Maria Goller

I have always been interested in animals, and observing every living thing. Birds are especially fascinating. They are active, inquisitive, often brightly colored, and very vocal. I am interested in combining research with outdoor activities. An avid naturalist, I spent 2 months in New Zealand backpacking (hiking + camping), birdwatching, and taking photographs. Now in graduate school, I am excited to pursue my love of animal behavior and ecology. I am working on two papers about vocal imitation by birds - the evolutionary history of imitation, and the global distribution of mimicking species. I constantly strive to show others why and how birds are wonderful. Studying culture allows me to apply my findings across a wide variety of animals (including humans!). I want to use my research to conserve and preserve the last wild places and rare animals.

September 2016