Project:

Pigeon-etics - What species of pigeons are present in New York City?

Students:

Mung Yao Jia, Louise Wagenseil, Aria Zaman, Ling Chen

School:

Stuyvesant High School, Queens

Mentors:

Jessica Quenzer

Abstract:

Our experiment will attempt to pinpoint where certain pigeons live throughout New York City. We will collect DNA samples from cheek cells of pigeons with approval from the Wild Bird Fund, as one of our members is a volunteer there. Using the genetic sequences we obtain from these birds, we will compare them to the gene sequences of three specific purebred birds, the Indian Fantail, Racing Homer and Capuchin Red.

Poster:

Team samples: