I am an Avian Ecologist who is interested how birds use habitats within the human-dominated landscape and the effects of environmental conditions and habitat on the full annual ecology of birds.
About
Mission
About Us
The Williams Avian Ecology Lab focuses on understanding how birds respond to their environment so we can make recommendations to improve conservation efforts.
My lab uses a variety of field and lab techniques to understand how birds respond to the environment in which they live. Our current focus is on understanding how birds use habitat patches within the human dominated landscape and determining how habitat use affects survival. We focus on movement ecology, full annual cycle ecology, and on how environmental conditions (e.g., food availability, parasites, habitat quality, temperature and precipitation) affects adult and offspring survival and condition.
Team
The Williams Lab
I supervise undergraduate and masters students in research and experiential learning. Students in my lab employ a variety of ornithological field techniques including bird banding, automated and manual telemetry, and territory mapping. We quantify habitat at the landscape and local scale, food availability, and parental care in order to link environmental conditions and behavior to habitat use and survival. Our lab uses the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, GIS and R to map and analyze data
Approach
Our Research Approach
My lab seeks to fill knowledge gaps in the full annual ecology of birds so we can provide conservation partners recommendations to improve habitat for birds and find solutions to conservation problems.
Methodology
Students in my lab employ a variety of ornithological field techniques including bird banding, automated and manual telemetry, and territory mapping. We quantify habitat at the landscape and local scale as well as food availability, parasites and parental care in order to link environmental conditions and behavior to habitat use and survival. Our lab uses the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, GIS and R to map and analyze data.
Our Lab
Conservation
We work with partners through the Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative to identify and fill knowledge gaps so we can make management recommendations that support conservation of birds.
Education
My lab provides outreach through bird banding and by presenting talks at local bird and nature clubs as well as at scientific conferences.
Funding
Funding
Kelly Williams is a Rush Elliott Professor in Biological Sciences 2022 - 2027. The Rush Elliott Professorship recognizes excellence in teaching, research and student mentoring and provides funding that supports experiential learning opportunities for students in Biological Sciences.
My lab has also received funding from the Ohio University Research Council, Columbus Audubon and Kirtland Bird Club.
Kelly Williams, Ph.D.
williak5@ohio.edu
Ohio University
Department of Biological Sciences
318 Irvine Hall
Athens, Ohio 45701