Ann Arbor Times

YPSILANTI — Eastern Michigan University alumni Dorothy Zahor and Kenneth Glynn have conducted a study on American robins that provides insights into the use of these birds as bioindicators for lead contamination in urban and rural areas. The research began in 2018, focusing on birds from EMU’s campus and Flint, Michigan, known for elevated lead levels due to the Flint Water Crisis.

Zahor developed an interest in how urban wildlife interacts with pollutants during her undergraduate studies. She found American robins, which consume earthworms, suitable for studying soil pollution. "I was an undergraduate student when I became interested in how wildlife and humans share urban spaces, and how they might be exposed to our urban pollutants," said Zahor.

Glynn joined Zahor's research after learning about it through their shared mentor at EMU. They hypothesized that animals consuming soil indirectly could reflect its lead contamination through their blood levels. Their work involved capturing robins and collecting blood samples during the breeding season from April to August, along with soil samples from Flint and EMU’s campus.

The study revealed a positive correlation between elevated soil lead levels and increased blood lead levels in robins. “Not surprisingly, we found a positive relationship between the two,” said Glynn. This finding suggests that American robins could serve as bioindicators for pollution exposure.

Now pursuing doctorates at Oregon State University, Zahor studies outdoor cats' impact on birds while Glynn focuses on drought effects on migration patterns and bird health. Both hold bachelor’s degrees from EMU—Zahor in environmental science and Glynn in environmental biology—and master’s degrees in ecology evolution and organismal biology.

For more information about their research or Eastern Michigan University, visit the respective websites.