Ecologist
Elliot is a community ecologist with a particular interest in ornithology and coastal environments. He received his PhD in Ecology and Environmental Sciences from the University of Maine in 2023 and soon after joined MNHO. Elliot’s current projects at MNHO include studying island songbird communities with bioacoustics and population status assessments of overwintering Purple Sandpipers. While birds are a focus, other taxa are of interest too. His graduate work included projects studying the dynamics between salamanders and fairy shrimp at 11,000 feet in the Colorado Rockies. Elliot splits his week between MNHO and Tetra Tech, where he works as an Avian Ecologist. Elliot lives in Bangor with his wife, Alice, and enjoys trail running and sea kayaking in the warmer months and skiing when the snow falls.
Areas of Expertise
Ornithology, coastal ecology, food webs & diet, bioacoustics, study design
Elliot Johnston’s Projects for MNHO
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10/19/25: A Discussion with Elliot Johnston
Elliot, an ecologist at Maine Natural History Observatory, discusses his work on purple sandpipers, island songbirds, and upcoming research on mammals and Black Guillemots. He also reflects on his path into field biology, from backyard bird feeders to graduate school at the University of Maine, and shares his perspective on Maine’s islands as unique self-contained ecosystems with rich opportunities for future research.
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Check Out the New Coastal Songbirds Map!
September 2025
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