The Spanish city of Granada hosts until next Sunday, September 6, 2026, the XXVII Spanish Ornithology Congress and the VIII Iberian Ornithology Congress. The event takes place at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Granada and brings together for five days researchers, conservationists and bird enthusiasts to present the latest advances in the study of avian fauna. The opening session was attended by Sara Aagesen, minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge of Spain, who highlighted the work of the Spanish Ornithological Society (SEO/BirdLife) in defending nature.
The minister announced during the session the upcoming publication of the Atlas of Bird Migration in Spain, a work produced by the conservation organization in collaboration with MITECO, built from a century of scientific information. Among the specialists present was Graça Lima, president of the Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds (SPEA), and round tables are being held on environmental volunteering, science for public policies and protected areas in danger.
During the ceremony, the Francisco Bernis Awards were presented, in their 11th edition. Among those honored are Javier Castroviejo Bolívar for his role at the Doñana Biological Station, Juan Moreno Klemming for his lifetime scientific career, the Ukrainian Society for Bird Protection for its work during armed conflict, and Ferrán Sayol Altarriba for the young researcher award. Content creator Melerus, with almost two million followers on TikTok, received the Youth Conservation Award for his contribution to environmental awareness.
The congress is organized by SEO/BirdLife and SPEA, with the collaboration of the University of Granada. On September 3, Portuguese researcher Inês Catry will present a paper on the anthropogenic impacts on bird migration. On September 4, the annual ringers' assembly will take place.
