Eric L. Walters

Eric L. Walters is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Old Dominion University. He holds a Ph.D. in Ecology & Evolution from Florida State University (2004), an M.Sc. in Biology from the University of Victoria (1997), and a B.Sc. in Biology from the University of Victoria (1990).

His research integrates behavioral ecology, conservation biology, and disease dynamics, with emphasis on:

• Cooperative breeding systems in acorn woodpeckers
• Migratory bird stopover ecology and habitat use
• Tick-borne pathogen transmission via avian hosts
• Urbanization impacts on bird-window collisions
• Social network analysis in avian communities

His publications focus on avian behavior, disease ecology, and conservation, with recurring themes of cooperative breeding dynamics, migration hazards, and host-parasite interactions. Research is frequently collaborative, involving multi-institutional teams.

Honors include:

• Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award (2024)
• Fellow, American Ornithological Society (2018)
• Distinguished Research Award (2023)
• Early Career Research Award (2015)

He leads federally funded projects like "Evolution of Cooperation in Social Woodpeckers" (NSF) and "Spatial Eco-Epidemiology of Tick-Borne Pathogens," mentoring students through ODU's research apprenticeship program. Fieldwork spans Virginia’s Eastern Shore, California oak woodlands, and collaborative sites across North America.