46 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Summer 2013

Kathleen 

Green

Kathleen Green 

is an economist 

in the Office of 

Occupational 

Statistics and 

Employment 

Projections, 

BLS. She can 

be reached at 

(202) 691-5717 or 

green.kathleen@

bls.gov.

You’re a what ?

Ornithologist

When ornithologist Amanda Rodewald talks about tweets and 

angry birds, she’s not usually referring to social media and 

video games. She’s probably discussing science.

“Birds have calls that they use when they’re agitated or to alarm 

others of danger,” says Amanda. “In fact, there’s been research showing 

that chickadee calls can actually communicate the size and type of a 

predator.”

Ornithology is the branch of zoology related to birds. Some ornithologists study birds to find clues about how to protect the environment. 

For example, Amanda’s research focuses on the ways that human activity 

affects birds and their ecosystems, and her findings are useful for conservation and land management efforts.
www.bls.gov/ooq • Summer 2013 47

What they do

Ornithologists work in academia, federal 

and state agencies, wildlife and conservation 

organizations, and other institutions, such as 

the World Bank. They study birds in their 

natural habitats or in the laboratory. They also 

may write research reports and proposals for 

grants, teach classes, present research to the 

public, and have administrative duties related 

to these activities. Some ornithologists, like 

Amanda, do all these tasks.

Research and writing. Many questions about ornithology are best answered by 

observing birds in the wild during fieldwork. 

Amanda and her students have done fieldwork 

in locations as remote as the Andes Mountains 

in South America and as nearby as the forests 

of southern Ohio and the Midwest.

Fieldwork usually involves surveying, or 

counting, birds and monitoring their nests. 

“Fieldwork is where many ornithologists 

learn how to collect data for research,” says 

Amanda. “For example, we’ll watch and 

record different species foraging to discover 

where and what they eat.” During fieldwork, 

ornithologists might also attach metal or plastic bands to a bird’s leg to help identify individual birds and aid with survival estimates.

But not all ornithologists work outdoors. 

Much of the research that ornithologists do 

is in the lab. For example, feathers collected 

during fieldwork are analyzed in the lab for a 

variety of purposes, including genetic mapping. And some studies of migratory behavior 

or mate choice might involve observing birds 

in special cages.

Ornithologists often write reports about 

their research or publish articles in scientific journals focused on biology, ecology, 

conservation, or wildlife management. And 

ornithologists who do research also write 

grant proposals to seek funding for specific 

research.

Teaching and outreach. In addition 

to educating people through writing about 

birds, ornithologists share their knowledge 

by teaching college courses. For example, 

Amanda will teach a course on conservation 

biology for Cornell University’s Department 

of Natural Resources.

But education is not limited to teaching 

college students. Outreach activities might 

include giving talks and making presentations 

to natural resources managers of government 

and other nonprofit organizations as well as to 

people in public interest groups, birdwatching 

clubs, and schools.

Administration. An ornithologist’s 

administrative tasks vary, depending on the 

job. Most of Amanda’s administrative duties 

are related to her work as director of conservation science at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York. Her responsibilities 

include program oversight and supervision, 

budgeting, and strategic planning.

How they prepare

Ornithologists need an advanced degree for 

most jobs. But at every level of ornithology 

work, says Amanda, academic credentials 

alone aren’t enough. “Education is important,” 

she says, “but practical experience in the field 

or lab is critical.”

Education. Ornithologists may start out 

with a bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology, 

ecology, or some other life science. Students 

also benefit from coursework in math and 

statistics, for deciphering the quantitative side 

of science; communications, to gain writing 

and speaking skills; and social science, for 

understanding how human behavior affects 

ecosystems.

For most professional jobs, Amanda says, 

ornithologists need a master’s degree that 

includes a research thesis. Those who want to 

develop their own research projects, work in 

high-level management positions, or teach at a 

university usually need a Ph.D. in a discipline 

related to their work. Amanda’s degrees are in 

wildlife biology (bachelor’s), zoology (master’s) and ecology (Ph.D.).

Experience. Aspiring ornithologists can 

begin getting experience as early as high 

school by contacting local birdwatching clubs, 

becoming active in networks for young birdwatchers, and attending workshops to learn 

the basics of fieldwork.
48 Occupational Outlook Quarterly • Summer 2013

College students interested in ornithology should check job boards to find temporary positions; search online for internships, 

some of which may be paid; and volunteer on 

projects with ornithology, ecology, or wildlife organizations. The important thing, says 

Amanda, is to “get outside and get experience.”

What it’s like

Getting outside is what first drew Amanda to 

ornithology. “I loved the outdoors and always 

had a curiosity about wildlife and ecology,” 

she says.

Rewards and challenges. Fieldwork 

allows ornithologists to combine their passions for studying nature and being outdoors. 

But that also means being out in all types of 

weather—sometimes, almost every day—if 

there are limited times during a season to 

observe a particular species. Also, there is 

travel to and from field locations and a variable work schedule that is far from standard.

But because ornithologists love what they 

do, says Amanda, they don’t mind the unpredictable climate and hours. “So often when 

working outside in these beautiful field locations, surrounded by such fascinating birds, 

I can’t believe that I am actually paid to do 

this,” she says.

Erratic financial support is a different 

story. “There’s a lot of uncertainty about 

funding, both for research and for education,” 

Amanda says. “That’s the worst part of the 

job.”

Employment and wages. The U.S. 

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not 

collect employment and wage data specifically on ornithologists. Instead, ornithologists 

are included among zoologists and wildlife 

biologists. In May 2012, BLS counted 18,650 

zoologists and wildlife biologists; their 

median annual wage was $57,710.

The American Ornithologists’ Union, citing data from the Ornithological Societies of 

North America, estimates that there are about 

6,000 ornithologists employed in the United 

States. But it’s difficult to determine wages or 

a precise employment number, the organizations say, because of the overlap among scientists in related disciplines (such as ornithologists who also study mammals or forestry).

Passion. Many bird enthusiasts throughout the United States enjoy learning more 

about these creatures. Employment estimates 

don’t count the large and growing segment of 

citizen scientists in ornithology: trained hobbyists, students, and volunteers who collect 

real data for science because of their interest 

in birds. “This is one area where amateurs can 

be exceptionally important,” Amanda says.

Whether employed as ornithologists or 

doing fieldwork as citizen scientists, these 

nature enthusiasts share the same passion. 

“Our work is meaningful,” says Amanda. 

“We’re helping to conserve the world around 

us.” 

For ornithologist 

Amanda Rodewald, 

fieldwork often includes 

capturing birds to 

band them.

Photo courtesy of Amanda Rodewald.