Notice Board

Speaker: Dr Christopher Sturdy, University of Alberta

Title: Who are you, what sex are you, and are you dangerous?

Abstract:

In our lab, we have studied the mechanisms of songbird communication for over 22 years. In this time, we have gained many insights into the amazing acoustic world of songbirds, with an emphasis on local chickadee species. Here, I report on some of our most recent discoveries on songbird acoustic perception and behaviour in several operant conditioning and playback experiments. These experiments show us that: 1. Chickadees can identify individuals based on their songs and calls, 2. Chickadees can identify the sex of the vocalizer based on fee-bee songs and tseet contact calls, and 3. Chickadees behave and vocalize differently based on hearing the vocalizations and wingbeats of predator and nonpredator birds. Finally, I will discuss future avenues of this and other work from our lab.

Bio:

Sturdy completed a BA in Psychology at the University of Windsor in 1994 where he studied spatial memory in rats with Jerome Cohen. He then completed an MA in 1997 and a PhD in 2000 in Psychology at Queen's University where he examined songbird bioacoustics, cognition, and neuroscience with Ronald Weisman. From 2000 to 2001, Sturdy worked at the Duke University Medical Center with Richard Mooney (Department of Neurobiology) and Stephen Nowicki (Department of Biology) where he examined the cellular basis of song production. In 2002 Sturdy was appointed Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Alberta, promoted to Associate Professor of Psychology in 2008, and promoted to Professor in 2013. Sturdy served as Chair of the Department of Psychology from 2016-2019. Sturdy is currently Professor of Psychology, a member of the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, and Canada Research Chair in Animal Cognition, Communication, and Neuroethology, Tier 1 (2020-2027). Sturdy is currently an Associate Editor for Animal Behavior and Cognition, an Associate Editor for Frontiers in Comparative Psychology, a Consulting Editor for the Journal of Comparative Psychology, a member of the Editorial Board for Behavioural Processes, a member of the Editorial Board for the Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology, was a  Guest Co-Editor (with Lauren Guillette) for Special Issue on Comparative Cognition & Cognitive Ecology, was a member of the Editorial Board for Learning & Behavior from January 2015-December 2023, and was the Co-Editor of Comparative Cognition & Behavior Reviews from July 2010-June 2017.

This seminar can be attended in person (SA8003) or via Zoom (https://uleth.zoom.us/j/92637298185?from=addon)