Program

The Marine Ecology of the Seabirds of Newfoundland and Labrador

William A Montevecchi

John Lewis Paton Distinguished University Professor

University Research Professor

Psychology, Biology, Ocean Sciences

Memorial University of Newfoundland

Bill is a Professor Emeritus and John Lewis Paton Distinguished University Professor in Psychology, Biology, and Ocean Sciences at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. With his students, he studies seabird behaviour and ecology to diagnose the health of our ocean. 

Awards include Pacific Seabird Group Lifetime Achievement Award (2021), Stanford University Ranking in top 2% of the World’s Marine Scientists (2020), Canadian Society of Ornithologists’ Jamie Smith Mentoring Award (2020), Canadian Partners in Research Science Ambassador Award (2016). 

His book with Dr. Les Tuck, Newfoundland Birds: Exploitation, Study, Conservation overviews the archaeology and history of bird knowledge on the island of Newfoundland. For decades, he has worked on Funk Island – the largest and last bastion of the extinct Great Auk. 

He and his group review and help to design environmental assessments, use seabirds in environmental risk assessments, and bring evidence-based knowledge to bear environmental and conservation issues. He is a frequent outreach contributor to the media involving issues about birds, wildlife and the environment.