EEB graduate student Mac Chamberlain has recently received wide recognition for their research on cowbird behavior. Chamberlain, along with colleagues Mark Hauber and Shelby Lawson, served as scientific advisors for Underdogs, a National Geographic docuseries now streaming on Hulu and Disney+. Episode 4 features cowbirds and highlights the team’s contributions during filming and fact-finding in 2023.
Chamberlain’s recent paper in Animal Behaviour, co-authored with Mark, has also drawn national and international media attention. The study—focused on the social relationships between juvenile and adult cowbirds—was featured in a July 3rd New York Times article, with both authors interviewed. The same paper was also spotlighted in ScienceX, and Chamberlain discussed the research in a recent segment on CBC’s As It Happens radio program.