University of Idaho Doris Duke Scholars at the USFWS National Conservation Training Center. From left to right, standing: Orion Cardenas-Ritzert, Abigain Cano Perez, Dr. Kerri Vierling (faculty co-advisor), Zander Zuniga; in front, Emily Cook. Photograph by co-advisor Courtney Conway.
Courtney Conway, PhD
Unit Leader - Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Courtney grew up in Cincinnati and spent many of his weekends camping, hiking, backpacking, and climbing in Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia. He was motivated to find a career where he could continue to do these activities as part of his job, while still contributing to science.
Courtney joined the Arizona Unit in 2000 as Assistant Unit Leader and joined the Idaho Unit in 2011 as Unit Leader.
Courtney conducts research that bridges applied and conceptual questions in ecology primarily on birds and mammals of management or conservation concern in ecosystems throughout North America. His research has made substantive contributions to sampling designs and monitoring protocols for rare or listed species, and to our basic understanding of life history evolution, avian migration, mammal hibernation, and other iconic animal behaviors. The taxonomic breadth of his research program includes gamebirds, waterbirds, raptors, songbirds, and small mammals. He has developed and implemented numerous efforts to integrate management actions with experimental research treatments to rigorously examine the effectiveness of alternative management actions on animal populations. Dr. Conway teaches courses in Experimental Design, the Hypothetico-Deductive Method, Scientific Writing, Scientific Presentations, and a variety of graduate seminars and he mentors a large group of close-knit students and staff.
Courtney received a B.S. from Colorado State University, a M.S. from University of Wyoming, a Ph.D. from University of Montana, and was a post-doctoral fellow at SUNY-ESF in Syracuse. He spent a year working as a Research Associate at the Smithsonian’s Conservation Research Center in VA, 3 years at the University of Rhode Island, and 1 year at Washington State University.
Science and Products
The Grouse and Grazing Project: Effects of cattle grazing on demographic traits of greater sage-grouse
Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) were once widespread within sagebrush -grassland ecosystems of western North America, but populations have declined since the mid-1960s. Though sage-grouse were not listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), when examined in 2015, they remain a species of interest and concern. Roughly half of the sage-grouse’s...
University of Idaho Doris Duke Scholars
University of Idaho Doris Duke Scholars at the USFWS National Conservation Training Center. From left to right, standing: Orion Cardenas-Ritzert, Abigain Cano Perez, Dr. Kerri Vierling (faculty co-advisor), Zander Zuniga; in front, Emily Cook. Photograph by co-advisor Courtney Conway.
Science and Products
The Grouse and Grazing Project: Effects of cattle grazing on demographic traits of greater sage-grouse
Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) were once widespread within sagebrush -grassland ecosystems of western North America, but populations have declined since the mid-1960s. Though sage-grouse were not listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), when examined in 2015, they remain a species of interest and concern. Roughly half of the sage-grouse’s...
University of Idaho Doris Duke Scholars
University of Idaho Doris Duke Scholars at the USFWS National Conservation Training Center. From left to right, standing: Orion Cardenas-Ritzert, Abigain Cano Perez, Dr. Kerri Vierling (faculty co-advisor), Zander Zuniga; in front, Emily Cook. Photograph by co-advisor Courtney Conway.
University of Idaho Doris Duke Scholars at the USFWS National Conservation Training Center. From left to right, standing: Orion Cardenas-Ritzert, Abigain Cano Perez, Dr. Kerri Vierling (faculty co-advisor), Zander Zuniga; in front, Emily Cook. Photograph by co-advisor Courtney Conway.