by Trevor Grandin
In collaboration with Maine Sea Grant and The First Coast, Schoodic Institute is producing Coastal Conversations, a WERU radio program featuring conversations with people who live, work, and play on the Maine coast.
In the next episode of Coastal Conversations, Schoodic Institute’s podcast, Sea to Trees, is featured as we revisit a monumental piece of research that took place decades ago in Acadia National Park. In 1956, scientist Robert MacArthur sat in an evergreen forest observing warblers and recording data that would change the field of ecology. Over sixty years later, students are using MacArthur’s research to understand how birds coexist and how breeding locations change over time. What made MacArthur’s study so successful and why has it left such a mark on the field?
We talk with University of Oklahoma professor Dr. Michael Kaspari about the influence of MacArthur’s study and how he uses it to teach the next generation of scientists. We also hear from Bik Wheeler, wildlife biologist in Acadia National Park, who revisited MacArthur’s study for his master’s thesis. Finally, we marvel at the warblers in the same stand of trees that MacArthur did with College of the Atlantic student Fiona Young, who replicated Wheeler’s field work in the summer of 2024.
To listen, tune in to WERU Community Radio (89.9 in Blue Hill and 99.9 in Bangor) at 4pm on Friday, January 24th, or stream the program live at WERU.org. You can also check out the audio archives for past shows and more, available online here.
Coastal Conversations is supported by Maine Sea Grant in partnership with The First Coast and Schoodic Institute.
Guests
Dr. Michael Kaspari, professor, University of Oklahoma
Bik Wheeler, wildlife biologist, Acadia National Park
Fiona Young, student, College of the Atlantic
For more information
Knowing Your Warblers: Thoughts on the 50th Anniversary of Macarthur by Michael Kaspari
Spruce-Woods Warblers Revisited: 60 Years Later, the Cast of Characters Has Changed by Irby Lovette
Schoodic Notes – Bird Sounds of Acadia
Banner photo by Kyle Lima
Sea to Trees podcast is made possible with generous support through The Cathy and Jim Gero Acadia Early-Career Fellowship, a partnership among Schoodic Institute, National Park Foundation, and National Park Service.