Research

University of Massachusetts – Amherst

My dissertation focuses on the intersection of humans and wildlife in urban environments. It consists of three chapters, all centered on the theme of citizen science and enhancing the engagement of the public in the scientific process. This research explores the dynamic relationship between urban communities and the natural world, striving to bridge the gap between scientists and the public to create more inclusive and impactful scientific practices.

The most recent scientific poster was presented at the 2022 Ecological Society of America’s annual conference in Montreal, Canada.

A quick breakdown of to understanding the various forms of engaging the public in the scientific method.

Chapter 1: Understanding Citizen Science Participation

In this chapter of my dissertation, I delve into the motivations and attitudes that drive individuals to participate in citizen science programs. Employing the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as a guiding framework, I conducted surveys with participants from a well-established citizen science initiative.

Through this research, we aim to shed light on the unique challenges and barriers faced by historically marginalized individuals when seeking to engage with citizen science and connect with the natural world. By understanding these dynamics, we can work towards making citizen science more inclusive and accessible.

Chapter 2: Assessing Data Reliability in Citizen Science

This chapter of my dissertation investigates the reliability of data collected by both citizen scientists and researchers. Our research focuses on how bird feeders influence bird communities in residential yards during the winter months, with the active involvement of citizen scientists.

To evaluate data accuracy, we compare observations made by both researchers and participants with camera images, considering factors like the timing and frequency of data collection. Additionally, we introduce periodic changes in food treatments every two weeks to understand how these variations impact data accuracy. This research enhances our understanding of the reliability of citizen science data and its role in scientific inquiry.

Chapter 3: Inclusive Citizen Science

This chapter of my dissertation addresses the vital goal of making citizen science accessible to everyone. Urbanization has transformed habitats and poses challenges for birds and their ecosystems. However, existing bird citizen science programs often attract older, white, and affluent individuals as participants. This raises questions about the representativeness of the data collected and its true reflection of ecological events in urban areas.

We explore the barriers that marginalized groups face in engaging with citizen science initiatives and aim to create more inclusive projects. By reimagining citizen science programs, we strive to expand participation and provide opportunities for a broader range of individuals to connect with the natural world while contributing to a better understanding of the impacts of urbanization on bird populations.

It is important to include the public in our scientific efforts and help connect them with the outdoors.

Previous Initiatives

Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center

I worked with the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center on the ‘Neighborhood Nestwatch‘ program. This citizen science initiative focuses on studying the annual survival and reproductive success of songbirds. My role involved visiting participants’ homes in western Massachusetts, where we mist-netted focal songbirds. We collected essential data, including measurements and the placement of unique color bands on their legs. Additionally, we located and monitored their nests.

This program plays a crucial role in helping Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center scientists understand the survival and reproductive success of various bird species in environments affected by human activity. It’s a vital step in bird conservation and understanding the impact of human presence on our avian neighbors.

From left to right: Extracting a Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) from a mist net, using a wing ruler to determine the wing length of a House Wren (Troglodytes aedon), and color banding an American Robin (Turdus migratorius). Photos courtesy of Phil Doyle.

University of Missouri – Columbia

For my thesis, I conducted research in North City St. Louis, Missouri, a city burdened by over a century of social and environmental injustices. This legacy has left the city with a significant concentration of vacant lots. Unfortunately, limited funding from the city has hindered efforts to repurpose this land.

My colleague, Drew Mallinak, and I were particularly interested in the microhabitats that these vacant lots were creating and how they were influencing local bird communities. In October 2019, we had the opportunity to share our findings as part of The Urban Wildlife Conservation Program webinar series hosted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. You can listen to our presentation, “Finding Common Ground: Managing Vacant Lots for Birds and People in St. Louis, Missouri,” by clicking here.

Left: An abandoned home crumbling and being engulfed by vegetation. Right: An entire city block converted into a water detention basin to alleviate city storm water flooding issues.