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Motti Charter

The Charter Group for Wildlife Ecology

My research focuses on the ecology of agricultural pest control through innovative and integrated approaches that combine fieldwork, advanced technology, and community engagement. A major part of my work involves studying barn owls as natural controllers of rodent pests by analyzing their breeding success and diet across thousands of nest boxes throughout Israel, using a blend of traditional methods and cutting-edge tools such as drones and tracking devices. I also investigate the potential of great tits to biologically control the damaging coddling moth in apple orchards, aiming to reduce pesticide reliance. Additionally, I develop precision agriculture solutions using drones to monitor rodent populations and damage in the Hula Valley, enabling targeted and timely pest management. Engaging the wider community, my citizen science project involves over 1,500 middle and high school students nationwide in studying barn owl diets to support sustainable pest control efforts. Other aspects of my research address competition between invasive and native cavity-nesting birds and the management of wildlife-agriculture conflicts, including crane population control in the Hula Valley, where we explore the use of drones for monitoring both bird populations and crop damage. These projects are supported by national and international agencies and involve collaboration with diverse academic, governmental, and local partners.

The Charter Group for Wildlife Ecology
054-4901130
Also lectures at: Senior Lecturer at the Department of Department Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Haifa.
Research Interests
Selected Publications
Team
Photos
  • Wildlife ecology
  • Wildlife management
  • Ornithology
  • Ecosystem services
  • Citizen science

 

Three decades of satisfied Israeli farmers: Barn owls (Tyto alba) as biological pest control of rodents

Vertebrate Pest Conference 28: 198-207.

Peleg O., Nir S. , Roulin A., Leshem Y, Meyrom K, Shaul A, Izhaki I , and. M. Charter M. 2019
“Nature Knows No Boundaries”: The role of nature conservation in peacebuilding

Trends in Ecology & Evolution 32: 305-310.

Roulin A., Mansour AR, Spiegel B., Charter M., Dreiss A., and Y Leshem. 2017
Nest-site competition between invasive and native cavity nesting birds and its implication for conservation

Journal of Environmental Management 181:129–134

Charter, M., Izhaki, I., Ben Mocha and S. Kark 2016
Relationship between barn owl diet and reproductive success in the Middle East

Journal of Arid Environments. 122: 59–63

Charter M., Izhaki I., Leshem, Y., Meyrom K., and A Roulin 2015
Asymmetric seasonal nest site competition between Great Tit and House Sparrows

Journal of Ornithology 154:173–181

Charter M., Izhaki, I., Leshem Y. 2013
Similar patterns of local barn owl adaptation in the Middle East and Europe with respect to melanic coloration

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 106:447–454

Charter M., Peleg O., Leshem Y. and A Roulin 2012

Dana Klein

Responsible for education, citizen science, and outreach projects

Amir Ezer

Field and groups "gadget" experiment

Haitham Ezzy

MSc student from University of Haifa

Naama Ronen

MSc student from University of Haifa

Iris Engel

MSc student from University of Haifa