HUMMINGBIRDS GALORE
I am deeply enthralled by hummingbirds, and the amount of extremity that can be packed into their tiny bodies. Everything about them tends toward intensity: their plumage, their aerial acrobatics, their combativeness. They exist on the brink of starvation, at breakneck speed. Certain hummingbirds are heavily co-evolved with certain flowers, to the point of nearly obligate mutualism.
Though I am interested in anything regarding hummingbirds, I intend to focus my studies on tropical hummingbird foraging patterns, utilizing emerging technology to do so. It is my goal to improve our field techniques in regards to these minute and speedy birds - traits that preclude the use of many standard methods! I am also incredibly passionate about conservation, and believe that discovery-based research should be conducted in the interest of informing conservation efforts. Since 1970, we have lost nearly 3 billion birds. This is a staggering figure, and we must do everything in our power to turn this tide.
I will continue to update this page as I progress throughout my PhD. Check back for more soon, if you want to know more or follow along!
Though I am interested in anything regarding hummingbirds, I intend to focus my studies on tropical hummingbird foraging patterns, utilizing emerging technology to do so. It is my goal to improve our field techniques in regards to these minute and speedy birds - traits that preclude the use of many standard methods! I am also incredibly passionate about conservation, and believe that discovery-based research should be conducted in the interest of informing conservation efforts. Since 1970, we have lost nearly 3 billion birds. This is a staggering figure, and we must do everything in our power to turn this tide.
I will continue to update this page as I progress throughout my PhD. Check back for more soon, if you want to know more or follow along!
BACKGROUND
I have had the privilege of working with many different avian species, in various corners of the world. Some examples include fairy-wrens in Australia, owls in Canada, and storm-petrels in the Azores (Portugal). Many of these projects were conservation-oriented, or focused on reproductive success (a useful bioindicator that we can leverage to better understand the consequences of particular actions, such as heavy metal pollution). Feel free to check out my CV if you're interested in seeing more of my experience, and head to the gallery if you want to see some pictures of my past work!
CV
sargentcv_feb2021.pdf | |
File Size: | 157 kb |
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Photo credits: Kristiina Hurme and Alejandro Rico-Guevara (all).