My pronouns are she/her
I study how birds recognize one another and the role of this ability in coordinating group behavior. Individuals within bird flocks do not contribute equally to collective decisions, with leadership often falling to more knowledgeable or experienced individuals. To maintain cohesion, flock members must be able to recognize and follow these leaders, even during high-speed flight.
I combine conditioning experiments with behavioral observations and machine learning, using homing pigeons as a model species to investigate the role of visual recognition in flock dynamics. By uncovering the visual and cognitive foundations that underpin flock behavior, I hope to contribute to a better understanding of the social needs of species of conservation concern.
I am passionate about applying insights from behavioral research to inform conservation efforts at every stage, from animal husbandry and pre-release preparation to the management of their habitats. I am also interested in how individuals form and maintain social bonds with conspecifics.
