We study birds to understand the principles of flight, and we regard the birds we work with as partners in that discovery, not resources to be used. That partnership carries responsibility: we treat every animal, living or preserved, with respect, and hold our science to honest, humane standards.
Most of our live-bird research simply films birds flying along natural flight paths. The birds move freely under their own power and get appropriate exercise; we observe far more than we intervene.
Our commitments
- The 3Rs: replacement, reduction, and refinement. We actively seek alternatives to animal use, use the fewest animals necessary, and refine our methods to minimize any stress or discomfort. We replace live-animal work with computational models or existing specimens wherever possible.
- Independent oversight. All live-animal work is reviewed and approved in advance by the UC Davis Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and is carried out under its ongoing oversight, alongside professional veterinary and animal-care staff.
- Work only within approved protocols. All live-animal work follows current, approved institutional protocols and required training. If you are unsure whether something is covered, stop and ask before you proceed.
- Only trained members handle animals or specimens.
Working with live birds
- Welfare comes first, always. A bird’s well-being outweighs any single data point.
- Natural, low-impact work. Most sessions film birds in voluntary flight; any handling is kept calm, brief, and as low-impact as possible.
- Guided by rehabilitation experts. We partner with experts in raptor rehabilitation and include them in our research, learning from them to hold ourselves and our animal care to the highest possible standard.
Working with specimens & collections
- Treat cadavers, preserved specimens, and museum loans with the same respect as live animals.
- Track their provenance, honor the terms of any loan or collection policy, and make full and respectful use of every specimen.
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