Ornithology
Ornithological research at NYSM focuses on historical questions concerning the biogeography and evolution birds. Our research combines traditional museum specimen work, field work, and modern genetics laboratory work. We use DNA sequence data from living and extinct species to understand rates and patterns of bird evolution over the last few million years. Potential graduate students who wish to pursue a masters or doctorate degree through the State University of New York at Albany should contact the curator, Dr. Jeremy Kirchman.
Dr. Jeremy J. Kirchman
Curator of Birds and Mammalsjeremy.kirchman@nysed.gov
I am broadly interested in the evolution and biogeography of birds, but most of my research focuses on populations found on islands.
Collections
News Articles
DNA studies examine the past and future of the birds of New York's Catskills and Adirondacks.
Published July 27, 2015 | Ornithology
Two papers have been published describing ornithological research by NYSM scientists. The papers are based on Ph.D. dissertation work conducted by Dr. Joel Ralston, former University at Albany graduate student, and NYSM Graduate Fellow under the s...
Student Profile: Museum Fellow Alyssa FitzGerald
Published January 14, 2016 | Ornithology
Alyssa FitzGerald is a Ph.D student at SUNY Albany and works at the Museum to conduct research for her doctoral program. Alyssa's research is focused on studying three closely-related species of thrushes. She wants to know why and how these b...
Science Tuesday: DNA Research in Ornithology
Published December 12, 2022 | Ornithology
Museum specimens are important sources of DNA, used by researchers to discover the evolutionary relationships among species. NYSM zoology curators save small samples of muscle and other tissues from the specimens they prepare for our collections. ...
The NYSM's Bald Eagle
Published July 3, 2023 | Ornithology
Happy Fourth of July from the NYSM! This bald eagle, currently on display in Birds of New York Hall, is one of the oldest specimens from our collections and even pre-dates the discovery of the Cohoes Mastodon by sixteen years! The specimen, an adu...
From Field to Lab: Research Associate in Ornithology Connects Conservation with Museum Collections
Published February 5, 2024 | Ornithology
Locally-based Ornithologist Dr. Taza Schaming was appointed as a Research Associate in 2023, and has been assisting Dr. Jeremy Kirchman, NYSM Curator of Birds and Mammals, in our specimen preparation lab, turning salvaged birds into research speci...