Ornithologist

Joined LGL in 2001, but associated as sub-contractor since 1995

Degrees & Recognition

B.Sc.(HONS): University of Manitoba, Winnipeg  (Zoology) 1968
M. Sc.: University of Manitoba, Winnipeg  (Zoology) 1971
Ph.D.: University of Alberta, Edmonton (Zoology) 1978
Recipient of eighth Loran L. Goulden Memorial Award for outstanding work on the natural history of Alberta 1983
Elected  as Elective Member, American Ornithologists’ Union 1986
Recipient of Ernest Thompson Seton Medal for outstanding contributions to Manitoba’s natural history 1995
Honorary life memberships in Langley Field Naturalists 2001 & B.C. Field Ornithologists 2002.

Research Interests

• Behavioural ecology and life history of birds
• Adaptations of birds to environmental changes
• Geographric variation in life history and adaptations of birds
• Dynamics of bird distribution
• Wildlife habitat restoration and enhancement
• Historical aspects of natural history and ornithology

Capsule Resume

Martin has combined most of his avocations with his career, devoting most of his time to studying birds and other natural history features and trying to understand their interactions and their ability to adapt (or not) to changes within their environments. He attempts to view environmental changes from the perspective that all such changes affect some species negatively, others positively and some both negatively and positively. He believes that environmental activism should always be based on as thorough an understanding as possible of all environments, habitats and species that might be affected by a specific proposed development.

Martin has devoted considerable effort to understanding various species through observation in both natural and altered environments, basing experimental approaches on his own observations and those that have been published previously by others. He has also devoted considerable time in helping others understand the dynamics of natural interactions and to participate in studying them. His career activities have thus included a combination of direct observation and experimentation in nature on a wide variety of birds in a variety of locations across Canada, Cuba and Washington, conveying information to others through compilation of bibliographies, writing and editing of both “popular” and scientific newsletters, books and journals, teaching and administration. His principal participation in LGL projects has been a decade of various ongoing and more focused bird surveys at Vancouver International Airport. He has also participated in LGL environmental assessments in B.C.’s “Peace Country” and on Vancouver Island, and in studies on activities of fish-eating birds on the Columbia River.