Dr. Jeremy J. Kirchman

Curator of Birds and Mammals
jeremy.kirchman@nysed.gov
518-474-1441

I am broadly interested in the evolution and biogeography of birds, but most of my research focuses on populations found on islands. Islands have long been considered “natural laboratories of evolution”, and studying birds on islands teaches us much about speciation, extinction, and adaptation.  I have a special interest in one group of birds, the rails (Rallidae), which are great island colonists, found even on the most remote oceanic islands.  Many rail species have evolved to become totally flightless on islands that lack mammalian predators. Closer to home, I am studying several species of birds that breed in “islands” of coniferous (boreal) forest isolated above 3000 feet of elevation in New York’s mountain ranges. I want to know if these populations of Bicknell’s Thrush, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Spruce Grouse and other boreal forest specialists are genetically isolated and evolving independently of one another. These high-elevation populations may be imperiled as the climate continues to warm.

Publications

2014

M.S. LoRusso 2014, Cultural Resources HABS/HAER Report of Route 86 Bridge Spanning West Branch of the Ausable River, NYSDOT PIN 1161.19.101, Route 86/West Branch of the Ausable River, Town of Wilmington, Essex County, New York. . Presented at the ,, Albany, New York
M.S. LoRusso 2014, Cultural Resources HABS/HAER report of the Earle and Vaughn Store 69 George Street, US 4/NY 149 Intersection Improvement, Village of Fort Ann, Washington County, New York. . Presented at the ,, Albany, New York
M.S. LoRusso 2014, A Cultural Resources Survey Report for An Architectural Survey of PIN 3806.81.101, NY 5 and US 20 Culvert over unnamed Creek, Town of Aurelius, Cayuga County, New York. . Presented at the ,, Albany, New York
M.S. LoRusso 2014, Cultural Resources Survey Report of OGS Project \# 44795, Architectural Survey of Main Entrance Gate and Visitor Gate, Taconic Correctional Facility, Town of Bedford, Westchester County, New York. . Presented at the ,, Albany, New York
D. Mazeau, M.S. LoRusso 2014, Cultural Resources Pre-Reconnaissance Survey Report for PIN 0339.09, Pre-Reconnaissance Survey of Sagtikos/Sunken Meadow State Parkway, Town of Islip and Smithtown, Suffolk County, New York. . Presented at the ,, Albany, New York
T. Thomas, M.S. LoRusso, M. Pickands, J. VanNest 2014, Cultural Resources Reconnaissance Survey Report for PIN 1BOW.00.101, Route 23 Crossing over the Schoharie Creek, Prattsville, Greene County, New York.. . Presented at the ,, Albany, New York

2013

M.S. LoRusso, C. Sobik 2013, Cultural Resources Reconnaissance Survey for PIN 1043.44.101, Route 9 over the Schroon River, BIN 1005820, Town of North Hudson, Essex County, New York. . Presented at the ,, Albany, New York
M.S. LoRusso, C. Sobik 2013, Cultural Resources Survey of Route 86/the West Branch of the Ausable River, Essex County, New York. . Presented at the ,, Albany, New York
M.S. LoRusso 2013, Cultural Resources Architectural Report for the Five Rivers Environmental Center, Delmar, New York. . Presented at the ,, New York
M.S. LoRusso 2013, HAER for Rosendale Culvert, Town of Rosendale, Ulster County, New York. . Presented at the ,, Albany, New York