing in long-distance migratory birds. Global Change Biology 23: 1400-1414.

Miles, W. T. S., Mavor, R., Riddiford, N. J., Harvey, P. V., Riddington, R., Shaw, D. N., Parnaby, D. & Reid, J. M.  2015.  Decline in an Atlantic Puffin population: evaluation of magnitude and mechanisms.  PLoS ONE 10(7): e0131527. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0131527.

Miles, W. T. S., Parsons, M., Close, A. J., Luxmoore, R., Furness, R. W. 2013. Predator avoidance behaviour in a nocturnal petrel exposed to a novel predator. Ibis 155: 16-31.

Miles, W. T. S., Money, S. L., Luxmoore, R. & Furness, R. W. 2010. Effects of artificial lights and moonlight on petrels at St Kilda. Bird Study 57: 244-251.

Selected publications

  • Open access
    Killeen, H., Sydeman, W. J., Hoover, B., Thompson, S. A., Kristiansen, T., García-Reyes, M., Koval, G., Ceballos, E., Heal, M., Anker-Nilssen, T., Barrett, R., Becker, P., Berglund, P.-A., Birkhead, T., Boulinier, T., Bouwhuis, S., Daunt, F., Dehnhard, N., Diamond, A. & Elliott, K. & 36 others, Erikstad, K. E., Fayet, A. L., Flint, E., Furness, R. W., Golubova, E., Hansen, E. S., Harris, M., Hatch, S., Hedd, A., Hentati-Sundberg, J., Jahncke, J., Kitaysky, A., Lorentsen, S.-H., Lyons, D., Major, H. L., Mazurkiewicz, D., Miles, W., Newell, M., Orben, R. A., Oro, D., Parker, M., Plissner, J., Rail, J.-F., Reiertsen, T. K., Renner, H., Rock, J. C., Strøm, H., Suryan, R. M., Thayer, J., Trowbridge, J., Velarde, E., Wanless, S., Warzybok, P., Watanuki, Y., Whelan, S. & Young, L., 10 Oct 2025, In: Communications Earth & Environment. 6, p. 1-11 11 p., 804 .

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Open access
    Atkinson, P. W., Balmer, D. E., Banyard, A. C., Duggan, J., Falchieri, M., Frost, T. M., Humphreys, E. M., Jones, R., Langlois Lopez, S., Miles, W. T. S., Murphy, M., Owens, R., Pearce-Higgins, J. W., Reid, S. M., Smith, C. & Tremlett, C. J., 21 May 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Bird Study. 72, 1, p. 20-38 19 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Open access
    Miles, W., Mellor, M., Gear, S., Harvey, P. V. & Tyler, G., 22 Nov 2022, In: Bird Study. 68, 4, p. 477-488 12 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Open access
    Keogan, K., Daunt, F., Wanless, S., Phillips, R. A., Alvarez, D., Anker-Nilssen, T., Barrett, R. T., Bech, C., Becker, P. H., Berglund, P.-A., Bouwhuis, S., Burr, Z. M., Chastel, O., Christensen-Dalsgaard, S., Descamps, S., Diamond, T., Elliott, K., Erikstad, K.-E., Harris, M. & Hentati-Sundberg, J. & 18 others, Heubeck, M., Kress, S. W., Langset, M., Lorentsen, S.-H., Major, H. L., Mallory, M., Mellor, M., Miles, W. T. S., Moe, B., Mostello, C., Newell, M., Nisbet, I., Reiertsen, T. K., Rock, J., Shannon, P., Varpe, Ø., Lewis, S. & Phillimore, A. B., 1 Sept 2022, In: Journal of Animal Ecology. 91, 9, p. 1797-1812 16 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Open access
    van Franeker, J. A., Kühn, S., Anker-Nilssen, T., Edwards, E. W. J., Gallien, F., Guse, N., Kakkonen, J. E., Mallory, M. L., Miles, W., Olsen, K. O., Pedersen, J., Provencher, J., Roos, M., Stienen, E., Turner, D. M. & van Loon, W. M. G. M., May 2021, In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. 166, 11 p., 112246.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Open access
    Miles, W. T. S., Bolton, M., Davis, P., Dennis, R., Broad, R., Robertson, I., Riddiford, N., Harvey, P., Riddington, R., Shaw, D., Parnaby, D. & Reid, J., 27 Sept 2016, In: Global Change Biology. 23, 4, p. 1400-1414 15 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Open access
    Miles, W. T. S., Mavor, R., Riddiford, N., Harvey, P., Riddington, R., Shaw, D., Parnaby, D. & Reid, J., 15 Jul 2015, In: PLoS One. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0131527.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Open access
    Miles, W. T. S., Parsons, M., Close, A., Luxmoore, R. & Furness, R., 6 Dec 2012, In: Ibis. 155, 1, p. 16-31 16 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Open access
    Miles, W. T. S., Money, S., Luxmoore, R. & Furness, R., 21 May 2010, In: Bird Study. 57, 2, p. 244-251 8 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review