Dr. Daniel D. Roby, Principal Investigator. Dan Roby is the Assistant Unit Leader at the USGS-Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, and a Professor (Courtesy) in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University. Dan has been conducting research on the breeding biology and nesting ecology of colonial waterbirds for more than 20 years. His research has focused on the diet composition and reproductive energetics of seabirds, and how these factors influence nesting success. Dan received a B.S. degree in Biology at Antioch College (1974), a M.S. degree in Wildlife Management from the University of Alaska (1978), and a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania (1986). Contact Dan at daniel.roby@orst.edu.

Ken Collis, M.S., Co-Principal Investigator. Ken Collis is the founder of Real Time Research, a private environmental/data consulting firm. For more than 10 years, Ken has been actively involved in studies investigating predator-prey interactions on the lower Columbia and Snake rivers. He has investigated different factors that influence predation rates by both fish and avian predators on juvenile salmonids and has used that information to help managers develop effective management initiatives to reduce predation-related mortality. Ken received a B.S. degree in Biology from Lewis and Clark College (1983) and a M.S. degree in Zoology from the University of Maryland (1990). Contact Ken at kcollis@realtimeresearch.org.

Donald E. Lyons, M.S., Graduate Research Assistant. Don Lyons is a graduate student with the USGS-Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, and has been working on the project since 1998. Don’s most recent work on the project has focused on measuring smolt consumption rates of piscivorous waterbirds in the lower Columbia River using a bioenergetics modeling approach. Don received a B.S. degree from Iowa State University (1987) and a M.S. degree from University of California, Berkeley (1989), both in Electrical Engineering. While working on this project, Don also received a M.S. in Wildlife Science from Oregon State University (2004). Contact Don at lyonsd@ucs.orst.edu.

Yasuko Suzuki, M.S., Graduate Research Assistant. Yasuko Suzuki is a graduate student with the USGS-Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, and has been working on the project since 2004. Yasuko’s work on the project has focused on investigations of Caspian tern demography and social attraction studies on double-crested cormorants. Yasuko received a B.V.Sc degree from Nihon University (1996) and a M.S. degree in Comparative Pathology from University of California, Davis (2004). Contact Yasuko at yasuko.suzuki@oregonstate.edu.

Nathan Hostetter, Graduate Research Assistant. Nathan Hostetter (shown here with his wife Erin who is also assisting with the project) is a graduate student with the USGS-Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, and has been working on the project since 2006. Nathan's work on the project is focused on how differences in smolt morphology, condition, abundance, and origin are associated with differences in smolt vulnerability to avian predation in the McNary pool. Nathan received a B.S. degree from Gardner-Webb University (2002). Contact Nathan at nateh2@juno.com.

Jessica Adkins, M.S., Project Coordinator.   Jessica Adkins is a Faculty Research Assistant with the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Oregon State University. Jessica’s work on the project from 1998-2000 focused on investigations of the diet composition of piscivorous waterbirds on the lower Columbia River. She returned to the project in September 2004 as Project Coordinator for the Columbia River field sites. Jessica received a B.S. degree in Biology from Western Washington University (1997) and a M.S. degree in Entomology from Oregon State University (2003). Contact Jessica at adkinsj@onid.orst.edu.

Allen Evans, M.S., Fisheries Scientist. Allen Evans works with Real Time Research Inc. and has been working on the project since 2003.  Allen will investigate differences in vulnerability among various salmonid species, stocks, and rearing types to avian predators.  Allen received a B.S. degree in Biology at The College of Wooster (1995) and a M.S. degree in Fisheries from Oregon State University (2003). Contact Allen at aevans@realtimeresearch.org.

Lauren Reinalda, Estuary Field Crew Leader. Lauren is a Faculty Research Assistant in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Oregon State University. Lauren has worked on various aspects of the project since March 2005. In addition to her responsibility as the Estuary Field Crew Leader, Lauren analyzes the diet samples that are collected during the field season in order to determine diet composition of piscivorous waterbirds. Lauren received a B.S. degree in Wildlife Biology from Colorado State University (2004). Contact Lauren at Lauren.Reinalda@oregonstate.edu.

Colony Monitors, East Sand Island.  Zeb Maharrey (left) and Karl Mokross (right) are the colony monitors on East Sand Island in 2007. They will collect information on tern colony size, diet composition, and productivity at the East Sand Island colony. They will also monitor the activity of predators on tern eggs and chicks and assure the colony is not disturbed.

Diet Technician, Columbia River Estuary. Alexis Will will collect information on the diet composition of piscivorous waterbirds in the Columbia River estuary and will assist with other research activities on the lower Columbia River and elsewhere.

Double-crested Cormorant Technician, Columbia River Estuary. Jeff Lewis will collect information on the nesting ecology of double-crested cormorants in the Columbia River estuary and will assist with other research activities on the lower Columbia River and elsewhere. Jeff worked as a colony monitor on East Sand Island in 2006.

Research Interns, Columbia River Estuary. Katie Montgomery (left) and McKenzie Mudge (right) will assist with a variety of research activities on the lower Columbia River, including Caspian tern demography, double-crested cormorant nesting ecology, and diet studies.

Up-river Crew.  Lindsay Adrean (crew leader; center), Jeff Kohl (left), Max Bockes (right), and Erin Hostetter (not shown) will investigate the impacts of piscivorous waterbirds on smolt survival at nesting sites on the lower Columbia River above The Dalles Dam.

Database/Information Management. Mike Hawbecker works with Real Time Research Inc. and will help with data handling, entry, and analysis. Mike, Ken, and Allen will work together to develop and administer this web page, which was created to disseminate in-season project information to regional fish and wildlife managers, stakeholders, and the general public. Contact Mike at mhawbecker@realtimeresearch.org.

Photo Documentation. Michael Wilhelm is a freelance wildlife photographer with a keen interest in natural history and related subjects in the Pacific Northwest. Michael volunteers his time to the Columbia Bird Research Project with the goal of providing a visual record to augment research findings. Michael has a degree in journalism from the University of Oregon and has published his work in a variety of newspapers and magazines, which include; The Oregonian, The New York Times, National Wildlife, and The Nature Conservancy. Contact Michael at msw@wilhelmphoto.com .

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