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Biological Diversity

Tracking a Hermit Warbler

Hermit Warblers are endemic breeders in forests of the Pacific Northwest; they migrate to Central America (Mexico south to Costa Rica) during their non-breeding period. A new study at the Andrews Forest aims to document migration routes, locations, and migratory connectivity of Hermit Warbler populations. For instance, where will birds from the Andrews Forest, southern Washington, and the Sierras of California overwinter? For the Hermit Warbler, changing climate and habitat loss in the breeding grounds seem to drive population losses.

Intern positions for avian ecology summer fieldwork

News Brief Description: 

Position period: from 10 May - 20 July 2019 (end date could be extended).

Location: H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, Blue River, Oregon

Description of the project: This research project is done by the Betts Landscape Ecology Lab at Oregon State University (http://www.fsl.orst.edu/flel/index.htm). This study continues long-term monitoring of the forest bird community in the Andrews montane system. In this field season, our research has two main goals: 1. Investigating the influences of climate and habitat on forest bird distributions, by collecting long-term data on plant phenology, forest bird occurrence and abundance, and microclimate (temperature) data. 2. And we are also investigating migration connectivity and movement of forest songbirds, using geolocators and radio telemetry. In addition to the main goals, we may have few other smaller scale projects related to arthropod prey availability and predation rates of lepidopteran larvae, and vegetation survey.

Duties include: 1) learn and conduct avian point count surveys along transects through forest and on dirt roads, 2) learn and assist songbird trapping, taking biometrics, tagging and tracking birds with radio telemetry unit, 3) downloading and maintenance of temperature loggers, 4) learn and conduct vegetation surveys around point count stations, 5) assist and conduct other smaller preliminary projects, 6) and lastly, the most important data entry and error checking.

These positions require hiking in mountainous terrain on/off trails, travel on dirt roads by 4WD vehicle (valid driving license and clean record needed), very early mornings, and working outside for extended periods in cold and wet (or hot and dry) conditions.

What is provided: Apartment-style housing is provided at the HJ Andrews with shared rooms. The field station is located in the Willamette National Forest near Blue River, OR and provides access to great hiking and mountain biking trails, swimming holes, and hot springs. Monthly stipend of $1000/month will be provided for interns. This intern position does not provide health care or insurance service, so participants must have their own contract with insurance providers.

This position will provide extensive training and experience on conducting avian point count surveys, and aural identification of birds in the pacific northwest rainforests. 

What is required to apply: Applicants should have a strong work ethic, be self-motivated, and comfortable with working in remote areas alone. Being a team player is necessary for group work/living situation. Ability to adapt to a variable work schedule is also necessary. Our transects are in steep mountain slopes and across valleys with old-growth forest towering 200 feet or more. Point count experience and identification skills for birds of the Pacific Northwest by sight and sound are preferred, as well as previous bird-handling skills are preferred. But the motivation to learn and conduct these processes are most required. Only current college and university students (and who maintain the student status until the end of the position) are eligible for this position.

Please send a cover letter, resume, and contact information for 3 references to Hankyu Kim at (hja.birds AT gmail.com). Send application materials as one document (word or pdf) that has your last name in the document title. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. 

Some aspects of our work have been described by Oregon Public Broadcasting (https://www.opb.org/television/video/songbirds-old-growth-forest/).

"Restoring the balance: lessons from long-term research on the wolves of Isle Royale"

Event Date: 
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Event Brief Description: 

Restoring the balance: lessons from long-term research on the wolves of Isle Royale
Dr. John A Vucetich, Michigan Technological University
Tuesday, March 5, 10-11 AM, FSL 20

Summary: In this talk, Vucetich will review the ecological science to emerge from the wolves and moose of Isle Royale National Park. The project – entering its sixth decade – is the longest continuous study of any predator-prey study in the world. Vucetich will also highlight some implications of the research for the broader relationship between humans and nature and the general value of long-term ecological research.

Bio: John Vucetich earned his B.S. in Biology and his Ph.D. in Forest Science at Michigan Technological University. His research focuses on demographic and genetic elements of population biology, ecology of wolves and moose, and environmental ethics. He has spent much of his research life studying wolves in Isle Royale and Yellowstone National Parks, and is deeply involved with carnivore conservation throughout North America. Much of his work is aimed at developing insight that emerges from the synthesis of science and ethics.

Students Study Effects of Drought

A recent publication out of the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest LTER site illustrates the role that summer research experiences can play in contributing to LTER science and in engaging and mentoring students. Oregon State University graduate student Matthew Kaylor is the lead author on a paper about how trout and salamanders respond to drought. Kaylor wrote this paper in collaboration with two undergraduate students. The first student, Brian VerWay, worked with Kaylor to survey trout and salamanders in a set of streams in the Andrews Forest in 2014 and 2015.

Andrews Forest research featured on OPB Television

News Brief Description: 

Researchers at the Andrews Forest, and the forest itself, are featured in an Oregon Public Broadcasting EarthFix television show, "Old Growth Could Be Key For Native Songbird Species To Beat Climate-Change Heat." https://www.opb.org/television/programs/ofg/segment/climate-change-heat-oregon-washington-hermit-warbler-birds/    Get a stunning, bird's-eye view of the forest from above the trees, and through the trees, and find out what scientists are learning about how birds may be using the old-growth forest to beat the heat.

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