Allison Byrd / 3

Allison Byrd

5751 Murray Hall
Orono, ME 04469 /
207-581-2574

EDUCATION

M.S., candidate University of Maine, Orono, ME

Ecology & Environmental Science

Degree expected: January 2012

B.S., 2001 University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI

Wildlife Biology; minor in Communications, 3.4 GPA

Study abroad program in England, 2000

EXPERIENCE

M.S. Candidate, University of Maine, Orono, ME / August 2009- present

Advisor: Dr. Brian Olsen, School of Biology & Ecology

Currently studying variation in reproductive success and nest site fidelity of the Common Loon (Gavia immer) using field observations and a long-term dataset gathered by the BioDiversity Research Institute.

Field Biologist, University of Arizona, Missoula, MT / March 2009- July 2009

Worked for Dr. Renee Duckworth on her long-term study on the evolution of behavior in Western Bluebirds (Sialia Mexicana). The work focused on the evolution of maternal effects. Fieldwork included capture, banding, bleeding, taking morphometric data, organizing data collection activities at field site, monitoring nest boxes, recording lay and hatch order, behavioral observations of adult interactions including incubation strategy and nestling care, supervising undergraduate student and data entry.

Field Assistant, Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, Santa Cruz Island, CA. / Sep. –Nov. 2008

Researched Island Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma insulares) under the direction of Dr. Scott Sillett. Fieldwork included point counts of birds (via helicopter), banding, bleeding and taking morphometric data on ISSJ’s, conducting first and second round vaccinations of ISSJ for West Nile Virus study, mist-netting, banding, bleeding and measuring other target song birds and data entry.

Field Assistant, University of Florida, Isla Boca Brava, Panama / Feb-June 2008

A behavioral study conducted for Dr. Emily DuVal who has been working with a distinct population of Lance-tailed Manakins (Chiroxiphia lanceolata) for 10 years. The focus of this season’s work was to study female mate choice in this leking system. Primary duties included collecting data during behavioral observations of Lance-tailed Manakin courtship displays, telemetry tracking of tagged female manakins, nest-searching, and mist-netting. Data entry and chick-rearing were secondary responsibilities.

Field Assistant, University of California, Pilares, Mexico / August 2007

A return trip to Mexico with Dr. John McCormack to assist with mist-netting birds to check for presence or absence of ectoparasites in high and low elevation sites. This work was performed to further investigate Dr. McCormack’s hypothesis regarding Mexican jays’ (Aphelocoma ultramarina) differing bill shape as a function of diet rather than ectoparasite removal.

Point Count Technician, Institute for Bird Populations, Olympic NP, WA / May-July 2007

Birds have been monitored in the National Parks of Washington State through the Institute For Bird Populations Avian Inventory Program for over 10 years. Working for Biologist Bob Wilkerson, the fieldwork consisted of conducting point counts along off-trail transects at randomly selected points in Olympic National Park. Work included backpacking to the origins and establishing new transects, navigating and sometimes revising pre-established transects, using GPS and compass for navigation, and data entry.

Field Assistant, Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, Spring Island, SC / Nov 2006- Feb 2007

Work conducted for Nora Diggs in order to determine the importance of fruit in the winter diet of the hermit thrush (Catharus guttatus). Fieldwork with hermit thrushes included mist-netting, taking appropriate field measurements of birds, collecting fecal and blood samples, telemetry tracking of hermit thrushes, vegetation and insect sampling of study plots, and data entry.

Research Tech III, Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, FL / June- September 2006

Under the supervision of Joe Corn, the goal of this portion of the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study was to monitor potential invasive vectors of disease (i.e. ticks) which could be devastating to domesticated livestock. Exotic ectoparasite surveillance included live-trapping medium to small-sized mammals, anesthetizing captured animals, mist-netting birds, performing tick drags, conducting complete ectoparasite exams on captured animals, data entry, and collecting and handling biomedical specimens.

Field Assistant, UCLA Center for Tropical Research, Pilares, Mexico / March- May 2006

Work with Dr. Elena Berg and John McCormack (PhD candidate) to test an adaptive hypothesis for egg speckling in Mexican jays (Aphelocoma ultramarina). Fieldwork included mist-netting birds, assisting with bird processing, searching for nests and recording behavioral data, collecting soil samples, climbing trees to extract eggs in order to take photographs, and collecting data on eggs.

