On a Wing and a Prayer

Career Connection

Biography
Dr. Dave Willard, Ornithologist and Collection Manager

Dr. Dave Willard is an ornithologist, a specialized biologist who studies birds. He has spent his career learning about different songbird species. Dr. Willard is now the Manager of the Bird Collection of the Field Museum in Chicago. He has been there for 18 years!

As incredible as it sounds, birds were not Dave's first love. He recalls liking butterflies when he was just four years old. His most vivid memory is on his grandfather's farm where he watched several birds- tanagers, rose-breasted grosbeaks and orioles- lunching on apple peels which were starting to ferment. After eating the fruit for a while, the birds started getting a little tipsy! Dave gained an interest in birds shortly after that.

In elementary school, Dave didn't study birds in much detail. Biology and English were among his favorite subjects. He attended Carleton College in Minnesota, then did his graduate work studying the eating habits of herons. He received his Ph.D. in Ecology and Animal Behavior at Princeton University in New Jersey. Dr. Willard would like to see young scientists become involved in his field. "There are opportunities for serious students who would like to volunteer," he points out. "In addition, research studies often employ students with some knowledge of the subject, and it is a great way to learn even more!"

Dave's interest in birds has led him to exotic locations. He has worked abroad on research in Uganda, the Philippines, Marshall Islands, and has led a couple of tours in the Galapagos. Dr. Willard is an active member of many associations, including the National Audubon Society and the Illinois Ornithological Society. He is now involved in research on safe migratory routes for birds and the architectural challenges that today's city skyscrapers pose for migrating birds. In Chicago, he focuses on McCormick Place, which was highlighted in the video, On a Wing and a Prayer. Other buildings which often interfere with bird flights include the Hancock building, the AT&T building on South Wacker, and the Sears Tower. The Hancock building has reacted to the problem by reducing its light during migration periods. Thanks to Dave's work and the work of scientists like him, many urban building tenants are becoming more considerate of birds.