Birgit has been studying land birds on the Galapagos Islands for just over 20 years and has extensive experience in bird ecology, bird monitoring and host-parasite interactions with a special focus on the impact of the invasive bird nest parasite Philornis downsi.

Birgit led the "Protection and Recovery of Mangrove Finch Population" project from 2006 to 2009. In addition to population monitoring, she conducted nest predation studies and initiated, together with the GNPD, the control of the introduced rat (Rattus rattus) that is still going on. Birgit still offers technical support to the Project.

Since 2014, and in partnership with the Galapagos National Park Directorate, CDF ornithologists and collaborating scientists, Birgit has been coordinating priority actions outlined in the Land Bird Conservation Plan that includes the evaluation of the conservation status of land birds, the identification of the principal threats that some of these species are facing, the development of management actions and a citizen science component.