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McCune Conservation Behavior Lab
Dr. Kelsey McCune
Assistant Professor of Conservation Behavioral Ecology
College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment
Auburn University
Dr. McCune is passionate about birds, animal behavior, sustainability and conservation. She has a bachelor of science degree in Biology from Randolph-Macon Woman's College, and a PhD in Animal Behavior from the University of Washington. In addition to conducting research at Auburn University, she teaches Wildlife Summer Practicum, Conservation Biology and graduate courses relating animal behavior topics to disease, as well as conservation and management. Outside of work she loves baking, art, plants, travel and bird watching.
Graduate students
Alex Fisher, MS student
Alex is studying the behavior and disease dynamics in common backyard birds, while also evaluating human perceptions of wildlife and knowledge of zoonotic disease as a function of backyard activities like bird feeding and poultry keeping. He received his bachelor's degree in Wildlife Ecology and Management from Auburn University. He contributes substantially to undergraduate mentoring through a TA position in the college and teaching volunteer undergrads how to bird band.
Andrea Knapp, MS student
Andrea's research explores the human dimensions of avian ecosystems in recently burned forests in British Columbia. Before coming to Auburn, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Ecology and Environmental Science from the University of Maine, where she developed a strong passion for protecting and conserving public lands. Since then, she has worked as a technician for the National Park Service in the fields of Wildlife and Natural Resource Management. In the future, she hopes to continue working in wildlife or natural resource management on public lands and to help integrate social perspectives on conservation with field management practices.
Undergraduate students
We welcome undergraduate student participation in our research through volunteer and paid positions in the field and lab, as well as through Auburn University's Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program.
Undergraduate research fellows: Luke Watters, Grace Southerland & Bethany Fuller. Also pictured are Kai Burney and Willow Kay
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