Gary Langham, Audubon Chief Scientist

Garrison Frost

Dr. Gary Langham was named Audubon’s Chief Scientist in June, 2011, after four years as Director of Bird Conservation for Audubon California. At Audubon California, Dr. Langham led a team that developed a predictive GIS-based model that identifies specific habitat areas and species at risk from climate change. Audubon is now expanding this groundbreaking approach to encompass 600 bird species across North America, and to create a framework for innovative conservation planning. He also pioneered many successful conservation solutions benefiting diverse bird species, including the endangered California Condor and threatened Western Snowy Plover.

“The leadership Gary showed in creating the ‘no regrets’ climate change model is the kind of bold thinking Audubon needs,” said Audubon President & CEO David Yarnold. “He has both broad science expertise and acute insight on how the intersection of social change and innovative technology can drive effective conservation. Audubon has always been a science-based organization; Gary’s leadership will bring new creativity and impact to our work.”

As Chief Scientist, Dr. Langham is instrumental in shaping and implementing Audubon’s conservation strategy. He will lead efforts to promote and expand citizen science programs including Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count, to broaden the Important Bird Areas initiative, and to engage partners, donors and other stakeholders in Audubon’s science work.

Langham joined Audubon California as lead scientist and Director of Bird Conservation in 2007. He has worked as a Research Fellow in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at U.C. Berkeley. In 2003, Langham received his Ph.D. from Cornell University having completed a dissertation under Drs. John Fitzpatrick and David Winkler on the role that avian foraging played in the maintenance and evolution of Heliconius butterfly mimicry in Venezuela, Peru and Bolivia. He completed a postdoctoral NSF fellowship in Australia, and taught ornithology as a lecturer at U.C. Berkeley.

In 2000, he was the founding president of a volunteer non-profit called the Neotropical Grassland Conservancy. Langham is a co-author of the flycatcher accounts in the Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol 9. Langham grew up in Sacramento where his father served as President of Sacramento Audubon. An active birder since his early childhood, he has led more than 100 birding and natural history tours in the Americas. Dr. Langham is based in Washington, D.C.

To arrange an interview with Dr. Langham, please contact:

DELTA WILLIS
Senior Communications Manager
National Audubon Society  
Tel 212-979-3197  dwillis@audubon.org