Beauty is in the eye of the Birdholder

Honorable Mention

This image was taken during the fieldwork for my Master of Science in Environmental Management. This is a species near and dear to my heart, as this was my third summer working with them: the Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus). I captured and banded Bobolinks and collected their fecal samples to assess their diet as they transitioned from the breeding stage of their lifecycle into preparations for fall migration. These impressive grassland birds migrate approximately 20,000 kilometers roundtrip every year, as far as Argentina. This makes them one of the furthest migrating songbirds in North America. Capture and banding Bobolinks does not harm them, and we follow extensive safety protocols. As you can see in the image, Bobolinks are quite feisty birds. I had worked with birds briefly before working with Bobolinks, but this is the species that made me fall in love with the study of birds, ornithology, and ignited my passion for hands-on research for the purpose of conserving wildlife. The Bobolink is a species-at-risk in Canada and their population has been in decline. I hope that my research can have real implications for conservation and wildlife management. I think that this image demonstrates both their personality and perseverance.