Mapping the Skies: Rozy Bathrick’s Work Toward Migratory Bird Conservation
UMass Amherst PhD student blends fieldwork, research and grassroots collaboration to protect migratory birds
Shorebirds face a wide range of threats, especially migratory species moving through diverse and often human-altered landscapes. With bird populations in steep decline globally, Bathrick’s research addresses this challenge by identifying migratory strategies of shorebirds which are a critical step toward protecting these species.
Bathrick’s fascination with migratory birds began not in a research lab, but on a remote island where shorebirds nested alongside seabirds and sea lions. She gained exposure to marine ecosystems and became interested in species interactions while working on a habitat restoration project at a Chilean-U.S. non-profit. This early experience contributed to a growing engagement with shorebirds.
At UMass Amherst, Bathrick is working toward a PhD in Organismic & Evolutionary Biology : UMass Amherst with a focus on understanding the migratory patterns of seven shorebird species. Bathrick’s research explores how these birds move between their breeding and non-breeding grounds, and what risk they face including how factors such as weather, availability of food, ability to sustain consistent flapping and behavior shape their migratory patterns.
"I realized that biologists can be emotionally connected, artistic people.”
Bathrick’s decision to pursue graduate school was shaped by a formative field course at UC Santa Cruz, where she spent ten weeks traveling across California with 27 other students—camping, studying birds, plants, geology, and weather in an immersive, hands-on environment. This experience deepened her interest in teaching field courses that are often overlooked in traditional classroom settings and contributed to her decision to pursue a PhD. “I want to be a full leader and instructor for the next generation of scientists as they emerge,” she points out. “Because I think that the natural history skills that really laid the groundwork for me in research are not really taught that frequently in class”. The experience further reinforced her connection to biology and reshaped her understanding of who biologists could be. Bathrick explains, “I realized that biologists can be emotionally connected, artistic people.”
The exposure to field-based learning laid the foundation for her interest in avian behavior. The observational skills and ecological awareness she gained continue to inform her graduate work, which explores migratory patterns and the environmental drivers of bird movement.
Bathrick’s research involves placing transmitters on shore birds in Alaska to track their movements. She compares migratory strategies across species and breeding locations. Her work reveals distinct differences in how migratory birds travel and adapt to their environments. For instance, short-billed dowitchers from the Alaska Peninsula make long, uninterrupted flights straight to California and Mexico, aided by favorable tailwinds. Meanwhile, birds from Cook Inlet take a slower, more coastal route, likely due to headwinds that force them to stop and refuel.
One of the most unexpected findings came from tracking American golden plovers. Instead of heading south through the central U.S. as expected, the birds flew north into the Canadian Archipelago, then east and down the Atlantic Flyway and eventually reaching Argentina. Her work raises new questions about the choices birds make during migration. As Bathrick notes, “It raises questions about trade-offs like adding extra distance to reach places with better food.”
In addition to her scientific work, Bathrick is deeply committed to community engagement. While conducting research in Alaska, she’s built meaningful relationships with hunters, fishermen, and long-time residents whose firsthand observations offer valuable context that data alone can’t capture. Insights like the timing of duck arrivals or shifts in bird behavior add richness to her research and help bridge the gap between science and lived experience. “It’s totally invaluable information you wouldn’t get if you were just sticking to your research”, she describes.
Bathrick hopes her research will lead to meaningful conservation efforts. Tracking bird movements allows her to identify key stopover habitats, including agricultural regions like the Prairie Pothole Region in the Midwest. As she studies when and where birds depend on these areas, she aims to build partnerships with landowners and land managers to protect these vital ecosystems. Her goal is to highlight the importance of diverse habitats and encourage collaboration with people who may not be scientists but play a crucial role in conservation. “I want my research to help highlight the importance of all these different types of habitats,” she explains. “And to provoke conversation and collaboration with landowners who aren’t biologists.”
Bathrick also emphasizes the importance of sharing her research with the public. Through outreach events in Alaska and Massachusetts, she’s seen how migration maps and bird stories can spark curiosity and foster a deeper connection to nature. She indicates that “People are just eager to engage with the world around them”. She highlights that these experiences also reveal a strong interest in connecting with the environment and demonstrate how learning about bird migration can inspire appreciation for the landscapes we all share.
Bathrick’s work is fueled by a deep sense of awe for the birds she studies and the people she meets along the way. Witnessing birds perform extraordinary feats, like flying thousands of miles, and connecting with thoughtful, emotionally engaged individuals keeps her inspired and grounded in both the science and the human stories behind it. “It’s seeing these birds perform incredible feats”, she says. “Holding them in my hand, watching them fly thousands of miles and working with thoughtful, emotionally connected people. That keeps me inspired.”
Written by Ruth Appiah Kubi, PhD student in Health Policy and Management, as part of the Graduate School's Public Writing Fellows Program.