Sam Kruczek
I am an undergraduate honors thesis student and have been a part of the Taylor lab since the fall 2024! I first worked as a research assistant dissecting chickadee nests as a part of Dr. Haley Kenyon’s research, which includes examining how nest composition differs between black-capped and mountain chickadees and documenting whether owl pellets were used as nesting material.Â
My honors thesis project investigates the characteristics and effects of scaly leg mites in both black capped and mountain chickadees. I will be identifying the mite species and how it is distributed in the Front Range. I will also examine how mite infestations affect an individual’s body condition, their survival, and the health of their offspring.