Ashley Dayer
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Location:
Department of Fish and Wildlife ConservationVirginia Tech
Cheatham Hall, Room 108
310 West Campus Dr
Blacksburg, VA 24061
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- Ph.D., Cornell University (2013)
- M.S., Colorado State University (2006)
- B.A., Harvard University (2001)
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Dr. Ashley Dayer (she/her) is a Professor of Human Dimensions in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation at Virginia Tech and is a Global Change Center affiliated faculty member. Her research program focuses on social science applied to wildlife, particularly bird, conservation. She is interested in how and why people impact wildlife and their conservation and, in turn, how wildlife impact human emotions and well-being. Her research spans from working and coastal lands to residential landscapes, studying ag producers, private landowners, beach and wildlife recreationists, and consumers. Much of her research focuses on marginalized and under-represented communities such as disabled wildlife viewers and Black, indigenous and people of color.
Dr. Dayer is actively engaged in bird conservation, serving on Road to Recovery of North America’s Birds leadership team. Additionally, her Lab is home to the National Bird Conservation Social Science Coordinator – a partner-sponsored position to serve the bird conservation community in meaningful integration of social science. She is also an Elective Member of the American Ornithological Society. During her research leave in 2022-2023 she served as the first Social Science Advisor for National Audubon Society.
Dr. Dayer’s educational background includes a BA with Honors in Environmental Science and Public Policy from Harvard University (2001) and an MS in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources from Colorado State University (2006), studying the wildlife values of the Western public. She additionally received a certificate in Nonprofit Management (2008) from Southern Oregon University. Dr. Dayer completed her PhD at Cornell University (2013) and post-doc at Cornell Lab of Ornithology (2013-2015). She was a Visiting Assistant Professor at State University of New York – Environmental Science & Forestry before coming to Virginia Tech.
- Why feeding birds can make you feel better
- Giving shorebirds space on the beach makes a big difference
- Wiping away hidden dangers at residential birdfeeders
- Sense of belonging predicts who stays in science
- Opening the door to science for all
- It’s peak migration season — a dangerous time for birds. Here’s how you can help
- A rare Hawaiian bird’s history guides conservationist’s research today
- New study views wildlife through the lens of diversity
- Virginia Tech study considers ways to increase accessibility for all wildlife enthusiasts
- Maple syrup producers provide sweet news for threatened birds
- FIW 2114: Principles of Fish and Wildlife Conservation (Human Dimensions Module)
- FiW 4464/5464 Human Dimensions of Fisheries and Wildlife
- FIW 6984: Grant-writing for Conservation Scientists
- Using continent-wide participatory science to model the dynamic outcomes for humans and birds in a socioenvironmental system
- Preventing Human Disturbance of Atlantic Flyway Shorebirds
- The Flocks Project: Fostering Belonging in Ornithology
- Empowering Forest Owners in the Emerging Bird-friendly Maple Syrup Market and Exploring the Value of Certification
- Evaluating a Conservation Innovation Grant for Outcomes Based Incentive Program for Grassland Conservation
- Evaluating Efficacy of Stewardship Actions for Vulnerable Gulf of Mexico Coastal Birds through Co-production
- Inclusion of Disabled Wildlife Viewers in State Agency Programs
- Reducing Human Disturbance to Shorebirds in the Caribbean by Strategically Promoting Human
- Behavior Change
- Listening to Longleaf Landowners: Responding to the Decline in
- Conservation Reserve Program Participation to Address Longleaf Pine Restoration
- Langhans, K.E., Dayer, A.A., Cooper, C., Dietsch, A.M., Hall, R.J., Hawley, D., Hochachka, W.M., Lawson, B., McGregor, F., Phillips, T.B., Watts, T. (2026). “It's a good reason to get up every morning!”: Perspectives on how feeding and observing birds affects people’s wellbeing. Ambio.
- McGregor, F.A., Dayer, A. A. & Sinkular, E. N. (2026). “I appreciate birding more”: Exploring and reframing experiences of disabled birders using a strengths-based approach. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism. 55. DOI: 10.1016/j.jort.2026.101070
- Smith, M.D., Dayer, A.A., Beall, J.M., & Hunter, E.H. (2026). Coastal farmers' and agricultural landowners' perceptions of marsh migration and emerging socio-ecological vulnerabilities related to sea-level rise. Rural Sociology, 91(2), e70049. DOI: 10.1111/ruso.70049
- Thayer, N., Dayer, A.A., Covino, K., O’Connell, T., Smith, J., Shizuka, D. (2026). Sense of belonging in a scientific discipline predicts persistence intentions. Biological Conservation. 316. e111767. DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111767
- Langhans, K.E., Blume, C., Cooper, C., Dietsch, A.M., Greig, E., McGregor, F., Phillips, T.B., Watts, W., & Dayer, A.A. (2025). “Watching from your own residence makes it more accessible”: Identifying supports and barriers to participatory science for racially-minoritized, disabled, and neurodivergent participants. Citizen Science: Theory and Practice. DOI: 10.5334/cstp.874
- Livingston, S., Dayer, A.A., Zebrowski, A., Sterling, A., Schillerstom, N., Archibald, T., & Chaves, W. (2024). Co-production in action: Using a Community of Practice to navigate the research-to-implementation space in wildlife conservation. Conservation Science and Practice, 6(11), e13251. DOI: 10.1111/csp2.13251
- Sinkular, E.N., Dayer, A.A., Karns, M.J. U, & McGregor, F.A. S (2024). Accessible birding in the United States: Constraints to and facilitators of birding with disabilities. Human Dimensions of Wildlife.1–17. DOI: 10.1080/10871209.2024.2325157
- Dayer, A.A., Pototsky, P.C.G, Hall, R.J., Hawley, D.M., Phillips, T.B., Bonter, D.N., Dietsch, A.M., Greig, E., & Hochachka, W.M. (2023). Birds are not the only ones impacted by guidance to cease bird feeding. People and Nature, 0(0): 1–7. DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10566
- Dayer, A.A., Everly, J.S, Comber, C.A.G, & Gore, M.L. (2022). Managers and shorebird biologists' perceptions of enforcement and voluntary compliance techniques to increase compliance with dog regulations on beaches. People and Nature. DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10392
- Lindell, C.A. & Dayer, A.A. (2022). Six principles for working effectively with landowners to advance bird conservation. Ornithological Applications. DOI: 10.1093/ornithapp/duac035