Howdy! Thanks for checking out my website.

I am a Ph.D. Biology candidate in  Eli Bridge’s lab at the University of Oklahoma (OU). My doctoral research combines experimental and theoretical approaches to study migratory songbird behaviors during the non-breeding season. I am specifically focused on the following questions/topics:
a) Purple Martin roosting behavior and the principles that guide the formation of their massive post-breeding roosts, and
b) how flexible are Saltmarsh, Nelson’s, and Seaside Sparrows in their wintering site fidelity, and what factors
influence these species’ movement decisions on their coastal wintering grounds. For more specific information on these research projects, check out the “Current Research” page on this website.
For additional pictures and updates on these projects, check me out on Twitter (@WF_Oakley) and Instagram (@oakleysc).

While working toward my doctorate, I am pursuing my interdisciplinary research interests through an NSF National Research Traineeship (NRT) Program here at OU. In the Spring of 2017, I completed the Earth Observation Science for Society and Sustainability (EOS3)
interdisciplinary certificate program. This four-course certificate program emphasizes “integration of natural and social sciences
approaches to data exploration and visualization while building student competency in interdisciplinary team leadership and communication.” 

Before arriving at the University of Oklahoma, I worked as a field technician on various bird research projects in South Carolina, Delaware, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Peru. I also worked for 5 years in the leadership and environmental education field.