Ohio Avian Research Conference

Dr. Nathan W. Cooper

Research Ecologist
Migratory Bird Center
Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute

Full annual cycle biology: Lessons from North America’s rarest songbird

Cooper will present his research on North America’s rarest songbird, the Kirtland’s Warbler. Over the past few decades, Kirtland’s Warblers have undergone a remarkable recovery, from just 167 males in the world in 1987 to more than 2,200 males today. In addition to having a compelling conservation story, its small population size and restricted breeding and winter ranges provide a truly unique opportunity to learn more about the fascinating and interconnected annual cycles of songbirds. Cooper will take us on a journey through the annual cycle of the Kirtland’s Warbler and share what we have learned from this rare species.

Nathan is a behavioral ecologist and conservation biologist. He studies how migratory birds interact with each other and their environments throughout the annual cycle. He is primarily focused on the ecology and conservation of the Kirtland’s Warbler and is currently involved in several science- and conservation-based projects with this recently delisted species. Cooper grew up in Michigan and earned a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife from Michigan State University, a M.S. in Biology from Portland State University, and a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Tulane University. He first joined the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center as a Ph.D. student in 2008, and then was awarded Predoctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships there, before being promoted to Research Ecologist in 2020.