“Making Climate Change Entertaining” Screening Experience

Thinking Green
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By Tim Smith ’26

On March 2, THINK partnered with Media Studies and the AC Environmentalists to host a screening event that explored how TV and filmmaking can shape our understanding of climate change. We watched a conversation between writers Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary) and Matt Murray (The Good Place), followed by an episode of Abbott Elementary and Grey’s Anatomy to see how each show weaves in climate‑related themes, specifically extreme heat. Brunson and Murray talked about how writers introduce complicated or controversial issues and the unique power comedies have to spark conversations without feeling heavy. They also touched on the simple, practical steps studios can take to make their productions more sustainable. These ideas aren’t just useful in Hollywood: They’re things we can use in our daily lives, too. 

One of TV’s biggest strengths is relatability. Characters feel human; they deal with everyday problems, make questionable decisions, and sometimes don’t even realize it. One week a character is the voice of reason, and the next they’re the villain. Those flaws help audiences attach themselves to a show. That attachment opens the door for writers to introduce bigger ideas without viewers feeling preached at. If an episode made climate change the entire focus, it might feel forced. In real life, major issues affect us, but that doesn’t mean they’re all we think about. A show that makes its whole world revolve around climate change wouldn’t feel realistic for most viewers. 

Most people are wrapped up in their own smaller problems — sick pets, rent coming due, noisy neighbors. Those things demand attention right now, while bigger issues often stay in the background. Episodic shows take advantage of this dynamic, letting characters deal with everyday annoyances while still dropping in larger themes over time. Abbott Elementary does this well: environmental issues appear in passing, shaping the world of the show without taking over the characters’ lives. Brunson pointed to an example from the second episode, where the teachers juggle faulty lights, bad recipes, and the usual student chaos. During a break, they casually mention the heat that day. The principal, Ava, blurts out, “Why is it February and hotter than the devil’s booty-hole outside?” It lets the audience recognize the influence of extreme heat without pulling them out of the story. The small personal problems still drive the episode; climate change just adds an extra layer they have to deal with. 

We can use that same approach in our own conversations. If I tell a friend I’m changing plans because a hailstorm is coming, I don’t need to launch into a full explanation about climate change. Just like in the episode, I can acknowledge it in a casual way: “Yeah, these hailstorms have been getting huge lately. I swear I saw a softball‑sized chunk of ice this year.” That’s enough to make the connection without turning the whole conversation into a debate. 

Normalizing these small moments can help us and the people around us better understand how climate change shows up in everyday life. While Brunson and Murray hope to guide large audiences toward that awareness, we can use the same low‑pressure approach in our own circles. Over time, it can help make conversations about climate change feel more natural and less touchy. Matt mentioned that it used to be nearly impossible to talk about in Hollywood, but now, it’s just part of the landscape. Maybe we can help make the same shift in our everyday lives. 

Summer 2026 internships available

Environmental Studies
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By Tulwen Adams ’22 & Rebecca Jones ’13

The Center for Environmental Studies at Austin College will offer three opportunities for internships during the summer of 2026. The internships are hosted by the Land Institute, located in Salina, Kansas; Little Traverse Conservancy in Northern Michigan; and the Heard Museum in McKinney, Texas. [Internships at the East Foundation in South Texas are currently on pause — check back next year!]

A degree in environmental studies offers diverse career opportunities, which can feel both exciting and overwhelming. Spending a summer exploring a career helps students narrow their choices and discover new paths. ENVS summer internships offer experience in the developing field of sustainable perennial agriculture with the Land Institute, land conservation and easements with Little Traverse Conservancy, the practice of land and wildlife stewardship alongside ranching with the East Foundation, and land management and ecological research at the Heard Museum.

Past participants describe these programs as an excellent way to gain hands-on experience in environmental studies, explore potential career paths, and learn directly from professionals across diverse fields. 

“Applying for and completing an internship can be one of the most valuable steps you take as a student,” says Rebecca Jones, coordinator for the Center for Environmental Studies. “It’s not just about building your resumé—it’s about discovering what excites you, gaining real-world experience, and making connections that can shape your future.”

