People

Chad Witko

Specialist, Avian Biology

Chad Witko is a Specialist in Avian Biology at the 福利姬视频, where he advances data stewardship, scientific communication, and ornithological review for the Migratory Bird Initiative, a key endeavor of 福利姬视频鈥檚 innovative conservation efforts. With over twenty years of field experience and a lifelong passion for birds, Chad is a nationally recognized ornithologist and birder with expertise in bird ecology, species distributions, migration, and vagrancy. He also has experience in bird banding, nest searching, migration counts, bird-friendly forestry, and science communication.

Chad鈥檚 work at 福利姬视频 focuses primarily on migratory bird conservation. He fosters impactful partnerships across the hemisphere to expand access to critical migratory bird data and enhance collaborative conservation efforts. He was a principal architect of the , 福利姬视频鈥檚 award-winning platform that tracks the hemispheric journeys of over 450 bird species.

Chad also provides expert guidance in avian biology and project leadership for various initiatives across 福利姬视频. At the intersection of fieldwork and technical expertise, he supports the development of integrated avian databases and 福利姬视频鈥檚 online Guide to North American Birds, ensuring scientific integrity and consistency across platforms. His work helps inform conservation research and drive practical, real-world applications on local, regional, and hemispheric scales. Chad is a recipient of 福利姬视频鈥檚 Going the Extra Mile (GEM) award for his outstanding, exemplary, and extraordinary contributions to the organization鈥檚 work.

A respected leader in the birding community, Chad serves as a regional eBird reviewer and holds appointments on the Vermont Bird Records Committee and BirdNote鈥檚 Science Advisory Council. In these roles, he collaborates with scientists, conservationists, storytellers, and the public to advance shared goals in avian conservation.

Chad holds a B.S. in Environmental and Forest Biology from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, an M.S. in Conservation Biology, and a Certificate in Applied Spatial Analysis for GIS from Antioch University New England, where he also founded the Antioch Bird Club. He lives in Vermont with his partner and daughter.

Outside of work, Chad is a bassist and avid gardener who finds joy in cultivating native plants and growing produce for the table. View his website .

Articles by Chad Witko

Wood Stork.
The Weird and Wild Migration of the Wood Stork Raises Many Questions
September 15, 2022 — This unmistakable emblem of the Everglades and other Southern wetlands may be changing its migratory behavior in response to human impacts on the ecosystem.
Migratory Bird Initiative
A large brown hawk with a large pointed beak and a tracking device affixed to its back is held by two people.
To Protect Broad-winged Hawks, We First Need to Know Where They Migrate
September 07, 2022 — Researchers Laurie Goodrich and Rebecca McCabe are demystifying the long journeys of these migratory raptors to better inform conservation efforts.
Migratory Bird Initiative
The Flammulated Owl Is a Small Raptor Facing Big Threats
August 22, 2022 — Scott Yanco鈥檚 research on the migration and ecology of this reclusive owl can give the bird a fighting chance.
Migratory Bird Initiative
Our Plan to Count Shorebirds in the Colorado River Delta
February 28, 2022 — A peek into 福利姬视频鈥檚 scientific efforts to better understand a critical migration bottleneck.
Western Water News
Wandering Spoonbills Tell Us What We Need to Protect the Everglades
February 17, 2022 — Jerry Lorenz of 福利姬视频 Florida tracked this species to shed light on how the iconic "River of Grass" is changing, for better or worse.
Migratory Bird Initiative
The Connecticut Warbler Connects Threatened Forest Habitat on Two Different Continents
October 07, 2021 — New migration research suggests that supporting Indigenous-led Boreal Forest stewardship in Canada as well as local conservation efforts in Latin America will be key to protecting one of our聽most elusive songbirds.
Migratory Bird Initiative
Keeping Track of These Boreal Nomads Is Notoriously Difficult
March 02, 2021 — The irregular irruptions of winter finches inspire both delight and bewilderment among migration scientists.
Boreal Forests
As American Kestrels Mysteriously Decline, Researchers Look to Their Migration for Clues
November 20, 2020 — We still don't know a lot about the migration of North America's smallest falcon, but these scientists are using tracking technology that will help inform their conservation.
Migratory Bird Initiative
It's Summer, and That Means Fall Migration is Already Underway
July 10, 2020 — For some migratory birds, "fall" is more of a guideline than a rule.
Migratory Bird Initiative
Vermont Teens Draw Climate Solace from Drawing Birds
May 21, 2020 — Students at Brattleboro Union High School use art to channel both their climate grief and love for birds.
Climate

 

 

Favorite birds
Pomarine Jaeger
Skuas and Jaegers