Debbie Badzinski
Volunteer Projects
Biologist

Telephone Ext. 211

I grew up in Winnipeg. Manitoba and was fortunate to have spent a lot of time camping, backpacking, hiking, and skiing with my parents in Manitoba and in the Rocky Mountains. As a result, I developed an appreciation for nature and wildlife at an early age. I was introduced to the world of birding while pursuing my undergraduate degree in Ecology and Evolution at the University of Western Ontario. A fourth year course in ornithology piqued my interest in birds, so I chose to research backyard birds for my honours thesis. After completing my B.Sc., I took a year off of school and worked in the Avian Energetics Lab at Western. My job involved assisting a Masters student, (Shannon Badzinski) with his research on Canada Geese and Snow Geese. Shannon and I were married in July, 1999 and he is presently researching Tundra Swan staging ecology at Long Point as part of his Ph.D. research. I completed my M.Sc. degree (from Trent University), on the population dynamics of Semipalmated Plovers. Prior to starting my M.Sc., I spent a summer at a small remote Common Eider colony off Southampton Island, Nunavut, where I developed a love for the Arctic, (despite a close encounter with two Polar Bears) and a keen interest in shorebirds. I also spent an enjoyable summer in Churchill, MB, where I completed the field portion of my M.Sc. research, and saw many new bird species. Shannon and I are currently living in rural Norfolk County with our son Brandt, our black Labs Gale and Rice, and our cats Griffy and Willow.