Spotlight on the Faculty Professor James Millam

When it comes to reproduction in birds, there are not many facets that Professor James Millam has not considered. Trained as an avian reproductive physiologist at the University of Minnesota, Professor Millam specializes in how the brain balances inputs from environmental events like daylength or sexual stimulation from a mate, to control the activity of the pituitary gland and gonads. Understanding differences in the brains of various species and how the brain responds to different environmental stimuli can help us understand what turns reproduction in birds on and off. Such information can be used in helping exotic birds to breed in captivity or in determining how environmental pollutants can interfere with reproduction in nature.

Professor Millam's research is in three areas. His longest standing research interest is in the regulation of the nerve cells that produce gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), one of the major brain switches controling reproduction. Current work with turkeys is designed to determine the neurochemical identity of brain circuits that control input to the GnRH cells. Another related project seeks to determine the neurochemical identity of brain cells serving as photoreceptors in the brain. Daylength factors controlling reproduction can be measured by deep-brain photoreceptors in some bird species. Yes, eyes are not essential to control this function in birds.

A second area of research is in the captive reproduction of parrots. About one-third of the world's parrots are threatened or endangered. Since importation of parrots is now illegal, Professor Millam is looking for new ways to breed parrots in captivity. As director of the Department's Psittacine Research Project, he maintaines research colonies of Cockatiels and Orange-Winged Amazons which he and other researchers are using for studies on immunology, nutrition, behavior and health. Professor Millam's work with psittacines focuses on environmental regulation of reproduction and behavior. For example, recent work has looked at how early developmental experiences can affect tameness towards people. In addition, collaborations with Professors Kirk Klasing and Pat Wakenell have demonstrated how early interactions with humans can alter immune status.

His newest research interest concerns the effect of certain environmental pollutants on sexual development. More specifically, Professor Millam and his collaborator, Dr. Michael Fry, Director of the College's Center for Avian Biology, are determining whether neonatal exposure to certain pesticides and plasticizers can affect those portions of the brain controling sexual behavior. This work is being funded by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Professor Millam teaches three courses, Management of Companion Birds, Avian Reproduction and Avian Physiology.