Thinking about applying? Here are some tips from past interns about the application process and beyond:

  1. Apply Early. Don’t let the application process interfere with your spring coursework — spend some time over JanTerm or the winter break reading through the AC internship and host organization websites to figure out the best fit for you and get your thoughts on paper. The Center for Environmental Studies will help you handle everything else.
  2. Ask Lots of Questions. Not sure which internship opportunity best suits your career path or goals? Contact an ENVS faculty or staff member to express your interest and concerns. You can also ask other students who have previously held internships — they usually love talking about their experience!
  3. Come Prepared. You’ve officially secured your internship, but what should you pack for the journey? Staples like hats, sunscreen and bug spray are a must for most sites, but many former interns also recommend bringing items that remind you of home. Don’t forget your lucky socks, favorite stuffed animal, comfort food, etc.
  4. Explore and Interact. Many former interns report that one of the highlights of their experience is the people they work with on a day to day basis. Get to know your bunkmates and co-workers, and take the time to visit other locales of interest to make your internship richer, more fulfilling and memorable.
  5. Be Ready to Work Hard. Manual labor is a part of all the internship experiences provided by the Center for Environmental Studies, but that shouldn’t deter you from applying if you have a real interest in the overall mission and/or goals of the host organizations. It’s also important to remember that you are a representative of the college when you are at these sites, so act accordingly!

For more information on the host organizations and application process, please visit the internship section on the Center for Environmental Studies webpage.

Beauty or Burden: The Ecology of Angel Island

Environmental Studies
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By Tim Smith ’26

Last spring, I had the opportunity to study abroad with the School for International Training (SIT) in their Climate Change program. During this experience, I witnessed firsthand the complexities governments face when tackling conservation work. One unfortunate reality about “going green” is that there isn’t always a perfect or universally “good” solution. Still, even imperfect solutions can reduce environmental burdens or extend the longevity of ecosystems—if we choose to implement them.

One of the first examples we encountered that semester was on Angel Island, where there’s an ongoing debate about the presence of blue-gum eucalyptus trees and whether they help or harm the ecosystem.

Angel Island was one of our first excursions, and it was a beautiful introduction. Located in the heart of the San Francisco Bay, the island is visible from downtown and the Golden Gate Bridge. The lack of buildings makes it feel untouched—especially in contrast to the endless stretches of houses and skyscrapers on the mainland.

Once on the island, we were greeted by a park ranger who manages the grounds. He began by walking us through a brief history of Angel Island State Park and how the land has been used over time. The island was once inhabited by local tribes, who appeared to conduct ceremonial burns of the region’s flora. This practice created a period of ecological stability, as periodic burns reduced wildfire risks and replenished the soil with organic material. However, this coexistence ended when Europeans arrived in the late 1700s. In the early 1800s, Mexico designated the island as private property, and it was used for cattle ranching and logging.

Despite its complicated history, the park today is a beautiful example of how restoration work can transform degraded landscapes into cherished natural spaces. After settlers arrived, the ecosystem suffered: deer were introduced and overgrazed the grasses, while blue-gum eucalyptus and conifers were planted to prevent erosion and beautify the island. The landscape was in poor condition. But San Francisco later recognized the island’s historical significance—especially after it was used as a detention center for Asian immigrants in the early 1900s. This led to its designation as a national park in the 1950s and the beginning of a slow restoration process.

Wait—non-native species helped?

As the ranger led us up the island’s hilly terrain, we saw how the landscape now more closely resembles its historical state. There are more shrubs than trees—plants native to the area. The deer population has also declined since coyotes arrived in 2017, allowing the vegetation to recover. The ranger looked up at the trees and sighed. He believed their removal was for the best. Yet, not everyone agrees. Some argue that the blue-gum eucalyptus trees should remain, claiming their removal could cause more harm than good.

When we reached the island’s other coast, the ranger discussed their conservation efforts. Many non-native plants have been removed through controlled burns, and others were destroyed in an unplanned wildfire that burned 40% of the island in 2008. The fire spread rapidly due to strong winds that made it impossible for fireboats to intervene. Still, only 40% of the island burned. The ranger then led us to buildings near the coast—remnants of the Immigration Station, where immigrants were held until granted entry. The walls still bear poems carved by those who endured hardship and uncertainty. These buildings, which hold the stories of thousands, were actually protected by the very eucalyptus trees the park is trying to eliminate. While eucalyptus often intensifies fires, in this case, their thick trunks and branches were more fire-resistant than the native flora, helping shield the buildings from destruction.

