Rachel Darling, Ph.D., Wildlife Ecology

Co-Advisor:  Erik Blomberg – Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology
Co-Advisor:  Amber Roth – Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology and School of Forest Resources
Start Date:  Fall 2022
M.S. 2022, Conservation Ecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
B.A. 2010, Psychology, Spring Arbor University, Spring, MI
rachel.darling@maine.edu, 207.581.2921

Brief Biography: Originally from southeast Michigan and a student of human behavior, as an adult, I developed a fascination with birds and human-wildlife interactions. Ever curious, my master’s thesis examined how the ecosystem services birds provide may be impacted by anthropogenic night light and noise. I enjoy photography, gardening, my two cats, and traveling.

Current Research: My current research is part of the Eastern Woodcock Migration Research Cooperative and is in its very early stages. I plan to examine the population structure and ecology of the American Woodcock, focusing on identifying sources and sinks of genetic material and how survival/mortality rates across the species’ range and annual cycle influence its genetic diversity.