Education M.S. Wildlife Ecology, Humboldt State University, 2016 (Cum Laude). Thesis title: Examining barn owl nest box selection at three spatial scales in Napa Valley vineyards. Committee Members: Dr. Matthew Johnson (advisor), Dr. Tim Bean, Dr. Mark Colwell B.S. Wildlife, emphasis in Management and Conservation, Humboldt State University, 2013 (Cum Laude) A.A. General Studies, College of the Redwoods, 2010 (Cum Laude) Selected Experience Partner Biologist Point Blue Conservation Science
Work directly with farmers and ranchers to improve and conserve wildlife habitat on private lands
Secure funding for habitat improvement projects through federal incentive programs
Wildlife Graduate Student Humboldt State University
Examined ways to improve barn owl nest box occupancy on Napa vineyards to increase the provisioning of ecosystem services
Monitored occupancy and nest success of 297 barn owl nest boxes on 65 vineyards throughout Napa County
Conducted farmer surveys to examine perceptions of birds in vineyards
Teaching Assistant Humboldt State University
Assisted with weekly labs for wildlife field techniques undergraduate class
Developed and supervised class research project studying mesocarnivore activity in a dune ecosystem
Volunteer Supervisor- China Beijing Normal University
Supervised a team of international volunteers conducting field research on Kentish Plover genetics
Took genetic samples, found nests, documented reproductive success, banded adults and chicks
Undergraduate Research Assistant/ Field Assistant -Kenyan Coffee Farms Humboldt State University
Researched birds and insects on sun and shade coffee plantations in Kenya
Collaborated with local farmers, farm managers and the National Museums of Kenya
Wildlife Biologist Technician Grand Teton and Lassen Volcanic National Parks
Conducted research, inventory and monitoring for wildlife including- grey wolves, raptors, sage grouse, pika, moose, pronghorn, elk, big horn sheep, mountain goats, bufflehead ducks, northern spotted owls and trumpeter swans
Worked and trained volunteers at a MAPS banding station
Trail Crew Supervisor/ Habitat Restoration Crew Leader National Park Service, USFS, California Conservation Corps
Worked on seasonal trail crew, habitat restoration and wildland fire crews for state and federal agencies
Managed a variety of work projects including: trail maintenance and construction, salmon stream restoration, invasive species removal, fuels reduction, and habitat improvement projects
Selected Presentations
CA Resource Conservation Districts 74th Annual Conference, 2019 - "Increasing Pace and Scale: Activating California’s Climate Policy in Working Lands Through Local Action" (presentation)
20th Annual UC IPM Seminar for Lake and Mendocino Counties, UCCE Hopland Research Station, 2017- "Barn Owls for Rodent Control" (invited presenter)
Amador County RCD Annual Meeting, 2017- "New Research on Barn Owls in Agriculture" (invited presenter)
American Ornithological Society, Lansing Michigan, 2017- "The Rangeland Watershed Initiative: Building Partnerships to Enhance Bird Habitat on Private Lands" (poster)
NAOC VI, Washington DC, 2016- “Examining barn owl nest box selection at three spatial scales in Napa Valley vineyards” (presentation)
Humboldt Wildlife and Fisheries Symposium, Arcata CA, 2016- “Examining barn owl nest box occupancy in a vineyard ecosystem” (presentation)
Napa Valley Grapegrowers Vertebrate Pest Field Day, Napa CA, 2016- “New research in barn owl nest box selection on vineyards” (invited presenter)
Sequoia Park Zoo, Eureka CA, 2016- “Owls and wine- a perfect pairing” (presentation)
Raptor Research Foundation Conference, Sacramento CA, 2015- “Barn Owl nest box selection in Napa Valley vineyards: A landscape perspective” (poster)
AOU/ COS/ SCO Joint Meeting, Estes Park CO, 2015- “Bird community dynamics on Kenyan coffee farms” (poster)
Publications Meisman, E., C. Bortot, L. Enriquez, C. Herr, S. Ihle, S. Jensen, M. Johnson, M. Samson, C. Wendt. 2018. Coastal Vegetation Communities Affect Mesocarnivore Activity in Northern California Dune Ecosystems. Western Wildlife 5:1-6. http://wwjournal.org/home/current_volume/ Wendt, C., M. D. Johnson. 2017. Multi-scale analysis of barn owl nest box selection on Napa Valley vineyards. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 247:75-83. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880917302669 Smith, C., D. Barton , M. D. Johnson, C. Wendt, M. C. Milligan, P. Njorge, P. Gichuki. 2015. Bird communities in sun and shade coffee farms in Kenya. Global Ecology and Conservation 4:479-490. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989415000980