RESEARCH PRACTICE
Silas Fischer is currently a PhD Candidate in Dr. Henry Streby's lab in the Department of Environmental Sciences at The University of Toledo. They work at the intersection of art and science, specifically in avian ecology. Some of their research interests broadly include studying annual cycle ecology and conservation of songbirds, in particular migration and post-fledging ecology of under-studied species (dull, drab, and geographically distant birds often end up being under-studied relative to their brightly colored counterparts…see our preprint below!). Silas integrates their science and art practices to explore gender and queerness and to engage the public in wildlife conservation. They are also a co-organizer of The Wildlife Society’s Out in the Field LGBTQ+ initiative — learn more here!
Silas is currently studying how dryland songbirds respond to climate change by integrating both field and lab methods in ecophysiology and demography. Their dissertation will focus on the consequences of drought for post-fledging survival and population dynamics in Gray Vireos. They are also studying migration, full-season productivity, and habitat associations of Gray Vireos in New Mexico and Utah; migration ecology of Ash-throated Flycatchers and Scott’s Orioles from a breeding population in New Mexico; and migration ecology of sympatric Louisiana Waterthrush and Worm-eating Warblers from four breeding populations.
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS, PREPRINTS, & BOOK CHAPTERS
Fischer, S.E., J.G. Otten, A.M. Lindsay, D.B. Miles, and H.M. Streby. Drab and distant birds are studied less than their fancy-feathered friends. bioRxiv preprint; In review.
Fischer, S.E., J.J. Jackson, E. Hoffman, H.M. Streby, and T.L. Spanbauer. Diatom dispersal potential via Nearctic-Neotropical migratory songbirds. In review.
Fischer, S.E., G.R. Kramer, M. Baumann, E. Fahy, K. Granillo, and H.M. Streby. Migration ecology and evidence for nonbreeding sexual segregation in Gray Vireos. In revision.
Fischer, S.E. 2022. “MOLTING TOGETHER: Using ArtScience to Explore Gender and Otherness with Songbirds.” in: Artworks for Jellyfish and Other Others. T. Hiebert and A. Boetzkes, eds. Washington, Bothell: Noxious Sector Press. ISBN 1990766013. Book PDF / purchase a physical copy
Fischer, S.E., K. Granillo, and H.M. Streby. 2022. Post-fledging survival, movements, and habitat associations of Gray Vireos in New Mexico. Avian Conservation and Ecology 17: 13. https://doi.org/10.5751/ACE-02053-170113
DiLiberto, J.F., M.R. Stahl, S.E. Fischer, and K. Granillo. 2022. Do attributes of Gray Vireo nest sites influence Brown-headed Cowbird brood parasitism? Western Birds 53: 43-51.
Fischer, S.E. 2020. Post-fledging and Migration Ecology of Gray Vireos (Vireo vicinior) and Using ArtScience to Explore Gender and Identity. MS Thesis, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA.
Fischer, S.E., and K. Islam. 2020. Identifying bird-window collisions on a university campus during spring and fall migration. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Sciences 129: 47-55.
Stevens, H.C., and S.E. Fischer. 2018. Novel nest construction behavior in Gray Vireos. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 130: 1020-1023.
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Janke, A., S. Fischer, C. Olfenbuttel, and A. Tri. 2021. “From Bee Eaters to Bats: Exploring the Diversity of the LGBTQ+ Experience Among Wildlife Professionals.” The Wildlife Professional. May/June 2021 Special Diversity Issue.
Fischer, S.E., K. Granillo, and H.M. Streby. 2021. Full-season productivity of Gray Vireos at Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico: 2019-2020 Final Report.
MEDIA
Listen to Episode 4 of New Suns, Midwest Futures podcast featuring Silas (produced by Charli Brissey)
National Audubon Society features Silas’s MOLT series in an article written by Helen Santoro
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish article on Silas’ Gray Vireo research
SciArt Initiative magazine, vol. 34 features Silas’ Collisions series
500 QUEER SCIENTISTS initiative
Click here to view media coverage of Silas’s Collisions exhibition.
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THANK YOU to my outstanding field technicians over the past few years for help with my Gray Vireo/Ash-throated Flycatcher/Scott’s Oriole work: Henry Stevens, Claire Nemes, Deven Kammerichs-Berke, Aya Pickett, Edward Landi, Kyle Pagel, Emma Gregory, Kandace Glanville, Ben Stalheim, Gage Stephens, and Danny Tipton. Special thanks to others who have supported me over the years: Henry Streby, Gunnar Kramer, Kathy Granillo, Alli Hoag, Brian Carpenter, Sarojini Johnson, David Johnson, Kamal Islam, Eric Zeigler, Mysoon Rizk, and Jeanine Refsnider.