Current Research
Although often overlooked in avian ecology, parasites can greatly influence the behavior, condition and survival of their hosts. In my study system in Los Alamos, New Mexico, I am investigating how a parasitic blowfly, Protocalliphora, influences the behavior of western bluebirds. Specifically, I am interested in how bluebirds are able to tolerate parasitism by the nest flies, how the changing environment influences this relationship, and the role of host personality in compensating for the effects of blood loss to parasites.
