Audrey Crawford, a senior from Lubbock, took a moment this week to look back on her experience as an undergraduate researcher within Texas Tech's Department of Natural Resources Management. 

“Having the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research has been an irreplaceable part of my college experience,” Crawford said. “It really helped to cement my passion for the wildlife field and allowed me to develop skills I would not have otherwise been able to as an undergraduate.”

As a junior, Crawford was one of 12 standout students tapped to receive a $2,000 Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources Undergraduate Research Grant last year. The grant funding supported wages for research activities or for supplies to conduct research projects. After completing the project, the students submitted an abstract to a professional society meeting or to a symposium or research conference.

“These undergraduate research grants have tangible and meaningful outcomes,” said Clint Boal, Crawford's project supervisor and a professor within the Department of Natural Resources Management. Boal also serves as Assistant Leader with the USGS Texas Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit based on the Texas Tech campus.

Davis College's Associate Dean for Research Noureddine Abidi added, “We are proud of the accomplishments of our undergraduate students. Davis College Research Scholars program provides support for our undergraduate to conduct research in one of our laboratories under the general guidance of a faculty and with day-to-day mentoring by a graduate student.”

Crawford's research project was titled, “The Significance of Green Plant Material in the Nesting Ecology of Birds of Prey.” It seems many raptor species – hawks, eagles, kites – will place green plant material on their nests, not as part of the nest structure, but added to the top perimeter of the nest. The potential implication of the behavior isn't trivial since it wouldn't have developed if it didn't serve an important ecological function. 

Based on her research, Crawford found that the addition of even a small amount of greenery can have a meaningful influence on the nest's microclimate. That observation provides insight into a behavior that could contribute to species longevity, even with a changing climate.

Following the field the component of her research last summer, Crawford then presented a poster at the international meeting of The Raptor Research Foundation last fall in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and then was one of the few undergraduates to present an oral paper at the last month's Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society meeting in Houston, an event that drew more than 600 participants.

“I heard nothing but positive comments regarding her presentation in both cases,” Boal said. “The practical experience she gained has really lit a fire. She's been developing her own ideas as to how to follow up this summer and is laying the groundwork for graduate school.”

According to Boal, Crawford's next research step is to look at water content and transpiration rates of different tree leaf types and conduct field observations to assess selectivity of greenery species by Mississippi kites, a small bird of prey with narrow, pointed wings.

“I could not ask for a better mentor than Dr. Boal,” Crawford said. “He truly cares, not only about wildlife, but about nurturing a passion for wildlife in students as well and ensuring that everyone has a place in this field.”

 CONTACT: Warren Conway, Chair, Department of Natural Resources Management, Davis College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 834-6579 or warren.conway@ttu.edu

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