James Savage

Dr. James Savage currently serves as Research Coordinator at the Southern Institute of Technology, part of Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, where he combines his expertise in behavioral ecology with practical conservation work. His academic journey began with a PhD from the University of Cambridge, where he studied social and reproductive behavior of birds in the Australian outback, leading to an impressive international career spanning the UK, Netherlands, Ireland, USA, and Canada. His research primarily focuses on parental care, maternal investment, and animal communication, with particular emphasis on cooperative breeding and social behavior in birds. In his current role, he maintains a significant collaboration with the Department of Conservation's Kākāpō Recovery Team, working to identify and address causes of low hatching success in this critically endangered parrot species. His work bridges the gap between theoretical behavioral ecology and practical conservation challenges, contributing to both academic understanding and wildlife preservation. As an educator and researcher, he brings his extensive field experience to the classroom through his contributions to the "Introduction to Animal Behaviour" course, making complex behavioral concepts accessible to students worldwide. His diverse international experience has provided him with a unique perspective on animal behavior across different ecosystems, enabling him to develop innovative approaches to conservation challenges while maintaining active research interests in parental care, maternal investment, and animal communication.