Current Council Members

 

President: Danielle Ethier​

​I am the Senior Scientist with Birds Canada and Adjunct Professor at Waterloo and Western Universities. My research is quantitative, focusing on leveraging citizen science datasets to understand the state of Canada’s birds and the factors driving changes in abundance and distribution. Outside work I am a vegetable gardener, distance runner, camper, newbie sailor, and mother of two daughters.

Vice-President/President-Elect: Ann McKellar

​I am a Research Scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada and Adjunct Professor at the University of Saskatchewan and Thompson Rivers University. My research program aims to understand the drivers of population change and develop effective conservation strategies for migratory birds in human-dominated landscapes.

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Past President: Matt Reudink

I am a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Thompson Rivers University (Kamloops, BC) in Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc within Secwépemc'ulucw, the traditional and unceded territory of the Secwépemc people. My students and I study everything from the evolution of ornamental colouration to migratory connectivity and carry-over effects to the impacts of urbanization on bird populations.

Website: https://mattreudink.owlstown.net/

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Membership Secretary: Francis van Oordt

​I am a Climate Change Analyst working with the Canadian Forest Service on drought vulnerability assessment integration to better manage forests in the country, with a special focus on the boreal. I have a background in seabird research and general ecology, bird movement tracking and isotopic niches.

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Recording Secretary: Lionel Leston​

I am a research associate at the University of Alberta in the Department of Biological Sciences, working with Dr. Erin Bayne and collaborating with biologists in the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute. My work primarily involves developing species distribution models describing how boreal forest birds respond to active and revegetated human footprint and climate change. I mainly use open source spatial data and wildlife data (primarily point counts and passive acoustic monitoring) and develop reproducible work flows for extracting spatial data and running models. I am increasingly interested in modelling via hierarchical Bayesian methods that account for probability of detecting wildlife during surveys. Besides species distribution models, I am mentoring or advising students and acquiring new skills in machine learning (e.g., species recognition), modelling habitat connectivity, and conservation planning tools.

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Treasurer: Lisha Berzins

​​I am an independent consultant in bird conservation. My work focuses on understanding the threats that birds face, particularly through the loss of wetland habitat and changes in land use and climate, with the goal of developing solutions which mitigate these threats and ultimately create healthy ecosystems for birds and people. I enjoy working with community-based initiatives to support local bird populations and I am proudly neurodivergent. Outside of work, I enjoy birding, creating bird themed clothing, and volunteering as a land steward at my local nature reserve.

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Members of Council:

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Sachin Anand

I am a doctoral student specializing in avian ecophysiology at the University of Quebec at Rimouski, supervised by Prof. François Vézina (UQAR) and Prof. Oliver Love (University of Windsor). My research focuses on the Snow Bunting, a cold-adapted Arctic passerine, to understand how climate warming affects its physiology, particularly heat stress, heat tolerance limits, and its capacity to acclimate to warmer temperatures. Using open-flow respirometry, I measure evaporative cooling capacity, metabolic rate along with body temperature and body composition measurements to assess the thermal limits and future vulnerability of snow buntings to the rapidly warming Arctic. I recognize the importance of this society as a platform for networking, guidance and information exchange on birds among members. With this in mind, I aim to strengthen the society’s network by reaching out to new potential members in the birding and research community across Canada.

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Carrie Branch

I am an Assistant Professor at the University of Western Ontario (Western University) in the Departments of Psychology and Biology. My students and I are interested in understanding how environmental variation shapes behaviour, including cognitive abilities and communication. We work with North American chickadees and combine lab and field approaches to address these questions. When I’m not chasing chickadees around the forest, I spend my time watching comedy and snuggling my 2 fluffy dogs.  

Website: carriebranch2018.ca

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Emily Choy

Emily Choy is an Assistant Professor of Biology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. Her research focuses on the effects of anthropogenic stressors on avian wildlife and other predators to monitor broad-scale environmental change.

