Victoria Austin

Dr. Victoria Austin is a behavioral ecologist at the Gulbali Institute, specializing in avian vocalizations, bioacoustics, and female bird behavior. Her research integrates behavioral ecology, conservation biology, and AI-driven bioacoustics to address challenges in bird conservation and communication. She holds a PhD from Western Sydney University and conducted postdoctoral work at Flinders University, focusing on maternal effects and embryonic learning in superb fairy-wrens. A Fulbright Scholar, she collaborated with Cornell University’s Lab of Ornithology as a visiting fellow.

Her work spans diverse species including lyrebirds, fairy-wrens, and waterfowl, with a focus on understanding how environmental and maternal factors shape avian behavior. Recent research highlights include studying the impact of Australia’s 2019–2020 megafires on lyrebird habitats and leveraging AI for conservation monitoring. She actively engages in science communication through documentaries Wild Australia: After the Fires (ABC) and David Attenborough’s Wonder of Song (BBC), as well as podcasts like Off Track and What The Duck?!. Vicky also develops citizen science initiatives to foster community engagement in environmental stewardship.

Key themes in her publications include maternal vocal influences on offspring, avian vocal learning mechanisms, and the conservation implications of habitat destruction. She advocates for open science and has contributed to projects like the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute’s citizen science programs.