As an avian ecologist, I believe research is futile without communication and incomplete without an understanding of culture. Thus, I am dedicated to cultivating an interdisciplinary and global perspective of birds, and to sharing this perspective through writing.
Mariel Ortega
Science Writing is a Pillar of My Research
Blog Posts
A scientist is more than a bearded man in a lab coat. I am committed to revealing the faces behind the science by interviewing researchers and sharing narratives on my experience in the field.
Science Writing
Scientific papers are often incomprehensible to a non-scientist. I strive to break down difficult topics and remind the reader that behind those statistics is a wonder of the world.
Research Updates
Science is futile without communication, especially in ecology where public support is vital for implementing conservation measures. I write newsletters and research updates for science and education centers.
The Cedar Creek Chronicles
In 2021, as an ecological field technician at the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, I realized the center was doing incredible research…that nobody knew about. I approached the communications director and proposed a science communication blog. I then independently designed, produced content for, and published The Cedar Creek Chronicles.
Blog posts featured researcher spotlights, “day in the life” of an intern, and news updates. See the blog here:
And beyond science writing, I dabble in:
Writing a Catholic column, travel advice, fiction and poetry (and more).
Storytelling in Progress…
When I began the Bird Lovers Musings blog as an undergraduate pursuing a double degree in English and Wildlife Ecology, I couldn’t envision how to merge my passions for storytelling and science. Now, as a fellow with the Urban Bird Project (an interdisciplinary endeavor that considers birds through science and culture), I see that the intersection of science and writing is the catalyst for change.
3D Birdsong Visualizations as Storytelling (work-in-progress)
I am currently working with a developer on a website that combines interactive, 3D visualizations of birdsong with ecological and cultural write-ups of corresponding birds.
Essentially a music sheet with a 3D dimension, the birdsong is plotted by time, pitch, and complexity. The red dots are individual birdsong notes. Certain of these will be clickable. Upon click, the model will display information about the corresponding birdsong. (This model shows a white-browed treecreeper song)
The Story: K-Birds, The Original K-Pop Singers
In conjunction with my potential Fulbright research in South Korea, I hope to present ecological and local cultural knowledge on birdsong. In doing so, I aim to raise awareness about noise pollution–a phenomena that impacts birds and humans alike. By appealing to an existing global love of Korean culture and presenting Korean birds, I hope to catch the attention of an audience who may have never given birds a second thought. Thus, this website aims to raise awareness of global noise pollution and foster cross-cultural dialogue on birds.
Upcoming Features
The above is a basic demo. The full vision will:
- Be prettier – different colors, different sizes and shapes for birdnotes, etc.
- Play noise – when first loading the 3D model, the corresponding birdsong will play, thus creating a clear connection between the visualization and bird
- Feature a comparison between 3D models of noise-pollution-influenced-birdsong (birds often sing at higher pitch when exposed to noise pollution) and birdsong from quiet areas
- Generate a 3D model for any searched birdsong (by pulling from e.g., Macaulay Library)
Beyond Writing…
I have experience leading teams to bring my storytelling ideas to life. For example, I produced a storyboard to transform my prose piece Oath into a webcomic. I then directed an artist who transformed my storyboard into full rendered pieces.
I have experience working closely with citizen scientists and the general public. For my master’s research, I instructed citizen scientists who assisted with monitoring birdhouses; and further interviewed them on their perceptions of nature.
And, of course, I have experience in avian ecology. See my research portfolio here.
Mariel Ortega
Ultimately, I aim to become an avian ecology professor who is in wonder of nature and appreciates that our view of nature is shaped by culture. Along the way, I am committed to learning from global and interdisciplinary perspectives and communicating my research to the public. I do not want to be an insular academic, but a researcher who is a warrior for the environment and for all of us who call earth home.
MS Environmental Science, University of Texas at San Antonio 2026
BS Wildlife Ecology, Texas A&M University 2021
BA English, Texas A&M University 2021
Bird Lover's Musings 