Website: https://experts.mcmaster.ca/people/choye1

 

Elizabeth Gow

I am a Research Scientist in the Wildlife Research Division of Environment and Climate Change Canada and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Guelph, Simon Fraser University, and McMaster University. My research uses innovative technologies and interdisciplinary research teams to understand how terrestrial birds are responding and adapting to anthropogenic stressors in urban and forested environments in Western Canada. I have been on the Society of Canadian Ornithologists’ Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion committee since 2022 and am working on making SCO-SOC safe and supportive for all ornithologists in Canada and beyond. Website: https://www.elizabethgow.com/

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Leanne Grieves

I am the Houston Chair in Ornithology at the University of Saskatchewan and my research program focuses primarily on avian chemical ecology, particularly chemical communication in social and reproductive contexts. I’ve been active with the Society of Canadian Ornithologists’ Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion committee since 2020 and our efforts to make SCO-SOC more inclusive are near and dear to my heart. Outside of work, I am a birder, naturalist, boxer, gardener, and caretaker to my rescue pet family: Sav the ancient cockatiel, Bun the rabbit, and Cel the cat. Website: grieveslab.com

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Steffi LaZerte

I am a consulting biologist and R programmer and rOpensCi Community Assistant. I develop R packages and create R workflows in a variety of disciplines in the Natural Sciences, but especially in ornithology. I’ve been involved in the SCO-SOC Mentorship Program as a Mentor since it started in 2022 and am now one of the program organizers. I have been on Council since 2024. Outside of work, I love travelling, be it camping locally (with my kitties!) or going to more distant destinations. But I also enjoy stay-at-home activities such as reading, gardening, origami, and spinning wool into yarn.

Website: steffilazerte.ca

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Kara Lefevre

I am a wildlife ecologist and environmental writer focussed on the consequences of human activity for biodiversity. Studying how birds are influenced by their landscapes from Arctic coastline to beaches and forests of the Neotropics has been a dream come true. Associate Dean of Science at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, British Columbia, I am enthralled and grateful to be living in Secwepemcúl̓ecw, the traditional and unceded territory of the Secwépemc. A good day is one spent on the land, exploring with my family and knitting en plein air.

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Maggie MacPherson

Maggie MacPherson is an Assistant Professor of Avian Ecology at Trent University. Her research focuses on spatial dynamics in birds, integrating data from natural history collections and field work. Website: https://maggiepmacpherson.com/

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Alexandre Terrigeol

I am the Director of operations at the Tadoussac Bird Observatory where I coordinate field operations and contribute to data collection and analysis on migratory passerines, including finches and raptors. I am particularly interested in population trends and the impacts of environmental change on bird movements but I also have a strong interest in public outreach and science communication. More broadly, I am interested in all living beings, and every step outdoors is an opportunity for me to contribute to participatory (citizen) science. Professional website: https://ootadoussac.ca/en/

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Sunny Tseng

Originally from Taiwan, I am a PhD candidate specializing in avian bioacoustics, now based in Vancouver, Canada. My journey with birds began as a field recordist, collecting bird sounds and soundscapes for both science and storytelling. I have conducted research in Siberia, Taiwan, Canada, and Lithuania, recording sounds from more than 300 bird species. I’ve been involved with SCO-SOC through its 2023 Mentorship Program and as part of the 2025 conference organizing team. I also work as an ecological R data scientist and infographic designer. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family and friends outdoors, whether on land or underwater. I also appreciate quiet moments with a warm cup of tea. Website: sunnytseng.ca

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Co-Editors of Picoides:

Barbara Bleho

I am an ecologist and biodiversity specialist in the consulting industry. My areas of focus include regulatory compliance; environmental impact assessments; species at risk and critical habitat screenings; habitat modelling; mitigation and management planning; and biodiversity governance. I have also worked directly with agencies and non-government organizations including ECCC, Parks Canada and the NCC; and published multiple peer-reviewed manuscripts and chapters. My personal research interests are focused on grassland systems where I started my journey. My graduate thesis evaluated grassland songbird responses to grazing and associated changes in habitat structure at Grasslands National Park. ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Barbara-Bleho-2

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Rob Warnock

For my MSc thesis, I examined the effects of habitat fragmentation patterns on the Burrowing Owl population in Saskatchewan. I have completed Burrowing Owl surveys in southern Saskatchewan including Grasslands National Park and roadside surveys for songbirds in and around Prince Albert National Park. I served 12 years as a board member of Nature Saskatchewan and contributed to the Birds of Saskatchewan. Over the years, I worked for Nature Saskatchewan (Burrowing Owl surveys, evaluation of Operation Burrowing Owl program), and Saskatchewan Ministries of Environment; Health; and Parks, Culture and Sport. Currently, I am Senior Analyst and Statistician with Saskatchewan Ministry of Education.

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Webmaster: Jenn Foote

Jenn Foote is a Professor of Biology at Algoma University. She studies songbird vocal behaviour with behavioural observations, autonomous recorders, and bioacoustics tools. Jenn has been the webmaster for the SCO since 2016.