That’s not the only reason blue-gum is seen as a protector.

As we walked further inland, the eucalyptus trees grew denser. The air cooled, and a refreshing, invigorating scent filled the space. The ranger pointed upward. These were the blue-gum eucalyptus trees. They were never meant to be here and pose a fire risk due to their sap, which can fuel flames. Yet, the ranger explained why some groups still advocate for their preservation. These trees have become a favorite resting place for monarch butterflies, which visit the island and other parts of California to feed. As a result, the island has become a sanctuary for this endangered species. Butterfly conservationists often oppose the removal of these trees, fearing it would harm the monarchs. Still, the ranger stood by his position.

But they still need to go, right?

He believes the eucalyptus trees must be removed. Yes, they’re a fire hazard—but more importantly, they disrupt the ancestral environment. These trees and other invasive species have only been here for a few generations, while native species have evolved over thousands of years. We may not yet understand the full consequences of altering the island’s ecosystem. What about the insects, mammals, and microbes that depended on native plants for survival? Nature is incredibly complex. One human intervention can throw an entire ecosystem off balance. Native species have few places left to thrive, while eucalyptus trees flourish in their native Australia. Why prioritize a species that’s doing fine elsewhere over those that are struggling here?

No right answer.

In the end, the ranger brought us back to the port. Like many in his field, he knows that any conservation decision will have consequences. But doing nothing would be far worse. Had they allowed deer to overgraze unchecked, the island’s shrubbery would have vanished. Had they let the eucalyptus spread unchecked, the 2008 wildfire could have been catastrophic. Conservation solutions are rarely perfect. But for the sake of our ecosystems, we must move forward with the solutions that do more good than harm—before the consequences of inaction become irreversible.

AC’s Guide to Green Living: Reducing Food Waste on Campus

Environmental Studies, Thinking Green
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Food waste is one of the most prolific problems contributing to climate change. According to Project Drawdown, a third of the world’s food is not eaten, rendering the resources and greenhouse gases emitted by the production of that food unnecessary. Reducing food waste in your home and in the way you eat out in the world is one of the best things you can do to reduce your individual carbon footprint. We have a guide for ways to reduce your food waste while living on a college campus and in your residential spaces that when adopted will not only help save the planet, but save you money and heartache over lost produce in the process.

For Living on a Campus

At Austin College, all freshmen are required to purchase a meal plan, and most students stay on some version of a meal plan for at least three years. The nature of buffet style dining halls lends itself to overeating and wasted food produced on a daily basis. With a few small changes to your dining hall eating patterns, you can greatly reduce the amount that you throw away, and you can serve as an example to your peers around you.

Taste before you choose an entrée

If possible, try to sample a meal before you actually get it. Want to try the new recipe at the international station? Don’t get a full plate until you have asked for a sample. If you end up getting a plate of a meal you don’t like, that meal becomes waste that could have been eaten by someone else and is now heading towards the landfill unnecessarily.

Get one entrée at a time

As active and busy young people, it is natural that you may need more than one entrée to fill you up. Whether you are a student athlete or just trying to fuel your long study nights, we often look to the buffet and identify multiple meals we want to eat at once.

Reduce your food waste by only trying to get one entrée at a time. You may want a pizza and a burger in one meal, but start with the one you want most and wait until you finish it before you grab the next one. Chances are, you may find that in fact one entrée was enough, or that you don’t need as much of the next entrée as you thought.

Take 25-50% less food than you think you need

Often, our eyes are much bigger than our stomachs. A good rule of thumb to follow, especially in all-you-can-eat buffet style dining halls, is to take about 25% or even 50% less food than you think you need. Imagine the portion you want to get and take a quarter off of that. There is always an opportunity to get more, but that 25% may be the difference between having a clean plate and having food leftover that has to be thrown away.

Don’t use a tray in the cafeteria

Although tray style dining can make it much easier to carry your food back to your seat, it often creates a subtle incentive to carry more food than you actually need to eat. Our brains, especially after a particularly exciting lecture, tend to fill the tray with any and all food that looks good, regardless of how hungry we actually are. By foregoing the tray when getting your food, you limit yourself to only those items which you can cry with two hands, which almost guarantees that you will eat less. If what you could originally carry isn’t enough, you can always go back for more. However, most students will find that what they could originally carry is enough, and what they go back for is still less food overall than if they loaded up their tray with everything their eyes were hungry for.

