Lincoln Park Zoo

Miguel “Mikko” Jimenez’s work explores the dynamic connections between city life and biodiversity. As an urban ecologist, he examines how the social landscapes of cities underly the ecosystems they support. As someone who grew up in Chicago’s green spaces, he is excited to specifically study how migratory birds navigate the city and how those interactions reflect its history. Mikko received his Ph.D. from Colorado State University, where he focused on the intersections of radar aeroecology and environmental justice. He helped develop National Audubon Society’s Bird Migration Explorer and has been recognized by organizations including the Yale School of the Environment, the Wilson Ornithological Society, and CSU’s School of Global Environmental Sustainability.

Project Summary

Linking Avian Migratory Stopover to Legacies of Urban Inequity

Our project investigates how social inequities shape biodiversity in cities through the lens of migratory bird stopover. By analyzing decades of weather radar data across cities in the continental United States, we’ll investigate how historic and ongoing social processes, like redlining and gentrification, influence bird habitat distribution. We aim to identify patterns of ecological inequity, quantify disparities in access to biodiversity, and create spatially explicit tools to inform equitable urban development. Focusing on cities like Chicago, our work will bridge urban ecology and environmental justice, guiding conservation practices that benefit both people and wildlife in a rapidly urbanizing world.