Alexa Greer

Conservation Biology

Academic Advisor: Kim Landsbergen
Co-op Advisor: Beth Bridgeman

Co-ops: Antioch College Wellness Center & Glen Helen Raptor Center
Additional Campus Involvement: 3 Years as a Miller Fellow, 2 Years on Community Council,
1 Year as a Resident Assistant, Space Coordinator, Events Coordinator, Orientation Leader, Lifeguard

Languages: English & Spanish

City: Clawson, MI

Email: agreer@antiochcollege.edu

An Epidemiological Analysis of Rescued Raptors at the Glen Helen Raptor Center in 2010 and 2020

Birds of prey, also known as raptors, are extremely important to the environment for many reasons, but most notably they serve as ecological indicators of health.  Because raptors are top predators, they feel the impacts of threats such as habitat loss, pesticides, human urbanization, and climate change more quickly than other animals.  The goal of this project is to analyze data collected by the Glen Helen Raptor Center in 2010 and 2020. The Glen Helen Raptor Center is a non-profit rehabilitation and education center that has been open for more than 50 years. In that time they have taken in about 200 birds annually, ranging across 18 different species. This study will investigate the causes of injured or unhealthy birds, compare the species seen in 2010 and 2020, and discuss the raptors' outcomes. I spent hundreds of hours working at the Raptor Center, digitizing bird intake forms, and analyzing trends in the data.  During this time, I worked with incredible people and learned so much about conservation efforts.  With this project I hope to bring more awareness to the importance of birds of prey and help to educate the public on the positive difference humans can make.