Thesis Topic

Physiological conditions of barn owl (Tyto furcata) nestlings as indicators of habitat quality within the wine-growing region of Napa Valley

About Me

Growing up in Anaheim, all my days would start with a bird. I would wake up every morning either to the squabble of my pet parrots eager for breakfast, or the soft cooing of a mourning dove (that I would mistakenly interpret as an owl). With their presence in my upbringing, I’ve kindled an appreciation for birds of all feathers. After taking ornithology in my undergraduate studies at CSUF, I was prepared to apply myself in all facilities of the avian world. I became a volunteer at the Starr Ranch Audubon Sanctuary and the International Bird Rescue Center in San Pedro, where I had my first-hand experience handling wild birds for science and conservation. From there I accepted an internship in Oregon with the Environment for the Americas, where I conducted shorebird surveys on Yaquina Bay, led school groups, and hosted the bilingual World Migratory Bird Day event at the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area. As an avian field technician under the wings of the Institute for Wildlife Studies and the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, I would work through several seasons on the Channel Islands monitoring Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, Island Scrub-jays, and the San Clemente Loggerhead Shrikes. I’m thankful for the work and time I’ve put into helping the conservation of these species, especially raptors! As a graduate student at Cal Poly Humboldt, I continue my passion for avian wildlife through my studies on the barn owls of Napa and Sonoma Valley. In my spare time, I love to do more nerdy stuff like PC gaming, playing board games with friends, reading graphic novels, and building computers and keyboards!