In this ‘Postcards from the Field’ blog post, Sebastian Moreno – a researcher and PhD candidate at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst – discusses the remarkable intersection of human behavior with ecological conservation, and the importance of bringing underrepresented communities to conversation.
Profile:
My research area combines my passion for birds and the intersection of human behavior with ecological conservation. Studying how urban environments influence bird populations allows me to explore both natural and social systems. This work is important because it helps address how human activity shapes ecosystems, especially in urban settings, and informs solutions that can protect biodiversity. The connection between community engagement and conservation is particularly exciting because it empowers people to become active participants in environmental stewardship.
One of the main challenges is understanding how urbanization impacts species composition, particularly bird populations. How do cities influence bird behavior and survival? Another question I aim to address is how citizen science can be a tool for conservation in these areas. How can we make community-driven data more robust and accurate, while also ensuring that participants feel engaged and valued? Ultimately, I’m hoping to provide insight into how everyday community members can contribute meaningfully to urban ecological conservation.
Where in the world are you?:
My fieldwork occurs in several urban and suburban backyards across western Massachusetts in the United States. These backyards provide a diverse range of environments—from dense urban neighborhoods to more rural areas—allowing me to study the effects of urbanization on bird species composition. The urban-rural gradient allows for comparisons between highly developed areas and those with more natural landscapes.
A typical day in the field involves observing birds in people’s backyards, setting up motion-sensing cameras, and conducting visual surveys to record what species are present. Most of this work happens in the winter months, and I often start early in the morning before the birds become active. This is followed by hours of careful observation, noting bird species and their behaviors. My fieldwork also includes setting up mist nets – very thin mesh nets that are similar to volleyball nets but nearly invisible to birds– in people’s backyards to catch the birds and attach a small band around their leg that allows us to track their movements and gather data for long-term studies.
During one bird-banding session in a participant’s backyard, their neighbor, along with their family, came over to watch. The entire family was deaf and used sign language to communicate. As I adapted to using gestures and non-verbal communication, I realized how powerful birds can be in connecting people across different experiences. This interaction made me feel deeply connected not just to the land, but to the people around me. It was a profound reminder of how nature, especially birds, can bridge gaps and bring people together in unexpected and meaningful ways.
Despite the challenges birds are facing due to urban sprawl, such as fewer green spaces and more light pollution, I have observed birds using innovative ways to survive and thrive, even in these urban areas. The involvement of community members in science also gives me hope—people are genuinely interested in understanding and protecting the wildlife that shares their environment. Their participation in conservation projects shows that, with the right efforts, we can maintain and even enhance biodiversity in urban spaces.
Fieldwork fails:
Fieldwork is full of surprises, and I’ve learned that adaptability, resilience, and being extra cautious with data are key to overcoming these challenges. I once set up cameras only to realize that I hadn’t inserted the memory cards, or worse, forgotten to turn them on at all. After returning a week later expecting to review a full set of data, I found I had no footage at all. It was frustrating, but it taught me to always double-check my equipment setup before starting the day.
Another time, I lost a significant amount of data from an entire field season when my hard drive became corrupted. I went through a lot of trouble trying to recover it, managing to restore most—but not all—of the data. That experience was a tough lesson in the importance of creating multiple backups and having a solid data management plan.
Fieldwork treasures:
One of the aspects of fieldwork I enjoy most is the opportunity to show people—many of whom may not have had up-close experiences with wildlife—a bird in hand. There’s something special about the moment someone sees a bird up close for the first time, the way their eyes light up. It creates an immediate connection between them and nature, often sparking a deeper sense of responsibility for protecting “their birds” and the environment around them. It’s not just about collecting data but fostering a shared appreciation for wildlife and helping people feel more connected to the natural world in their own backyards.
By involving people from various walks of life, I strive to show that conservation is something we all can and should care about. It’s important that everyone feels knowledgeable and empowered, whether it’s making decisions in their everyday lives or voting for policies that support environmental protection. By making research understandable and inclusive, I hope to inspire more people to advocate for conservation and recognize its importance in shaping a sustainable future.
The future:
One of my dream projects is to work in several cities across the country, focusing on connecting urban residents with nature. While it’s essential to protect remote areas like the Amazon, I believe it’s even more important to bring conservation efforts into urban environments, where many people may not have easy access to nature. By fostering connections between city dwellers and their local ecosystems, we can create a stronger collective appreciation for wildlife and promote conservation in spaces where it might otherwise be overlooked. This work can help build a foundation for people to advocate for nature, even in highly developed areas.
My research is shifting towards understanding how urban ecosystems can be better managed to support both wildlife and human populations. I want to explore more deeply the role of community-based conservation strategies and how we can incorporate environmental justice principles into urban ecology. Ensuring that underrepresented communities benefit from and contribute to conservation is a key focus moving forward.
