Orin Robinson
Research Associate
I analyze eBird and other data to study the distribution and demographics of species of conservation concern. In addition to studying bird population dynamics, I have worked on reptiles, amphibians, fish, and mammals.
My current research focuses on the Tricolored Blackbird, a species restricted almost entirely to California, with a small percentage (~1–5%) breeding in Nevada, Washington, and Oregon. Their populations have declined precipitously over the last 80 years. My goal is to understand their habitat associations, movement, and demographic rates throughout the annual cycle. While these are common topics in many bird studies, the nature of the available data and lack of knowledge about many aspects of the Tricolored Blackbird’s annual cycle have made even this basic information difficult to characterize. I’m using field data and citizen-science data to understand the seasonal distributions of Tricolored Blackbirds and their demography.
Education
Ph.D., Ecology and Evolution, Rutgers University
M.S., Marine Sciences, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, University of South Alabama