Donald Brightsmith

Donald Brightsmith

Professional Experience
Research Assistant Professor, Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center, Department of Pathobiology, College of
Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, Apr 2008 to present
Lecturer, Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center, Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary
Medicine, Texas A&M University, July 2006 to Mar 2008
Research Director and Macaw Project Director, Rainforest Expeditions, Peru, Nov 1999 to Dec 2006
Consultant, WWF AREAS Project, Nov 2004 to Mar 2006
Research Associate, Department of Biology, Duke University, 1999 – 2006
Instructor Organization for Tropical Studies undergraduate summer program 1999 – 2002

Education
1999 Ph.D. in Zoology, Duke University
1993 MS in Wildlife Ecology, University of Arizona
1990 BS in Natural Resources with honors and distinction, Cornell University
1989 Oxford University, England, visiting student in Zoology

Professional Publications
Renton, K. and Brightsmith, D. J. Submitted June 2008. Resource partitioning of cavities, nest success,
and reproductive output of large macaws. Journal of Field Ornithology.
Brightsmith, D.J., Matsafuji, D., McDonald, D., Bailey, C.A., Submitted May 2008. Nutritional content of
free-living Scarlet Macaw chick diets in southeastern Peru. Journal of Animal Physiology and
Animal Nutrition.
Brightsmith, D. J., K. M. Holle, and A. Stronza. In press. Ecotourism, Conservation Biology, and
Volunteer Tourism: a mutually beneficial triumvirate. Biological Conservation. In press.
Gebhardt, K. J., D. J. Brightsmith, G. Powell, and L. P. Waits. Submitted Aug 2007. Maximizing DNA
yield from molted feathers: a case study of parrots in the Peruvian Amazon. Auk.
Brightsmith, D. J., J. Taylor, and O. L. Phillips. 2008. The roles of soil characteristics and toxin
adsorption in avian geophagy. Biotropica. In press.
Matuzak, G., B. Beazy, and D. J. Brightsmith. 2008. Foraging ecology of parrots in a modified landscape:
seasonal trends and introduced species. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 120: 353-365.
Brightsmith, D. J. 2008. Ecotourism and Earthwatch as tools for conservation science. Neotropical
Ornithology 19(supplement): 173-181.
Matuzak, G., and D. J. Brightsmith. 2007. Roosting of Yellow-naped Parrots in Costa Rica: estimating the
size and recruitment of threatened populations. Journal of Field Ornithology 78: 159-169.
Tobias, J. A., and D. J. Brightsmith. 2007. Distribution, ecology and conservation status of the Blueheaded
Macaw Primolius couloni. Biological Conservation 139: 126-138.
Brightsmith, D. J. and A. Bravo. 2006. Ecology and management of nesting Blue-and-yellow Macaws
(Ara ararauna) in Mauritia palm swamps. Biodiversity and Conservation. 15:4271-4287.
Brightsmith, D. J. 2005. Parrot nesting in southeastern Peru: seasonal patterns and keystone trees. Wilson
Bulletin 117: 296-305.
Brightsmith, D. J. 2005. Competition, predation and nest niche shifts among tropical cavity nesters:
phylogeny and natural history evolution of parrots (Psittaciformes) and trogons (Trogoniformes).
Journal of Avian Biology. 36: 64-73.
Brightsmith, D. J. 2005. Competition, predation and nest niche shifts among cavity-nesting parrots and
trogons: ecological evidence. Journal of Avian Biology. 36: 74-83.
Brightsmith, D. J., J. Hillburn, A. del Campo, J. Boyd, M. Friesius, R. Friesius, Janik, D. and Guillen, F.
2005. The use of hand-raised psittacines in reintroduction projects: a case study of Scarlet Macaws
in Peru and Costa Rica. Biological Conservation. 121:465-472.
Brightsmith, D. J. and R. Aramburú. 2004. Avian geophagy in SE Peru: the roles of toxin neutralization
and mineral supplementation in soil choice. Biotropica 36: 534-543.
Brightsmith, D. J. 2004. Effects of weather on avian geophagy in Tambopata, Peru. Wilson Bulletin, 116:
134-145.
Brightsmith, D. J. 2004. Nest sites of termitarium nesting birds in se Peru. Neotropical Ornithology.
15:319-330.
Brightsmith, D. J. 2000. Use of arboreal termite mounds by nesting birds in the Peruvian Amazon. Condor
102: 529-538.
Brightsmith, D. J. 1999. The roles of predation and competition in nest niche differentiation: evidence
from termitarium nesting parrots and trogons. Ph.D. dissertation. Duke University, Department of
Zoology, Durham NC.
Brightsmith, D. J. 1999. White-winged Parakeet (Brotogeris versicolurus) and Yellow-chevroned
Parakeet (Brotogeris chiriri). In Birds of North America, No. 386-387 (a. Poole and F. Gill, eds.).
The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.
Miller, B., R. Reading, J. Strittholt, C. Carroll, R. Noss, M. Soulé, O. Sánchez, J. Terborgh, D.
Brightsmith, T. Cheeseman, and D. Foreman. 1998. Using Focal Species in the Design of Nature
Reserve Networks. Wild Earth 8(4):81-92.
Cortner, H. J., M. N. Jensen, and D. J. Bright-Smitha. 1995. Evaluating Forest Policies in the United
States: Components of the Process and a Case Example. In Solberg, B. and P. Pelli (eds.) Forest
Policy Analysis--Methodological and Empirical Aspects. EFI Proceedings 2:5-20.
Bright-Smitha, D. J. and R. W. Mannan. 1994. Habitat characteristics of male northern goshawks on the
Kaibab Plateau. Studies in Avian Biology 16:58-65.
Bright-Smitha, D. J. 1994. Habitat use by breeding male northern goshawks in northern Arizona. MS
Thesis, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
Smitha, D. J. and C.R. Smith. 1992. Henslow's sparrow and grasshopper sparrow: a comparison of habitat
use on Finger Lakes National Forest, New York. Bird Observer 20:187-194.
Smitha, D. J. 1991. Winter Bird Population Studies: 5. Isolated Beech-maple Woods. J. Field Ornithology
62(1 supp.):10.
a Note name changes

Grants and Fellowships
3/08 Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center, TAMU, $34,000
1/08 Wildlife Conservation Society: Avian Influenza in wild bird markets $67,000
3/07 Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center, TAMU, $20,000
2/07 Wildlife Protection Foundation conservation grant, $14,000
10/06 Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center, TAMU, $32,000
2000 - 2006 Earthwatch Institute, $295,000 total
2006 Private donors, $6,000 total
10/06 American Federation of Aviculture, $2,500
10/05 Sea World Busch Gardens Conservation Award, $10,000
3/05 Wildlife Protection Foundation conservation grant, $4,500
11/04 Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center, TAMU, $1,400
2/01 Conservation, Food and Health Foundation, $20,000
93, 98-06 Conservation Research Grant, Raleigh-Durham Caged Bird Society, $5,500 total
95, 97 Duke University Graduate School Dissertation travel award, $2000 total
93 - 96 James B. Duke Memorial Fellowship, Duke University Graduate School, $12,000 total
8/95 National Science Foundation Dissertation Improvement Grant, $4,000
4/91, 4/92 R.W. Mannan and Brightsmith, Habitat use by Northern Goshawks, (Accipter gentilis),
USDA Forest Service, $80,000 total
4/90 National Science Foundation Graduate Student Fellowship

Donald Brightsmith Official Website