Date: 9/21/26 5:19 pm From: Elisa via groups.io <chiccadee100...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Pin-tailed Whydah and Scaly-breasted Munia: Citizen Science Project
Hi everyone,
My name is Elisa Yang and I'm OC birder doing my PhD in ornithology. I study the brood parasitic relationship between introduced Pin-tailed Whydahs and Scaly-breasted Munias. Thanks to tips from birders on this listserv, I've been studying these species at the Fullerton Arboretum the last two years, and have come with many exciting findings I can't wait to share!
This year and next year we are expanding the project to include a citizen science approach, working with people who may have a munia nest in their yard, or have seen one in their neighborhood. The munia nest is a large domed ball of grass with a side entrance, tucked into a shrub, tree, or eave. I can work with nests up to about 18 feet high.
If that sounds like your yard, here's the project page. It contains a lot more information on the current research, people on the project, and what types of data we are collecting. Feel free to either email me with information (either if you have a nest, or if you see a lot of munias nesting in your neighborhood), or fill out the intake form on the website. Thanks so much for your help!
https://sites.google.com/princeton.edu/elisayang/citizen-science-project
