SPRINGFIELD, ILL. (AP) -- The Illinois Conservation Foundation says a student from Southern Illinois University has received the annual stipend to research endangered grasslands birds.
ICF awarded SIU zoology graduate student Shawn Duncan the Todd Fink Memorial Award for graduate research excellence on Wednesday.
Duncan can use the $500 stipend for travel and registration costs.
Duncan is studying changes in endangered grassland birds when living on reclaimed mined lands. ICP says most of the birds' natural habitat in the state has been lost. Recent studies have shown mined grassland might be able to provide a similar habitat.
ICP says the fund honors biologist Todd Fink, who died fifteen years ago at 36.
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