Biologist Shayne Halter is researching the health of hummingbirds in New Mexico as the region experiences warmer and drier conditions. The state hosts black-chinned and broad-tailed hummingbirds during summer, while Rufous and calliope species pass through later in the season before migrating south to Mexico for winter.

Halter, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of New Mexico, focuses on assessing hummingbirds' body fat, metabolic rate, and use of torpor—a sleeplike state that helps them conserve energy. He will present his findings at the New Mexico Wildlife Federation's "Wildlife Wednesday" event on October 9th at Marble Brewery’s Northeast Heights Taproom in Albuquerque.

After a 24-year career in the U.S. Air Force as a navigator, Halter transitioned to biology. He collaborates with Professor Blair Wolf from UNM and Carlos Martinez del Rio, a retired biology professor from the University of Wyoming. Both are associated with the NMWF and reside near the Gila Wilderness.

Halter has captured hundreds of hummingbirds using permits obtained from wildlife agencies. His research employs a quantitative magnetic resonance scanner to measure birds' lean mass, fat mass, and water content without harming them. This method provides more accurate data than traditional weighing techniques.

Halter also investigates how hummingbirds use torpor to maintain fat reserves essential for migration. His work aims to develop models predicting torpor usage and energy conservation.

The research further examines feathers to trace migratory paths and analyzes metabolic rates. Halter's study seeks to understand how climate change and land-use changes affect hummingbird health by evaluating their condition during migration stops where food sources may be scarce.