This National Science Foundation (NSF) Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) grant award of $329,069 to Colorado State University will fund research to understand the potential role of songbirds as pollinators in North America. The key products and services provided through this 2-year project include:
Collecting pollen samples from songbirds at bird banding stations and using DNA metabarcoding to identify the pollen. Applying these data to models that test the associations between pollen presence, bird characteristics, and environmental factors, as well as the links between plant characteristics and flower visitation by songbirds. The research aims to advance understanding of bird-flower interactions and the potential for migratory songbirds to contribute to long-distance pollen dispersal and improved resilience of plant-pollinator networks. One of the project outcomes will be a short educational film on this topic, which will be paired with materials to create a teaching module for middle school students.
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