Research interests

Terrestrial avian ecology.  Invasion biology.  Conservation biology.
Urban ecology. Animal behaviour. Human–wildlife interactions. Epidemiology.
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Current project

PhD project: 
​Ecological impacts of supplementary feeding on urban bird communities in New Zealand.
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​My PhD project explores the practice of bird feeding in New Zealand and investigates the effects of common feeding practices by establishing and monitoring a series of experimental feeding stations in urban Auckland.
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Interactions of introduced birds at experimental feeding station set up for my PhD. Photo © Josie Galbraith.

Past projects

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Eastern rosella impacts in NZ. Photo © Josie Galbraith.
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Black stilt (kaki) chick alarm response behaviour. Photo © Josie Galbraith.
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Monitoring & impacts of the Argentine ant in NZ. Photo © Richard Toft, Entecol.

Selected papers

Galbraith, J.A., Stanley, M.C., Jones, D.N. & Beggs, J.R. (2016)  Experimental feeding regime influences urban bird disease dynamics. Journal of Avian Biology, doi: [10.1111/jav.01076].

Galbraith, J.A., Beggs, J.R., Jones, D.N. & Stanley, M.C. (2015) Supplementary feeding restructures urban bird communities. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112, E2648–E2657.

Galbraith, J.A., Beggs, J.R., Jones, D.N., McNaughton, E.J., Krull, C.R. & Stanley, M.C. (2014) Risks and drivers of wild bird feeding in urban areas of New Zealand. Biological Conservation, 180, 64–74.

Galbraith, J.A., Clout, M.N. & Hauber, M.E. (2014) Nest-site use by an introduced parrot in New Zealand. Emu, 114, 97–105.

Galbraith, J. A., Fraser, E. A., Clout, M. N., & Hauber, M. E. (2011). Survey duration and season influence the detection of introduced eastern rosella (Platycercus eximius) in New Zealand.  New Zealand Journal of Zoology 38 (3): 223–225.

Galbraith, J. A., Sancha, S. E., Maloney, R. F., & Hauber, M. E. (2007). Alarm responses are maintained during captive rearing in chicks of endangered kaki. Animal Conservation 10: 103-109.

Other publications

Krull, C.R., Galbraith, J.A., Glen, A.S. & Nathan, H.W. (2015) Invasive vertebrates in Australia and New Zealand. Austral Ark (eds A. Stow, N. Maclean & G. Holwell), pp. 680. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.

Galbraith, J.A. (2013) Eastern rosella. New Zealand Birds Online (ed. C.M. Miskelly).

Galbraith, J.A. (2013) Crimson rosella. New Zealand Birds Online (ed. C.M. Miskelly).

Galbraith, J. A. (2012). Bird feeding: studying the ecological consequences in urban New Zealand. Newsletter of the Australasian Wildlife Management Society 26(2): 10–12.

Galbraith, J. A. (2010). The Ecology and Impact of the Introduced Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius) in New Zealand. Unpublished MSc Thesis, University of Auckland.

Awards

  • 2016 Dean's List – awarded for excellence in PhD thesis examination
  • 2016 Best Student Conference Paper Runner-up. Australasian Wildlife Management Society Conference
  • 2016 Student Prize. Ecology & Restoration Australasia Conference
  • 2015 New Zealand Ecological Society Outstanding Publication award
  • 2014 Third Prize, Faculty of Science Postgraduate Poster Competition, University of Auckland​
  • 2013 Gavin Jackson Memorial Prize for a spoken paper. Australasian Ornithological Conference
  • 2010 Best Student Conference Paper.  New Zealand Ecological Society Conference
  • 2009 Best Student Poster. Australasian Ornithological Conference
  • 2007 Senior Scholar in Biological Science, University of Auckland

Grants & funding

  • 2011–2016 University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship
  • 2015 Animation funding grant, Science Media Centre NZ and Dr Siouxsie Wiles (Prime Minister's Science Communication Prize Winner)
  • 2015 Student travel grant, Birds New Zealand.  Australasian Ornithological Conference, Adelaide
  • 2014 Centre for Biosecurity and Biosecurity Investment Fund grant
  • 2014 Student travel grant. International Ornithological Congress, Tokyo
  • 2014 School of Biological Sciences Contestable Travel Fund grant, University of Auckland
  • 2011 Auckland Council research grant
  • 2008–2010 University of Auckland Masters Scholarship
  • 2009 Student travel grant, Birds New Zealand.  Australasian Ornithological Conference, Armidale
  • 2009 School of Biological Sciences Contestable Travel Fund grant, University of Auckland

Professional affiliations

• New Zealand Ecological Society
• Birds New Zealand
• Australasian Wildlife Management Society
• Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi

Recent conference papers (*poster) & seminars

Galbraith, J. A.  Stanley, M. C., Jones, D. N., and Beggs, J. R. (2016). Bird feeding and its role in urban avian disease dynamics. Australasian Wildlife Management Conference. Nov 27th – Dec 1st, Auckland, New Zealand.

Galbraith, J. A.  (2016). Outreach through animation: bird feeding case study. Ecology & Restoration Australasia Conference. Nov 19th – 23rd, Hamilton, New Zealand.

Galbraith, J. A., Beggs, J. R., Jones, D. N., and Stanley, M. C. (2016). Bird feeding in urban New Zealand: can we use it for conservation gains?  Ecology & Restoration Australasia Conference. Nov 19th – 23rd, Hamilton, New Zealand.

Galbraith, J. A., Beggs, J. R., Jones, D. N., and Stanley, M. C. (2015). Bird feeding: risks for urban bird communities.  Australasian Ornithological Conference. Nov 25th – 29th 2015, Adelaide.

Galbraith, J. A. (2015) Birdies and the feast: a tale of bird feeding as old as time. Joint Graduate School Student Seminar Day. Jul 14th 2015, Auckland.

Galbraith, J. A., Beggs, J. R., Jones, D. N., and Stanley, M. C. (2015). Bird feeding: effects on bird community structure in urban habitats. Invited speaker, Urban Ecology Symposium, Jan 30th 2015, Tamaki Campus, Auckland.

*Galbraith, J. A., Beggs, J. R., Jones, D. N., and Stanley, M. C. (2014). Food, glorious food! Changes to local bird communities as a result of supplementary feeding. 26th International Ornithological Congress. Aug 18th – 24th 2014, Tokyo.