Feet first: The fun and benefits of walking to class

Environmental Studies, Thinking Green
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By Gracey Kettler ’27

When heading to class, many students face a common dilemma: should they walk or drive? While hopping in the car might seem like the easiest option, especially if you’re running late or live off campus, driving comes with some drawbacks. Embracing walking as a habit not only benefits your health but also positively impacts the environment and your daily routine.

Environmental Benefits

Choosing to walk instead of driving can significantly benefit the environment. Even short car trips produce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, contributing to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. By opting to walk, you help reduce the amount of CO2 produced. You might think, “I’m just driving across the street; it doesn’t matter,” but all those short trips add up. Driving short distances wastes energy and produces unnecessary emissions. Cars also emit nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds, which can degrade air quality. Walking, on the other hand, produces zero emissions, helping to maintain cleaner air and a healthier environment for everyone.

Health Benefits

Walking, even for short distances, is an easy and effective way to incorporate exercise into your day. Regular walking improves overall health, keeping your body strong and your cardiovascular system healthy.

Walking is also an excellent stress reducer. Being outside, enjoying sunlight and fresh air (or even clouds and rain) can significantly decrease stress and anxiety. It provides a chance to unplug from digital distractions and take a moment for yourself. The relaxing motion of walking, combined with exposure to nature, can boost your mood, enhance mental clarity, and improve your overall sense of well-being.

Financial and Social Benefits

While driving may seem convenient, the costs can quickly add up. Walking is free, while gas is not. By walking to class, you save money on fuel, potential parking fees, and car maintenance. These savings can accumulate significantly over time, especially for students on a tight budget. This allows you to use your car for longer trips or when it’s truly needed, rather than for short, unnecessary drives.

Walking to class also offers valuable opportunities for social interaction. You get to stop and interact with friends, classmates, and neighbors, building a sense of community and growing personal relationships. These brief social interactions can improve your mood and make your day more enjoyable. Additionally, walking through campus allows you to be more aware of your surroundings, notice changes or events happening around you, and feel more connected.

Walking to class is a small change that can make a big difference in your life and the environment. It promotes better health, reduces environmental impact, saves money, and enhances your social interactions and overall well-being. The next time you are struggling to decide whether to walk or drive, consider the many benefits of walking. Try leaving your room just a little earlier to better yourself and the environment.

Get Involved with the Center for Environmental Studies

Environmental Studies, Sneed Prairie, Thinking Green
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The Center of Environmental Studies at Austin College offers more than just classes. It provides opportunities to make a difference through campus and community service projects, internships, and hands-on research experiences. Getting involved can be rewarding and impactful.

Austin College Thinking Green

Austin College Thinking Green, or THINK, is a campus-wide greening initiative. THINK hosts events each semester aimed at building and promoting sustainable habits and behaviors among students. Each year in October, THINK hosts an energy saving competition between traditional dorms on campus to help reduce energy use. The competition averages a savings of about 11,000 kWh annually (the equivalent use of an American household for an entire year!).

THINK also organizes a community engagement event each spring, GreenServe, wherein more than 125 student, staff, and faculty volunteers travel to sites around Grayson County to perform services like landscaping, beach cleanup, trail maintenance, and more. Service opportunities like GreenServe blend community service with environmental initiatives, allowing participants to make a tangible impact while working alongside others who share their passion.

THINK volunteers assist first-year students with early move-in each August to give them a jumpstart on campus sustainability initiatives like recycling. First-year students receive information about recycling correctly in their new residence, as well as assistance with breaking down their moving boxes. For the last two years, THINK and Aramark have helped divert more than 1,500 lbs. of cardboard from local landfills.

Have a green idea? THINK can help with that too! Submit a proposal to the Student Sustainability Fund (SSF) to make real, lasting changes to the AC campus. More than 30 student proposals have been adopted since the SSF was created in 2011. Recent proposals have added a greenhouse and abundance of native plants to campus and funded the installation of multiple EV chargers. Past projects include water bottle refill stations in most campus buildings, green to-go boxes in the cafeteria, and retrofitted LED lighting in older buildings.

Interested in gardening or just want to learn more about native plants? The Adopt a Butterfly Bed program allows student groups to plan, design, and maintain their own garden beds on campus using native and perennial flowers and shrubs. Contact Dr. Mari Elise Ewing for more information.

More ways to get involved

Attending events hosted by the Center for Environmental Studies, such as our monthly Lunch Talks, can also be incredibly beneficial. These events feature alumni and other guest lecturers that offer valuable insight and networking opportunities to current students. Keep an eye out for these events to expand your knowledge and connect with like-minded individuals.

The Sneed Prairie Restoration is an experimental field site where AC students manage and monitor the restoration of 100 acres of Blackland Prairie. More than 1,100 students, faculty and staff have contributed to the project over the years. Selected AC students also act as guides for field trips around the prairie for local 4th and 5th grade students. As of 2023, more than 12,000 schoolchildren and their teachers have visited the site from more than 20 districts around Texoma.

JanTerm classes are offered at Sneed Prairie every other year. Students in the Prairie Restoration JanTerm help prepare the field site and receive training and equipment to perform controlled burns in certain experimental fields. The Sneed project earned the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s Environmental Excellence award in Education in 2020.

The Center for Environmental Studies also offers paid competitive summer internships with outstanding environmental organizations that each offer an opportunity to spend part of your summer with a small but nationally known entity that is a recognized leader in its field. Spend the summer in Michigan learning about land preservation at the Little Traverse Conservancy, at The Land Institute in Kansas studying sustainable agriculture, or head down south for a hands-on course in rangeland management from The East Foundation.

How green are we?

Austin College is a Princeton Review Green College. AC has been part of Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment since 2008, when former president Oscar Page signed the American College & University President’s Climate Commitment. The College subsequently cut its emissions in half by switching to 100% wind-powered electricity in 2015. AC’s current Climate Action Plan includes a goal of carbon neutrality by 2035.

Ready to get started? Contact Rebecca Jones to join our volunteer list and receive more information.

Painting to preserve biodiversity

Environmental Studies, Thinking Green
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By Samuel Gonzalez ’24

If you’re someone that enjoys watching and listening to birds, the following statistic may be as shocking as walking straight into a glass door: According to a 2014 study, collisions with windows could be responsible for up to one billion bird mortalities each year in the United States alone. Just to emphasize, that number could account for as much as a tenth of the national bird population each year. And these losses have been compounded with numerous hazards — habitat destruction, pesticide use, and others — to culminate in a net loss of 2.9 billion birds from the national population since 1970. The Center for Environmental Studies and Austin College Thinking Green (THINK) propose to reduce fatal bird-window collisions at the Idea Center’s north entrance with a mural that combines artistic depictions of birds with the research done to preserve their populations.

There are two main reasons for a bird to fly into a window. Birds may either see into the interior of a building and mistake the window for an opening into the building, or they may see reflections from the window and attempt to fly towards what they perceive as open sky or a row of trees. In either case, birds believe they can fly through the glass and hit the window at injurious and often fatal velocities. Although birds cannot interpret transparency or reflections, they are highly visual creatures that perceive light at far greater distances and resolutions than humans. When birds see openings between tree branches, for example, they can tell from a considerable distance whether or not their bodies can fit through the gaps. Similarly, when windows are dirty and smudged, they can perceive that no spaces between the smudges are large enough to fit through.

Research has shown that placing visible obstacles on windows in patterns at least two to four inches apart can significantly reduce the number of collisions because birds can tell that flying through is going to be a tight fit for their wingspan.

For several years, AC students and staff have brainstormed possible solutions, especially at the Idea Center, which has an exterior mostly comprised of reflective surfaces. However, solutions to problems like these are difficult because they must account for the problem itself as well as the relevant stakeholders. In this case, many want a solution, rightly so, that will not damage the windows, their framing, or the views they provide us.

To generate awareness on campus and help reduce needless bird deaths, a temporary mural depicting a flock of birds perched in trees now covers what has been considered one of the deadliest sets of windows on campus, the Idea Center’s north entrance. The project will recur before each migration season in the fall and spring, applied by THINK members, Environmental Studies student workers, and anyone else interested in contributing. Ultimately, the project intends to show that some collective action can yield opportunities to reduce our impact on vital aspects of our ecosystem.

