Dr. Bryntesson is the chair of the science department, head of the biology major and the director of faculty development. He teaches introductory biology courses focused on evolution, genetics, and molecular biology, and upper-level courses on genetics and molecular biology, as well as the senior capstone course. His teaching philosophy is to facilitate learning for every student, ensuring the concepts of biology are accessible.

Bryntesson has recently completed a history of Bryn Athyn’s ice hockey program, but his main research focuses the historic status of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis). The numbers of this bird dramatically plummeted towards the end of the 1800s and the early 1900s. Some argue that the last “official” sighting took place in 1944 and that the bird now is extinct.

Nevertheless, there have been many reports of Ivory-bills in the last 100 years. Our knowledge about many of these reports has been limited because some of the searchers did not publish their findings out of fear for the safety of the birds. However, thanks to unpublished archival documents such as field notes, correspondence, and reports, we can learn more about what they knew about the bird. Therefore, we can gain an improved understanding of the historic status of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. These archival documents provide important, interesting and fascinating accounts for not just the bird, but also about the devotion and dedication of the people that have searched for this bird. It is thus not just a story about the bird; it is also a story about people.

Bryntesson has focused especially on searches for Ivory-bills in the 1930s up to the early 1970s and has recently co-authored two articles: one about ornithologist Herbert Stoddard’s searches for Ivory-bills, and one that describes the history of the Chipola River Wildlife Sanctuary 1950-52, which was a protective effort for Ivory-bills. Click on the links below to read these two articles. He is currently involved with a project that focuses on the Santee Sanctuary (1936-38) and searches for Ivory-bills along the Santee River, South Carolina, in the 1930s.

Herbert Stoddard’s Searches for Ivory-billed Woodpeckers

The history of the Chipola River Wildlife Sanctuary (1950-52)

Bryntesson worked for many years in student life at Bryn Athyn College, and is the leader of the College rock band, “BAC Rocks!” He also serves on the Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust’s Board of Directors.

Education

• PhD, University College London
• BSc, University of Greenwich
• BA, Bryn Athyn College