Principal Investigator
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Dr. Sara Kaiser
I am a Research Ecologist and the Director of the Hubbard Brook Field Ornithology Program at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and maintain my status as a Research Associate at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.
My research program provides training and research opportunities for undergraduates and postdoctoral researchers as part of my ongoing research on migratory black-throated blue warblers, based during the summer months at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and grasshopper sparrows in the Caribbean Islands. My training includes a Ph.D. from Cornell University in behavioral ecology, an interdisciplinary M.S. from Michigan State University in ecology, evolutionary biology and behavior, and a B.S. from Iowa State University in zoology. I conducted postdoctoral research at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, and Smithsonian Center for Conservation Genomics where I expanded my expertise in modern molecular approaches for understanding animal behavior and ecology.
Prior to my doctoral training, I taught field courses as a Faculty Instructor of Conservation Biology in New Zealand and worked as an Avian Ecologist on the California Channel Islands in island bird conservation. |
Postdocs
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Dr. Todd Jones
Postdoctoral Fellow, Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center & Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Research Affiliate, Illinois Natural History Survey Hubbard Brook Research: Within-season costs of reproduction in the black-throated blue warbler Follow Todd's work: https://toddmj6.wixsite.com/todd-jones/home |
Current Students
My highly motivated students have conducted independent research on a variety of topics.
Student field projects have included lab components during the academic year and leveraged long-term data (behavioral, genetic, environmental) collected as part of long-term population studies. I encourage my students to develop original research, to write grant proposals to support their research, and to submit senior theses and scientific publications to further their development as scholars.
cornell university
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Amaya Bechler
Cornell University Class of 2025, Environment & Sustainability - Environmental Biology, Applied Ecology
Hubbard Brook Field Ornithology Program: Characterizing variation in gut microbiome composition and diet from breeding through molt in the migratory black-throated blue warbler
Dr. Brian Trevelline, Cornell Lab of Ornithology |
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Andre Golumbeski
Cornell University Class of 2024, Biological Sciences - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Hubbard Brook Field Ornithology Program |
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Grace Guo
Cornell University Class of 2025, Biological Sciences - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Hubbard Brook Field Ornithology Program: |
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Lezhi (Stella) Hao
Cornell University Class of 2023, Biological Sciences - Genetics, Genomics and Development
Hubbard Brook Field Ornithology Program: Female plumage traits as signals of mate quality, competitive ability, and stress resilience in the black-throated blue warbler
Follow on Twitter: @HaoStella10 |
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Brian Hofstetter
Cornell University Class of 2026, Biological Sciences - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Hubbard Brook Field Ornithology Program: |
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Jackson Hutchison
Cornell University Class of 2023, Biological Sciences - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Hubbard Brook Field Ornithology Program: Post-fledging movements, survival and habitat use of juvenile black-throated blue warblers
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August Davidson-Onsgard
Cornell University Class of 2024, Biological Sciences - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Hubbard Brook Field Ornithology Program: Signaling function of the supercilium in female black-throated blue warblers |
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Hannah Pryor
Cornell University Class of 2026, Environment and Sustainability with a student-designed Ornithology concentration
Hubbard Brook Field Ornithology Program: |
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Braeden Thomson
Cornell University Class of 2024, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Environment & Sustainability
Hubbard Brook Field Ornithology Program: Oxidative costs and constraints of territory quality on reproductive effort in male black-throated blue warblers
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Eryn Woernley
Cornell University Class of 2024, Environment & Sustainability
Hubbard Brook Field Ornithology Program: Effects of timing of breeding on post-fledging parental care and survival in the black-throated blue warbler
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Jasmine (JazzyJ), Lab Pooch
I am an avid birder and runner. I get along with every dog, cat, and person (big or small) that I meet. I enjoy exploring the White Mountain National Forest and entertaining the Hubbard Brook research community with my goofy smile and howl.
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Support Team
Brett & Jack - always up for joining me in the field and chasing birds.
