I conducted research on bird species at risk in the boreal forest. This involved collecting spatial and descriptive data about nest sites and bird locations as well as conducting avian point counts to identify all species of breeding birds in the community. This work was performed with one or more colleagues, depending on the day. We camped for three weeks and spoke French exclusively. We monitored nests regularly as a measure of nest survival. At the end of the breeding season, we conducted vegetation surveys around nest trees and verified and entered data. We also programmed MOTUS nano tags and were trained in radio-telemetry techniques.

I modelled habitat relationships for a rare species of moss in south-western Ontario using presence and absence locations. I incorporated provincial and federal land cover, soil, and elevation datasets into models to determine the habitat variables that best explained the distribution of moss and to produce a raster map of habitat suitability. I summarized results in a report with maps and figures.

I monitored Snowy Plover productivity and survival at a wildlife refuge and a commercial sand-mining plant, following a rigorous protocol for data collection, data entry, and data verification. This involved finding nests, identifying nest owners, floating eggs, checking eggs for signs of hatching, assisting with banding of chicks, and monitoring chicks throughout their rearing period to determine if they fledged successfully. I also provided environmental consulting services to the sand-mining plant whenever equipment had to be moved in sensitive habitat. I contributed to meetings with colleagues and partners and submitted data at regular intervals.

Helped write clear and concise website content about 35 Canadian bird monitoring programs (https://ec.gc.ca/reom-mbs/default.asp?lang=En&n=3A96F598-1) and corresponded effectively with the stakeholders in these programs to ensure the website content was accurate. As assistant to the Canadian coordinator of the Breeding Bird Survey, I entered stop description data, filed paper maps, and helped prepare for the mail-out to all Canadian participants. I attended a meeting of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). I also returned to this position for Oct - Dec 2014.

I surveyed beach and gravel-bar habitats on foot and with kayaks for Snowy Plover nests, scrapes, adults, and chicks during three field seasons. I recorded nest and bird locations with a GPS-enabled handheld computer. I helped train incoming Master’s students and undergraduate assistants on the monitoring and data submission protocols. At the end of two breeding seasons, I compiled and proofed our data to send to partners. I also co-led a Snowy Plover walk for Friends of the Dunes.For my thesis, I used a supervised classification in ERDAS Imagine to delineate suitable habitat from remotely-sensed National Aerial Imagery Program (NAIP) imagery. I measured beach width and nearest neighbor distances of nests in ESRI ArcMap. I tested multiple hypotheses using statistical modeling in R. I contributed to annual recovery unit reports (2011-2014) and co-authored a peer-reviewed publication. I also presented my work at two Western Section of the Wildlife Society conferences in Feb 2012 and 2013.

I re-sighted colour-marked Least and Crested Auklets from a blind on a remote island. This involved living on a remote island and traveling to the island on a research vessel for several days at sea. We made colour bands from Darvic plastic and maintained noose carpets. We extracted the two auklet species from noose carpets for banding and opportunistically collected food samples. I monitored seabird crevices and burrows on a weekly basis. I also caught Aleutian Cackling Geese during the flightless phase of their moult for banding and identified plants in the vicinity of Aleutian Cackling Goose nests.