Dr. Daniel P. Collins is an Associate Professor of Wildlife Population Dynamics at Sul Ross State University and a Senior Research Scientist at the Borderlands Research Institute. He specializes in migratory bird and wetland ecology, with interests in how large-scale monitoring and applied science inform conservation decisions.

A native of Pennsylvania, Dr. Collins earned his M.S. in Range and Wildlife Management from Sul Ross in 2004 and his Ph.D. from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2012. He spent 17 years with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, first in Oregon and then in the Southwest Region as Migratory Game Bird Coordinator. His work included national and regional surveys for migratory game birds, and projects on species including sandhill cranes, mottled ducks, northern pintail, and redhead ducks, as well as some nongame birds’ such as snowy plovers, and white-faced ibis. His efforts helped shape management strategies across the Central and Pacific Flyways.

Dr. Collins has authored or coauthored more than 50 peer-reviewed articles and 15 technical reports. He has secured over $10 million in research funding, served on dozens of graduate student committees, and contributed to both academic and agency training. At Sul Ross, he is committed to mentoring students, expanding research capacity, and advancing applied science to support wetland-dependent species and West Texas conservation.

Spring Semesters: NRM 4309 Undergraduate Population Ecology
Fall Semesters: (even years) Avian Ecology and Management,
(odd years) Population Dynamics both at the Graduate Level

Donnelly, J.P., J.N. Moore, J.S. Kimball, S. Coons, D.P. Collins, M.J. Petri, and D.E. Naugle. 2026. eBird data highlight shifts in wetland resources structuring waterfowl and shorebird abundance. Ecology and Evolution 16:e73061 https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.73061

Dugger, B. D., S. McWilliams, R. Blenk, D. P. Collins, J. A. VonBank, and B. M. Ballard. 2026. Foraging ecology, nutrition, and energetics. Pages xxx–xxx in B. M. Ballard, M. G. Brasher, and J. P. Fleskes, editors. Migrating and Wintering Waterfowl. CRC Press, USA. DOI: 10.1201/9781003673460-5