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40th Black-throated Blue Warbler Field Crew 2022
Front row (L to R): Sophie Rabinowicz '21, Lezhi (Stella) Hao '23, Eryn Woernley '24, August Davidson-Onsgard '24, Amaya Bechler '25, Lindsey Forg '22, Sara Kaiser (Director). Back row (L to R): Samantha Hagler '20, John Deitsch '22, Andre Golumbeski '24, Jackson Hutchison '23, David Lichter (Queens College), Richard Holmes (Professor Emeritus, Dartmouth)
Lab Alumni
cornell university
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John Deitsch
Cornell University Class of 2022, Entomology, Biological Sciences - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Hubbard Brook Field Ornithology Program: Artificial light at night increases top-down pressure on caterpillars: experimental evidence from a light-naïve forest
Follow John's work: https://jfdeitsch.wixsite.com/entomornithologist Follow on Twitter: @DeitschJohn |
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Lindsey Forg
Cornell University Class of 2022, Environment & Sustainability
Hubbard Brook Field Ornithology Program: DNA metabarcoding reveals within-season variation in the diet of the insectivorous black-throated blue warbler
Collaborators: Dr. Gemma Clucas, Cornell Lab of Ornithology Dr. Andrew Stillman, Cornell Lab of Ornithology Follow Lindsey's work: http://www.lindseyforgphotography.com/ Follow on Twitter: @ForgLindsey Follow on Instagram: @lindsey.forg |
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Raisa Kochmaruk
Cornell University Class of 2021, Environment & Sustainability - Science Communication
Hubbard Brook Artist in Residence Program: Scientific illustration series of female plumage variation and nestling development in the black-throated blue warbler Hubbard Brook Mural Collaborators: Jillian Ditner, Cornell Lab of Ornithology Current position: Communications Specialist, Hubbard Brook Research Foundation Follow Raisa's work: https://mondielle.com/ Follow on Twitter: @RKochmaruk Follow on Instagram: @raisa_kochmaruk |
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Sophie Rabinowicz
Cornell University Class of 2021, Animal Science, Environment & Sustainability
Hubbard Brook Field Ornithology Program: Impacts of research disturbance on avian nest defense behaviors and nest survival across a landscape of risk
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Maria Smith
Cornell University Class of 2016, Biological Sciences - Neurobiology and Behavior
REU topic: Functional variation in nest morphology and brooding behavior along a climate gradient
Graduate school: Ph.D. Candidate, Princeton University (Dr. Christina Riehl's lab) |
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Dominique Hellmich
Cornell University Class of 2015, Biological Sciences - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Honors Thesis and REU topic: Role of top-down selection pressure by predators on lay-date adjustment in response to spring temperature
Graduate school: Ph.D. Candidate, New Mexico State University (Dr. Timothy Wright's lab) Follow on Twitter: @DominiqueHellm6 |
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Sarah Rubenstein, M.S.
Cornell University Class of 2015, Science of Natural Environmental Systems
Honors Thesis and REU topic: Linking personality traits to parental behaviors and reproductive success Graduate school: M.S., Wildlife Ecology, University of Maine (Dr. Joseph Zydlewski's lab) Professional position: Biological Science Technician, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Follow on Twitter: @srubenstein |
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Dr. Juliet Jacobson
Cornell University Class of 2016, Biological Sciences - General Biology
Lab-based training: Genotyping and paternity analyses Professional School: New York Medical College Follow on Twitter: @jacojuls |
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Dr. Kathryn Grabenstein
Cornell University Class of 2014, Biological Sciences - Neurobiology and Behavior
Honors Thesis and REU topic: Resource-dependent offspring sex allocation
Graduate school: Ph.D., University of Colorado Boulder (Dr. Scott Taylor's lab) Follow Kathryn's work: https://www.kathryngrabenstein.com/ |
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Laura Stirling
Cornell University Class of 2011, Biological Sciences - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
REU topic: Implications of trill rate and bandwidth trade-offs in mate choice and male reproductive success |
smithsonian conservation biology institute
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Ellie Ezekiel
Franklin & Marshall College Class of 2017, Biology
REU topic: Prevalence of avian malaria in Old World tropical songbirds |
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Conor Harbeck
Franklin & Marshall College Class of 2017, Biology
REU topic: Offspring sex ratio bias in Old World tropical songbirds |
hubbard brook research experience
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Alisa Muniz
Humboldt State University Class of 2015, Wildlife Biology
REU project: Spatial and temporal variation in songbird nest predation
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Dr. Andre Moncrieff
Andrews University Class of 2014, Music, Biology
Independent project: Song characteristics that predict extra-mating success
Graduate school: Ph.D. Candidate, Louisiana State University (Dr. Robb Brumfield's lab) Follow on Twitter: @Andre_Moncrieff |
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Ryan Steiner
Frostburg State College Class of 2012
REU topic: Effect of food supplementation on avian incubation behavior and hatchling mass Graduate school: M.S., University of Minnesota-Duluth (Dr. Gerald Niemi's lab) |
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Jessica Sutt, M.S.
Warren Wilson College Class of 2011, Conservation Biology, Environmental Education
Honors Thesis and REU topic: Influence of food availability and female constraints on sex differences in parental care
Graduate school: M.S., Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, University of Florida '14 Professional position: Refuge Operations Specialist at Florida Panther & Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuges, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Naples, FL |
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Dr. Lindsey Nietmann
Carlton College Class of 2009, Biology - Environmental Studies
Independent project: Vocal consistency and extra-pair mating success
Graduate school: Ph.D., University of Washington (Dr. Renee Ha's lab) Professional position: Wildlife Biologist, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Hawaii Department of Lands and Natural Resources |
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Alexa Trimble (Branesky)
Washington State University Class of 2009, Biological Sciences
Senior project: Effects of weather and climate on mating patterns in a migratory bird
Current position: Trust and Safety Specialist, Rover.com (Pet Care) Formerly Zoo Keeper at Roosevelt Park Zoo, Woodland Park Zoo, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, and Intern at Northwest Trek and Keauhou Bird Conservation Center |