Rachael Orben
she/her
Assistant Professor (Senior Research)
Oregon State University
Discipline
Behaviour, Conservation, Migration & Movement Ecology
Regional Focus
North Pacific; Falkland Islands; Global
Years Active
More than 20 years
Species Focus
Albatrosses (Diomedeidae), Gulls and Terns (Laridae), Cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae), Petrels and Shearwaters (Procellariidae), Penguins (Spheniscidae), Storm-Petrels (Hydrobatidae & Oceanitidae)
Tell us about your work with seabirds.
I currently lead the Seabird Oceanography Lab at Oregon State University. We tackle a range of applied seabird research to provide managers information on seabird populations and behavior. We are also developing methods to sample oceanographic parameters from seabird biologging data - concurrent with the collection of detailed individual movement and diving behavior data. I am interested in how individual marine animals interact with their environment through movement: from fine-scale behavior to migrations. I began my career during a field season on the Barren Islands in Alaska. Since then, I have gravitated toward remote, wild, and windy places.
What advice would you offer to individuals aspiring to pursue a career as seabird scientists?
Take risks and say yes to opportunities. Spend time at sea, even if you get sea sick (like I do!). There is much left to understand about seabirds and they face so many threats. Reach out, make connections, and work together.
Rachael Orben waiting for roosting red-legged kittiwakes to spontaneously flush for a photo on the shore of St. George Island, Alaska. Rachael Orben is wearing a camo rain jacket and pink rain pants. The red-legged kittiwakes are taking flight in the background.
Email:
Website:
Twitter:
@RachaelOrben
Instagram:
@raorben