Field Assistant, Washington State University, Herberton, Australia / October 2005- January 2006

Fieldwork conducted for Dr. Jordan Karubian, Dr. Claire Varian and Willow Lindsay (PhD candidate) to study the Red-backed Fairy-wren (Malurus melanocephalus). The focus of this season’s study was to determine the role of male hormones on breeding behavior. The fieldwork included mist-netting, taking morphometric data, collecting fecal and blood samples, banding, color band re-sighting, behavioral observations, nest searching and subsequent monitoring, nestling banding and bleeding, and fledgling survival confirmation. Other duties included entering data from captures, field observations and nest checks, centrifuging blood samples, assessing feeding rates from videos recorded at nests, proofing data, and storing blood and fecal samples.

Zookeeper I, Franklin Park Zoo, Boston, MA / December 2004- Sept 2005

Worked as an animal keeper under the direction of Ed O’Brien, Assistant Curator, in the “Bird’s World” department of Franklin Park Zoo. Duties included preparing and feeding diets, enrichment, behavioral husbandry, record keeping, exhibit maintenance, cleaning animal enclosures and service areas, behavioral observations, medication administration and guest interaction. Performed regular training sessions with assigned animals. When necessary, assisted veterinary staff with check-ups, anaesthetization, and surgeries. Performed observations on sick or injured animals when not in veterinary care.

Wildlife Worker, NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife, Hackettstown, NJ / December 2002- Oct 2004

Worked as a hatchery technician for Craig Lemon, Superintendent. Indoor hatchery duties include daily maintenance and upkeep of hatchery tanks, feeding appropriate amount and type of food, weighing, measuring, sexing and taking scale sample from captured fish, removing egg and sperm from fish to create viable egg stock, measuring ammonia and dissolved oxygen concentration in tanks, and general maintenance. Outdoor duties include assisting with trap netting breeding stock in various ponds, stocking hatchery ponds with fry, netting hatchery ponds for fish removal and subsequent breeding or stocking, float stocking, electro-shocking, stocking ponds and streams, and dispensing alfalfa on pond surface to promote algal growth.

Seasonal Wildlife Technician, NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife, Hampton, NJ / July 2002- Dec 2002, July 2001- January 2002

Worked with Biologists Kelcey Burguess and Patrick Carr on the black bear research project in northern New Jersey. Assisted wildlife biologists with black bear research and control and wildlife control. Fieldwork included telemetry tracking, black bear research and control trapping, safe capture drug use, research data collection, culvert and snare setting, necropsy and organ collection, and aversive conditioning of bears. Wildlife control assistant duties included fielding questions about nuisance animals, logging complaints, issuing deer permits, telemetry work, control trapping of beaver and assisting technicians with fieldwork. Office duties included data editing, entry and analysis, data base creation, phone consultation and purchasing.

Research Internship, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI / January- May 2001

Assisted graduate student Barbara Pierce with Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) research project involving fatty-acid composition of diet and digestive up-take which included bird care, weighing and monitoring.

Implemented food preference tests and determined diet choice through data collected.

Research Assistant, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI / May-June 2000

Worked for graduate student Colin Studds as he determined Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus) home range size. Performed sound mapping of male oven bird vocalizations, located and identified nests on various sites and monitored nestling progress. Gained navigational experience utilizing compass bearings and flagging.

SKILLS AND CERTIFICATIONS

  Experienced working with diverse stakeholders including biologists from state and federal agencies, non-profit agencies and universities.

  Experienced operating 4-wheel drive and standard transmission trucks

  Trained in mist-netting, morphometric data collection, bleeding birds and mammals, chemical immobilization, conducting avian point counts, nest-searching, collection of behavioral data, large and small mammal trapping, telemetry tracking mammals and birds, bird banding, color band resighting, administration of vaccinations, collection of biological data and measures, and collection of biological and biomedical samples.

  Experience living in remote locations under harsh conditions

  Trained used Trimble GPS and Garmin GPS systems

  Experienced using compass and topographical maps for navigation

  Chemical Immobilization trained and certified, Safe Capture International Inc., 2001

  ATV trained and certified, ATV RiderCourse, 2001

  CPR and AED trained, American Heart Association, 2003

  Computer skills include Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access