Wilkes University has been awarded a $27,182 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to study how forest management practices influence declining bird species in northeastern Pennsylvania, including prairie warblers and wood thrush.
The funding is part of nearly $530,000 announced by the Shapiro Administration to support 15 projects across the Commonwealth focused on conserving Pennsylvania’s native biodiversity. Administered through DCNR’s Wild Resource Conservation Program, the grants support research on endangered wildlife, rare plant species and human impacts on ecosystems statewide.
Led by Jeffrey Stratford, chair of Wilkes’ Department of Biology and Earth System Sciences, the two-year project, titled ”Effects of forest management on declining birds through breeding and migration”, will examine how prescribed forest burning affects bird diversity during both breeding and migratory seasons. Stratford will compare bird populations in areas where prescribed burning has occurred with nearby reference sites where no burning has taken place.
“I get to pursue research that interests me and answer important questions for managing our forests,” Stratford says of the grant opportunity and its impact. “I always bring results and findings into my teaching.”
The project will involve engaging alumni and current undergraduate students, who will receive hands-on field training and firsthand experience with forest management practices. According to Stratford, building confidence working outdoors and understanding applied conservation science are key benefits for students, regardless of whether they pursue ornithology as a career.
Established in 1982, the Wild Resource Conservation Program supports research and conservation of Pennsylvania’s non-game wildlife and native plants. Wilkes faculty members have received several grants from the program over the years to support ecological research across Pennsylvania, continuing the University’s commitment to applied environmental science.
DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn emphasized the broader impact of these investments. “Every species plays a role in keeping Pennsylvania’s natural world healthy and resilient, and science is our most powerful tool to protect them,” she said in the state announcement.
As for what next, Stratford notes that findings from the Wilkes study will be shared through conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications, contributing to statewide and regional efforts to manage forests in ways that support biodiversity and long-term ecosystem health.