DR. CHRISTY MORRISSEY
Funded by CFI, the province of Saskatchewan and the University of Saskatchewan, welcome to the the new Facility for Applied Avian Research (FAAR) at the University of Saskatchewan!
Accessible to researchers in the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, the Toxicology Centre and College of Arts and Science and the larger Avian Research community across Canada, FAAR is a uniquely designed to conduct studies on wild birds in a captive setting where we can do controlled studies in an environment adapted for species-specific needs. Housing and research take place under one roof with both indoor and outdoor aviaries. The facility is the only of its kind in Western Canada - it allows researchers to link field and lab studies on birds and improves our ability to assign causation of effects of environmental stressors such as pollution.
The facility is specifically designed for wild birds and can house a wide range of passerines, waterfowl, shorebirds and raptors either caged or gang-housed. It has 6 large indoor climate and light controlled rooms, 12 outdoor covered aviaries including wet pens that can be flooded to create a shoreline and freshwater pond. Special diets can be prepared on site. FAAR has a fully equipped procedures lab for doing experimental work on research animals and processing and storing samples. A new environment chamber is currently under construction within the facility to manipulate temperature, humidity and light over large ranges.
For more information on getting a tour or for housing your research project in FAAR, contact the Facility Director Dr. Christy Morrissey - email: christy.morrissey@usask.ca