The Social Structure and Reproductive Strategies of the Black-Crested Titmouse presented by Rebekah Rylander, a PhD student at Texas State University

Why are titmice found in groups? Spend an evening with the Fort Worth Audubon Society for a presentation on one of North Texas’s favorite birds. Is there a purpose to their flocking behavior? While the physical appearance of the black-crested titmouse is rather drab in shades of black and gray, the social structure of this species is anything but that! Over the course of a six year study, it has been discovered that the BCTI is a complicated species with peculiar flocking capabilities and reproductive behaviors. Through the use of color banding and focal monitoring, a rather common bird just got a lot more interesting! Come hear Rebekah Rylander, a PhD student at Texas State University, share her knowledge and insight into the secret lives of the BCTI. 

Rebekah Rylander is a native Texan and was introduced to the field of ornithology during her undergraduate degree at the University of Texas. Since then she has been fortunate to assist with avian research in various locations across the globe including Australia, Ecuador, Hawaii, Mexico, and Canada. Rebekah is currently pursuing a PhD at Texas State University focusing on family flocking dynamics of the Black-crested Titmouse, a project that stemmed from her Master’s work with the same species. In her limited spare time, Rebekah enjoys running a banding station, monitoring local populations of Golden-cheeked Warblers, and assisting undergraduates with independent research projects that target bird conservation.

The meetings begin at 7:30 p.m. but please come early for the mini-ID class that begins at 6:50 p.m.

Info: Scott Hollinger, scotthf4law@gmail.com

Event Location: 
UNT Health Science Center
3500 Camp Bowie Blvd Research and Education Bldg, Beyer Hall, Rm 100
Ft Worth , TX
Date and Time: 
Thursday, December 13, 2018 - 7:30pm
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