Date: 4/24/26 11:52 am From: Jody Enck <jodyenck...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Help requested for study of plastic in bird nests
Hello Cayugabirders,
With all the habitat improvement work being done by members of the Cayuga
Bird Club, I wanted to pass along this request for help from an undergrad
student at Cornell who is working with faculty guidance on a research
project. For more information, see his message below.
Hello, my name is Will Cawley, and I am an undergraduate student at Cornell
conducting research on plastic in bird nests. I will be in Ithaca this
summer looking for *American Robin, Gray Catbird, and Northern Mockingbird
nests*. I am looking for nests with and without plastic in them, to compare
nest success between the two groups.
If you find any nests of these species on public property, or if you have
nests on your property that you would be willing to let me come and check
occasionally throughout the nesting cycle, please let me know. Nest checks
would be quick, at 1-week intervals, and I’d like to collect the nest
*after* fledging or failure. I will dissect the nest to quantify any
plastics contained in the nesting material. Note that I have the proper
permits to collect nests.
If you have any questions or would like to report a nest, please *email me
at <wdc65...> <wdc65...>*. Thank you!
Happy Birding,
Will Cawley
Cornell Class of 2028
*<wdc65...>* <wdc65...>
...
Jody W. Enck, PhD
Conservation Social Scientist, and
Founder of the Sister Bird Club Network
607-379-5940
