'Curious Conversations' podcast: Ashley Dayer talks about the positive impact of feeding birds
Ashley Dayer joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to chat about her work at the intersection of birds and humans, including a new project that explores the positive impact bird feeding has on human well-being and general tips for the hobby.
About Dayer
Dayer is associate professor of human fimensions in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation and an affiliated faculty member of the Global Change Center. She also leads the Dayer Human Dimensions Lab, which is home to the national bird conservation social science coordinator.
Three takeaways
In many cases, there’s a lack of scientific evidence to support the idea that removing bird feeders is effective in reducing bird illnesses.
When setting up a bird feeder, it is important to consider its location and safety as well as provide healthy food sources and make water available.
Because birds are used to having a variety of food sources, most can successfully adjust if the bird feeder they frequent stops serving.
Learn more
Bird feeding may give humans something to chirp about
NASA grant to fund critical research on sea-level rise in Virginia
Virginia Tech researchers will investigate how bird feeding influences humans and birds
About the podcast
"Curious Conversations" is a series of free-flowing conversations with Virginia Tech researchers that take place at the intersection of world-class research and everyday life. Produced and hosted by Virginia Tech writer and editor Travis Williams, university researchers share their expertise and motivations as well as the practical applications of their work in a format that more closely resembles chats at a cookout than classroom lectures. New episodes are shared each Tuesday.
