Congratulations to Laurel for winning the Connie Holland Bird Study Fund Award. Laurel is doing her PhD on conservation of golden-winged warblers. This is of particular interest in Manitoba, which was previously thought to be the only population of golden-winged warblers that has not started to interbreed with blue-winged warblers; unfortunately, Laurel’s research has provided some of the first evidence of cryptic hybrids between these two species, suggesting that this population is even more imperilled than previously thought.

Laurel has designed a comprehensive study that integrates conservation biology, landscape ecology, behavioural ecology and genetics. It’s results are certain to be fascinating and I am really looking forward to learning from them… just a few more field seasons! Congratulations, Laurel, on your acheivement!