Introducing...
Dr. David Aborn [he/him/his]
Professor, Biology, Geology, and Environmental Science, University of Tennessee-Chattanooga; Guest Writer
Hello! I enjoy participating in the Journey North program because animal migration is a fascinating phenomenon and I want to help people understand how it works, why it is important, and how they can help migratory species.
David grew up in the Washington DC area, but his education and career took him to many places across the country and around the world. His favorites have been Huntington Beach State Park in South Carolina, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida, Costa Rica, the Galapagos Islands, and Cuba. David believes that citizen science projects have the potential to provide needed data for scientists, while bringing awareness to participants about the scientific process. He has seen that participants hone their observational skills and learn even more about natural processes.
David has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Zoology from Clemson University and a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Southern Mississippi. A variety of positions has involved several avian research projects from studying hawk migration in New Jersey and breeding biology of Wood Thrushes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to examining juvenile dispersal of Florida Scrub-Jays. David’s current research focuses on urban greenspaces as places for migratory birds to rest and refuel during migration.
If David is not teaching or conducting research, you can find him walking his dogs, watching movies, and of course…birding!
David has been contributing articles on spring migration of songbirds and the impact of weather on migration since 2000.