If you follow Richard Hall on Twitter (@richhallecology) or Instagram (@richhallagram), you know he “loves all things birdy and nerdy.” The UGA assistant professor regularly posts images of the birds and other wildlife—like the Black-chinned Hummingbird shown above—that he photographs in his own backyard.

In his lab, Hall studies how animal migrations respond to environmental changes like habitat loss, climate change and food subsidies (such as backyard bird feeders). All of these factors can influence the timing of animal-migrations, including birds. But that’s not why he shares his photos.

“I post them to share my excitement and love of birds, and to open the eyes of people to the diversity of migratory birds that come through here,” said Hall, who has a joint appointment in the Odum School of Ecology and the College of Veterinary Medicine. “And to share the message that the habitats we create in our own backyards can actually be quite beneficial for these species if done well.”

For a glimpse of Hall’s backyard, which was designed to attract birds and other migrating animals, check out this video from Georgia Audubon, filmed in Hall’s backyard during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown.