WOMEN IN SEABIRD SCIENCE
Emily Burt
she/her
PhD Student
McGill
University
Discipline
Behaviour, Genetics, Reproductive Biology & Life History
Regional Focus
Tern Islands; Kouchibouguac National Park; New Brunswick; Canada
Years Active
3-5 years
Species Focus
Sea ducks and allies (Anatidae)
Tell us about your work with seabirds.
I started working with seabirds for my Honours thesis in 2021, studying the foraging and movement ecology of incubating red-breasted mergansers in New Brunswick using GPS-accelerometers. I quickly fell in love with seabirds and my study population, so I returned to study these same red-breasted mergansers for Master's in 2022, where I have since fast-tracked to become a PhD student. For my PhD, I am investigating the ecological, social, and evolutionary factors that promote conspecific brood parasitism in both hosts and parasites using molecular methods (microsatellite genotyping) and behavioural observations using camera traps at the nest.
What advice would you offer to individuals aspiring to pursue a career as seabird scientists?
Entering the world of research can feel daunting, but it feels less scary once you take the first plunge. Don't be afraid to reach out and talk to people or ask for advice, the seabird community is really friendly and supportive, especially for aspiring scientists. Take advantage of opportunities to assist other students and scientists in their research to learn what you like and what you don't (e.g. lab vs field work); there's a niche for everyone to fill both within and outside of academia!
Emily wearing a grey jacket, beige hat, and green rain pants. She is standing in dense marram grass on the Tern Islands in Kouchibougac National Park, New Brunswick, Canada holding a red-breasted merganser hen that was captured for banding and blood sampling. The islands are also home to a common tern colony, which can be seen in the sky in the background. A black net is in the bottom left corner of the photo.
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