“Here in the Hansen Museum we have a grizzly bear, lions, and a polar bear. But they won’t eat you—do you know why? Because they’re stuffed!” Pretty much any visitor to the department of biology’s big game museum will hear this gem from Dad Joke King Floyd Hayes. And there are many more where that came from. Hayes himself hails from Southern California, Michigan, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Trinidad & Tobago, and Paraguay, where he has studied, conducted research, and taught. What else is there to discover about Dr. Hayes? Let’s find out! Hope you enjoy today’s #FacultyFriday.

Name: Floyd Hayes
Title: Professor of Biology
Email: fhayes@puc.edu
Faculty since: 2003

Classes taught: Ecology, Energy and Climate Change, Field Biology, Introduction to Research Methods I, Marine Science, Natural History of California, Pollution and Environmental Quality, Vertebrate Biology

Education: B.S., Loma Linda University in 1985; M.S., University of Michigan in 1986; PhD, Loma Linda University in 1993

What made you decide to be a teacher?

I admired my professors, who were outstanding role models for me.

What are some of your hobbies?

Birding, canoeing, mountaineering, photography, research, rock climbing, scuba diving, snorkeling, travel.

What’s something people might be surprised to know about you?

I used to work at the Central Intelligence Agency. But I wasn’t a very good spy. Instead, I mowed lawns and pulled weeds.

What’s your favorite thing about PUC?

Its rural location with vast fields and forests.

What’s your favorite spot on campus?

Inspiration Point.

What’s your favorite song?

“Annie’s Song” by John Denver

What advice would you give to an incoming freshman?

Focus on studying; don’t get distracted.

Professional activities:

Publications (Note: Only the most recent three are listed)

Hayes, F. E., D. G. Turner, N. D. Zimmerly, M. B. Peralta. 2018. Nocturnal courtship, copulation, and egg laying in the Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) and Clark’s Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii). Journal of Ethology 36(1):65-75.

Hayes, F. E. 2017. The avifauna of Serranía de Tobatí, Departamento Cordillera, Paraguay. Paraquaria Natural 5(1):18-23.

Hayes, F. E., and B. J. Painter. 2017. First record of the Spinner Dolphin Stenella longirostris longirostris (Cetacea: Delphinidae) for Kosrae, Micronesia. Check List 13(4):31-34.