Greg Forcey

Avian Ecologist

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Dr. Greg Forcey is an avian ecologist with ten years of experience. He specializes in survey techniques, sensitive wetland bird species, ecological GIS modeling, statistical analysis, and wildlife study design and management planning.

Greg’s interest in science combined with his appreciation for the outdoors and wildlife led him to pursue a career in wildlife science. He holds a PhD in Zoology from North Dakota State University and an MS in Wildlife and Fisheries Resources from West Virginia University.  

Avian Interaction Studies and GIS

At Pandion, Greg is managing and conducting avian interaction projects, including study design, field survey, data collection and analysis, GIS modeling, and report preparation.

Greg is currently managing a GIS-based Wind-Wildlife Risk Tool for the U.S. Department of Energy. The tool will characterize risk for bird and bat species that are potentially susceptible to collisions and habitat displacement at wind energy sites.

His recent work at Pandion includes:

• Writing portions of an Avian Protection Plan aimed at reducing nesting mortality of Black-necked Stilts and Burrowing Owls in stormwater treatment areas in South Florida.
• Monitoring Bald Eagle behavior during the nesting season to determine if human disturbance is adversely affecting the eagles.
• Developing Osprey nesting deterrents for communication towers.
• Acoustic monitoring of bats at wind farms across the U.S. to assess bat use and rate of passage.
• Conducting avian surveys for the Plum Island Offshore Wind Park.
• Surveying for Crested Caracara for a potential gas line route in Central Florida.
• Writing the avian portion of an Environmental Assessment for a wind energy demonstration project in Florida.
• Monitoring the effects of construction noise on nesting Wood Storks in a 50-acre wetland colony for compliance with a Wood Stork Colony Protection Plan.

Prior to joining Pandion, Greg researched the influence of large-scale climatic and land use patterns on wetland bird population dynamics using hierarchical spatial models. He served as co-principal investigator on a research grant funded by USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services, which evaluated avian use of sunflower fields during spring migration, bird use of roadside habitat, and blackbird and non-blackbird use of commercial and lure plot sunflower fields. He also studied avian habitat use on the Camp Dawson Army Training Site in northern West Virginia and wrote the avian portion of a wildlife management plan for the installation.

When Not at Work

Greg’s other interests include birding, hiking, website and graphic design, and nature photography (birds and mammals being his favorite subjects). He finds wildlife photography extremely challenging because it requires a thorough understanding of the subjects and extreme patience in order to get good results. View Greg’s photography on his website >>