Title: Vice-president for Research and Monitoring
Institution: New Jersey Audubon
Address: 2350 Route 47, Building1, Woodbine, New Jersey 08270
Email: david.mizrahi@njaudubon.org
Phone: (609) 400-3835
Research Interests: Avian migration behavior and ecology, Wetland ecology, Shorebird ecology and conservation, Near-shore inter tidal ecology, Grassland bird ecology, Physiological ecology in birds, Using of remote sensing to evaluate potential effects of anthropogenic structures on migrating birds
Biographical Sketch:
I earned my Ph.D. in Zoology at Clemson University. My dissertation research focused on the ecology, physiology and behavior of Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers during spring migration staging periods in Delaware Bay. Since 2000, I have held the position of Vice-president for Research and Monitoring at New Jersey Audubon. My area of expertise is the ecology and conservation of shorebirds with a primary focus on Semipalmated Sandpipers and other shorebird species that winter in northern South America and migrate through the western Atlantic region. Since 1995, I have conducted important research on the ecology and behavior of shorebirds using soft-sediment habitats in Delaware Bay, including investigating the relationship between horseshoe crab egg availability and weight gain potential in Semipalmated Sandpipers, relationships between habitat use and foraging strategies, and migration phenology and connectivity using nanotag technology. In 2008, I initiated a shorebird research and conservation program in northeastern South America with partners in Suriname, French Guiana and Brazil. This includes work on spatial relationships between wintering, migrating and breeding populations using remote sensing techniques and stable isotopes, habitat use and foraging behavior, physiological preparation for northward migration, the impacts of shrimp aquaculture on foraging behavior and contaminants exposure and addressing illegal and unregulated shorebird hunting in the region. My current research endeavors to develop apparent winter survival estimates for Semipalmated Sandpipers in the northern region of South America and use these and similar data from migration staging and breeding areas to develop a full life cycle, migration network model that helps to focus conservation strategies for the species. In 2021, I co-founded and now co-lead the Horseshoe Crab Recovery Coalition.
As Vice-president for Research and Monitoring at NJAS, I am responsible for developing priorities, programs, strategic plans and budgets for the department. I currently manage a budget of $1,500,000, 95% of which comes from external grants and contracts. I supervise two PhDs, and the department employs from 3-8 technical and administrative staff, depending on workload demands. My responsibilities also include evaluating program effectiveness, as it relates to project specific goals and objectives, but also with respect to NJAS's overall mission. These evaluations are typically done in collaboration with other senior staff in the organization. I work closely with Finance Dept. senior staff to insure best practices for grant administration, financial accountability and compliance. I also work closely with our Human Resources Dept. on staff performance evaluations and to improve employee retention and supervision.
Under my direction, the department has become a leader in the conservation of migratory birds. Many of our projects are regional in scope and in some cases, international. My department is currently working on projects to conserve young forest habitats used by conservation concern species like Golden-winged Warbler and Prairie Warbler, assess the status of Black Rail populations in New Jersey, restore habitats for beach nesting birds like Piping Plover and American Oystercatcher. My specific expertise is in the ecology and conservation of migratory shorebirds, the effects of wind power development on migratory birds, using remote sensing techniques (e.g., radio and satellite telemetry) to characterize migratory connectivity, flight patterns and habitat use in migratory birds and habitat restoration and management for wetland bird species.
Education:
Ph.D. in Zoology from Clemson University, granted in 1999
B.Sc. in Biology from the State Univesity of N.Y, granted in 1993
Ongoing and Recent CESU Projects:
Other Research:
- Extensive list provided in CV