The project is dedicated in honor of Austin College faculty member Dr. Kim Snipes, who passed away last year after battling with breast cancer. As an instructor of physiology, evolutionary biology, and ornithology, she led a career of fascination with birds as complex organisms and advocated for a world where humans could coexist with thriving biodiversity.

Sneed Prairie field trips provide opportunities for students of all ages

Environmental Studies, Sneed Prairie
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By Samuel Gonzalez ’24

Fall 2023 marks just one year since the Center for Environmental Studies resumed field trips to the Clinton and Edith Sneed Environmental Research Area and Prairie Restoration Site for 4th and 5th grade students across Texoma. These field trips have been led by Austin College students for more than 20 years. To date, the program has provided hands-on educational experiences relating to the natural history and restoration of the Blackland Prairie for over 12,000 students from area schools.

Two hundred years ago, the tall grass prairies of North Central Texas were nothing like the forests and pastures of today. Back then, the area was characterized by perennial grasses and forbs, which were grazed by large migratory herds of bison. Semi-frequent fires, some natural and some set by humans, played the role of preventing forest growth in the prairie. It was only when bison were hunted into endangerment and replaced with cattle for farms — which helped to suppress fire and introduce non-native grasses — that the prairie began to transform into what we see today.

In addition to prairie function and composition, visiting classes also learn about Austin College’s effort to restore the property to its original ecological state through experimental treatments. Many of the field trip leaders have participated in such efforts, which occasionally involve the use of controlled fires. Some fields are also mowed or grazed by cattle, which are used to simulate bison herds, on a rotational basis.

Guides often use local features like creeks and wooded areas to illustrate the consequences of the prairie’s transformation: species and habitat loss; flooding and erosion; aquifer depletion and more. Other times, schoolchildren asked to rely on their imagination: Field trip leaders regularly invite classes to spread native grass and wildflower seeds and then form a great bison herd to stomp them into the ground. While not required, most schoolchildren enjoy doing this activity with their fingers at their temples to feign horns, accompanied by plenty of moo-ing (their best guess at the sounds bison make).

“It’s wonderful to see the kids having fun in nature and connecting what they learn about the prairie to appreciate it,” says senior Olivia Berggren, who is starting her second year as a guide. For students like her, the field trip program offers an opportunity to interact with younger generations and preview working in environmental education.

For more information or to schedule a field trip at Sneed Prairie, visit our website or contact Rebecca Jones.

THINK gives new students the breakdown on recycling at AC

Thinking Green
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By Samuel Gonzalez ’24 and John Huss ’24

Austin College first welcomed the class of 2027 on August 18, 2023, during move-in day for first-year students. Six students representing the student organization Austin College Thinking Green (THINK) stationed themselves in traditional residence halls — Baker, Clyce, Caruth and Dean Hall — to help reduce waste during the big move. THINK students have annually participated in first-year move-ins for over a decade to help spread awareness about living sustainably and encourage environmental consciousness beginning with the first day students arrive.

THINK volunteers were available in each dorm to provide general information about the mission of THINK and how to recycle at AC. Postcards with the do’s and don’ts of recycling on campus were also distributed to interested students.

In addition to spreading environmental awareness to new and returning students, THINK students provide support to AC’s invaluable housekeeping staff responsible for managing waste generated on move-in day. Volunteers spent the day directing the flow of cardboard to designated areas inside and outside of each building (often involving some heavy lifting) and assisting with break down so that housekeeping and facilities employees were able to concentrate their resources on general operations. Without the efforts of these staff members, AC’s recycling efforts would likely fall flat.

In total, THINK was able to help divert approximately 30 cubic yards of cardboard from the local landfill, roughly equivalent to nine truckloads or 1,500 lbs. Not bad for a Friday afternoon.

Recycling cardboard reduces the sulfur-dioxide emissions associated with the production of cardboard boxes, as well as the water and energy usage involved in producing cardboard from virgin materials. It can also help decrease the rate of logging required to supply cardboard manufacturing. According to the EPA, around 17.2 million tons of paper and cardboard are dumped in landfills each year. It’s a lot to unbox. By spreading awareness, students have the potential to reduce AC’s contribution to such environmental impacts.

