| RESEARCH | |
| Interests | |
| In my research, I generally focus on breeding biology and foraging of cavity-nesting birds, especially House Wrens and Black-capped Chickadees. In 2001 I started new projects on analysis of songs of House Wrens and molecular sexing of wrens and chickadees using CHD-1 genes in DNA extracted from feathers. | |
| Research with students | |
| I have a lot of fun in my research, and I enjoy actively involving students in research projects. Since 1995, more than 47 Albion College undergraduates have worked with me on a variety of projects on breeding biology and singing of House Wrens, food preferences and movements of foraging Black-capped Chickadees, sumac dispersal by birds, and fruit dispersal by small mammals. Twenty-two students have completed research theses for Albion College Honors or Departmental Honors in Biology under my direction. In 2001-2002, I served as Director of Albion College FURSCA (Foundation for Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity). I served as Summer Director of FURSCA from 2000-2004. | |
| Recent student projects (1999-2006) | |
| Research students in Summer 2006 and
2006-2007:
David Goodyear ('07) Comparison of DNA yields from feathers and blood of nestling birds Will Lewis ('08) Song sharing in Northern Cardinals Megan Fitzpatrick ('08) Incubation patterns in Tree Swallows Lauren Dennisuk ('08), Meagan Bosket ('09), Kehvren Dobbins ('10), and Mark Kluk ('10) - Movement patterns in Black-capped Chickadees Past student projects (1999-2006): Dan Harris ('06) Nestling sex ratios in single-brooded Tree Swallows and double-brooded House Wrens Brad Hauch ('06) Responses of House Wrens to simple and complex conspecific songs Katy Niesen ('05) Individual variation in songs of male House Wrens Shari Gross ('04) Do male House Wrens sing the same songs from one year to the next? Morgan Haugen ('04) Comparing feathers and feces as sources of DNA from nestling House Wrens Tammy Calvin ('03) Songs used in mate communication in House Wrens Bobby Clase ('03) Comparison of human language and animal vocalizations Amanda Kent ('03) and Amy Radgowski ('04) Determining effective methods of sexing House Wrens Elizabeth Mettler ('03) An amino-acid profile of bird-dispersed fruits in Michigan (co-directed by Doug White) Katy Niesen ('05) and Rebecca Puszcz ('06) Geographic variation in songs of House Wrens Ngan (Nina) Thai ('04) Song learning in House Wrens Nate Sowa ('03) Molecular sexing of nestling House Wrens Chris Hawkins ('03) Dominance and movements of Black-capped Chickadees Chad Beers ('03) and Nate Newman ('03) Techniques in specimen preparation Kami Marsack ('02) Comparing methods of extracting DNA from feathers of nestling House Wrens Erin Risser ('02) Analysis of guano of big brown bats for food preferences Kami Marsack ('02) and Liz Duvall ('03) Movements of Black-capped Chickadees in Whitehouse Nature Center Michelle Lesperance ('00) Responses of House Wrens to song playbacks Jessi Lueken ('00) Singing rates of House Wrens through the breeding season Jenni Lueken ('00) Feeding rates of nestlings by House Wrens Gretchen Gockerman ('00) Foraging preferences of Black-capped Chickadees Michelle Sautter ('00) Heavy metal concentrations in sumac
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