Uncategorized – The Branch Lab

Paper accepted at Journal of Comparative Physiology!

Congratulations to Branch Lab members Sam Jung and Laura Robayo on acceptance in Journal of Comparative Physiology B. This work came from Sam’s Honour’s thesis project – way to go team!!

Jung et al 2026_JCPhy Download

Jung, G., Beauchamp, A., Robayo Noguera, L., Guglielmo, C., Branch, C.L. Coping with the cold: Black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) use rapid facultative hypothermia to reduce fat loss overnight. Journal of Comparative Physiology B.

Congratulations on a successful defense, Alex!

Alex pontificates on his defense as he enjoys a Cesar from the Goblet of Knowledge!

Alex Muth successfully defended his MSc thesis in Psychology! Alex investigated the role of character displacement on chestnut-backed and mountain chickadee calls where they overlap versus where they live in isolation. Great work Alex!

Celebrating at the Grad Club! What a turn out!

Chickadees make The Times

The New York Times covered our work on extra-pair paternity in mountain chickadees! The ladies like a clever male : >

Let’s talk Monogam-ish on Okay, But…Birds

Check out Carrie’s chat with Dr. Scott Taylor, host of Okay, But…Birds podcast!

Branch Lab does SCO-SOC!

The Society for Canadian Ornithology was held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 2025 – We had a great time meeting fellow Canadian Ornithologists and the students did an excellent job sharing their research findings!

Branch Lab does ABS 2025!

Baltimore, MD

Alex presents on character displacement in CBCH and MOCH

Sofia presents on song output and cognition in MOCH

Coverage in Living Bird magazine!

Check out this piece in Living Bird magazine, 2025 summer edition, highlighting Olivia Taylor’s honours thesis work, Taylor et al. 2025

Illustration from the piece in Living Bird by Lauren Richelieu

Check out Sofia’s Piece in The Conversation!

Congratulations Sofia!

Sofia Haley received a Graduate Student Research Grant (UNR) and the Wilson’s Scholarship (UNR Biology) this spring! Way to go!!

Psychology Donor Awards, 2025!

Congratulations to Laura Robayo Noguera and Alex Muth on their Psychology Donor Awards! Laura received the David Sherry AFAR Graduate Award and Alex received the G. Keith Humphrey Memorial Award! Many thanks to the generous Donors!!