Brian O’Shea, Ph.D.
Explorer
Education
Ph.D. Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University.
B.A. Biology, Reed College.
Dr. Brian O’Shea is an ornithologist with broad interests in the ecology and conservation of birds, with emphasis on the Guiana Shield of northeastern South America. His research interests include the distribution, community dynamics, and spatial ecology of birds in lowland rainforest and coastal secondary forests. His current projects focus on training young biologists in Guyana and Suriname, using bird banding and sound recording as tools to stimulate interest in birds and nature while generating data to enhance conservation efforts. Brian has participated in many survey expeditions to remote localities in the Guianas and western Amazonia, generating a wealth of information on avian distributions.
Brian has worked extensively with local and international institutions, NGOs, and industry consultants, including Conservation International, ESS Environment, Field Museum, Iwokrama Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development, Macaulay Library, Smithsonian Institution, South Rupununi Conservation Society, SRK Consulting, and WWF. He is an associate of the Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science, and is currently based at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
Publications
O’Shea, B.J., and S. Ramcharan. 2013. A rapid assessment of the avifauna of the upper Palumeu watershed, southeastern Suriname. pp. 145-160 in Alonso, L.E., and T.H. Larsen (eds.) A rapid biological assessment of the upper Palumeu River watershed (Grensgebergte and Kasikasima) of southeastern Suriname. Conservation International, Arlington VA.
O’Shea, B.J., L.E. Alonso, and T.H. Larsen (eds.). 2011. A rapid biological assessment of the Kwamalasamutu region, southwestern Suriname. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 63. Conservation International, Arlington VA.
O’Shea, B.J., and S. Ramcharan. 2011. Avifauna of the Kwamalasamutu region, Suriname. pp. 131-143 in O’Shea, B.J., L.E. Alonso, and T.H. Larsen (eds.). A rapid biological assessment of the Kwamalasamutu region, southwestern Suriname. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 63. Conservation International, Arlington VA.
O’Shea, B.J. 2008. Birds of the Konashen COCA, southern Guyana. pp. 63-68 in Alonso, L.E., J. McCullough, P. Naskrecki, E. Alexander, and H.E. Wright (eds.). A rapid biological assessment of the Konashen Community Owned Conservation Area, southern Guyana. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 51. Conservation International, Arlington VA.
O’Shea, B.J., C.M. Milensky, S. Claramunt, B.K. Schmidt, C.A. Gebhard, C.G. Schmitt, and K.T. Erskine. 2007. New records for Guyana, with description of the voice of Roraiman Nightjar (Caprimulgus whitelyi). Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 127: 118-128.
O’Shea, B.J., and O. Ottema. 2007. Environmental and social impact assessment for the proposed Bakhuis bauxite mining project. Specialist study: Ornithology. SRK Consulting, Cape Town, South Africa.
O’Shea, B.J. 2005. Notes on birds of the Sipaliwini savanna and other localities in southern Suriname, with six new species for the country. Ornitología Neotropical 16: 361-370.