Researchers and environmentalists have been sounding the alarm over declining bird populations across North America since the early 1960s. Despite decades of research, these declines are still not well understood but a recent study in Science (Rosenberg et al. 2019) estimates that we have lost 3 billion birds in the past 50 years. Dr. Laura McKinnon, an Associate Professor at York University Glendon Campus, has spent the last 17 years working to advance our understanding of population declines of North American birds. Though she has spent most of this time studying shorebirds in the Canadian Arctic, she has recently expanded her research to urban nesting bird populations in Toronto. Since 2017, she has been banding songbirds on Glendon Campus as part of her undergraduate field ecology course. This year, her lab will embark upon a detailed study to improve our understanding of the effects of light and noise pollution on urban-nesting American Robins.
Join Dr. McKinnon for a guided tour through the Glendon Campus as we search for and visit monitored Robin nests and explore the fascinating life of American Robins in Toronto.
Note: There are no guarantees we will spot particular birds on this walk (although we are optimistic). Binoculars are welcome but not at all required.
This is a small group, in-person, outdoor event. Registration is required.
About the Speaker
Dr. Laura McKinnon is an Associate Professor in the Bilingual Biology Program at York University Glendon Campus and Chair of the Department of Multidisciplinary Studies. Her research lab examines the relative importance of biological, ecological, and anthropogenic stressors impacting the reproductive and migratory ecology of arctic-nesting and urban-nesting birds.
Event Logistics
Please wear comfortable footwear and dress appropriately for the weather and terrain. The walking pace will be mild. This is a rain or shine event. In the event of severe weather, e.g. thunderstorms, we will make an informed decision on the day and notify attendees as soon as possible via the email they register with.
This event will be photographed.
Please refer to your Eventbrite ticket confirmation email for more information on where to find us on the day of the event.
Cancellation Policy
If you are feeling unwell on the day of the event or have had a recent exposure to COVID-19, please cancel your ticket on Eventbrite or contact us so that it may be allocated to the waitlist.
Accessibility
This event is a mild pace nature walk along an outdoor trail with uneven ground. There may be some stairs.