A colorful summer experience at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge

Environmental Studies
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By Sam Gonzalez ’24

After 30 minutes of being rocked gently by the sloping contours of Highway 75, I was more than half-asleep when our van stopped by a road within Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge. My research professor, Dr. Wayne Meyer, had taken another student and I earlier to this part of Hagerman to locate the male territories of a neotropical migratory songbird species called Painted Buntings. These birds are almost a gorgeous caricature of bright passerines. Their name derives from the variety of colors older males sport, which includes blue on their heads, red on their chests and bellies, bright green on their backs and dull green on their wings. Younger males and females are bright green on their backs and greenish yellow on their chests and bellies. During our first visits to Hagerman we recorded the songs of several individual males. Today, we were focused on collecting data for a study my professor had been conducting for the last 10 years or so. The study involved an experiment designed to compare how aggressively males responded to males in a subadult age class and an adult age class. It was remarkable how cool the weather was that June.

We got out of our van and set up our equipment to test a bird we called PBh 7. We put a wooden decoy of a Painted Bunting on a pole and placed a speaker underneath him. That speaker then played recordings of other Painted Buntings singing. Rushing to the taunting threats of a rival’s song, PBh 7 soon appeared perched on his favorite tree. His little chest rose mightily and his wings began to quiver as he sang. (I only hope the absurd joy of this moment is properly conveyed here.) In this moment, we had impersonated a Painted Bunting in order to aggressively challenge PBh 7 into a singing and wing quivering contest. Around me I could see my professor and the student beside me delighted at the sight of this bird’s adorable temper tantrum. Dr. Meyer especially seemed to appreciate such a macho display. This was the closest he had been to a displaying Painted Bunting in a few years.

Among ornithologists, Dr. Meyer is one of the few who does research on Painted Buntings. If you look for any literature on Painted Buntings, you may likely find very little. That’s part of the reason he has spent so long researching these birds. When he first set out to research Painted Buntings, nobody knew how they expressed aggression through song. Eventually, he figured out that Painted Buntings communicate how aggressive they are by attempting to outperform rivals’ songs with singing that is described as virtuosic. That is to say, the longer and more complex the singing, the angrier the Painted Bunting. This research led him to the question we asked last summer: Why are young males green? Could having entirely green and yellow feathers signal to males that they should be treated with less aggression? Are young males trying to trick older males into treating them like females who are also green? That is what we were trying to figure out. Getting an answer meant we needed to spend a lot of time out at Hagerman NWR recording birds as we attempted to make them as angry as possible.

During these trials, I pointed a mic at the bird we were testing while Olivia, Dr. Meyer’s other student, counted how many times a bird quivered its wings, which is another indicator for aggression. It was during our time analyzing all these recordings on computers that I got to know Olivia and become her friend. Together, we bonded over the long and sometimes arduous walks through the tallgrasses, and discovered how fulfilling and complicated research can be. We learned how desperate for an answer people can get when no one else can answer it.

When PBh 7’s tirade came to a stop, I knew what the answer probably was to our summer’s question. What immediately tipped me off to it was that by the end of our observation period, PBh 7 came closer to our decoy than any other bird. Further, Olivia observed him display 11 wing quivers, which was a fair number. The decoy was painted to look like a subadult. That is to say, PBh 7 did not care how old our decoy looked. He did not go easy on green subadults. This sort of behavior continued with other subjects, which means by the end of our research, we found no evidence to suggest being treated with less aggression is the reason younger males are green. After all the walking through wet grass and all the tick bites, we still were without an explanation as to why younger males look like females. This is what makes the slogging process of research so wonderful. It takes an incredible amount of time to collect and analyze data on wild animal behavior. And yet this logistical nightmare comes with zero guarantees as to what you might learn from the data. But learning anything, even simply that you have the wrong hypothesis, feels like a step in the right direction.

When relatives or friends ask how I spent my summer, I typically say, “I made some birds really angry,” but I hope to be less reductive as I sum up my experience. I got the chance to see complex organisms display complex and mysterious behavior. I spent hours discussing evolutionary theories that attempt to explain the timing of developmental changes in Painted Buntings. I met and worked with fascinating and kind people. Finally, I learned I love research. I hope as time goes on, my career leads me on to new research opportunities.

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