UMESC Teams Members

Principal Scientists

• Kevin P. Kenow
  

Email: kkenow@usgs.gov
Phone: 608-781-6278

• Scientific lead - waterbird ecology and disturbance
• Research activities include:
  • Evaluate waterbird habitat availability and use in the Upper Mississippi River System
  • Evaluate ecological responses to water level management practices and habitat restoration projects
  • Evaluate the potential effects of climate change on waterbirds
  • Evaluate the effects of avian diseases on waterbirds
  • Evaluate the effects of contaminants on waterbirds

• Eileen M. Kirsch

Email: ekirsch@usgs.gov
Phone: 608-781-6226

• Scientific lead - habitat conservation and management
• Research activities include:
  • Evaluate floodplain forest ecosystems and bird associations
  • Evaluate the effects of invasive plant species and habitat restoration projects on floodplain forest ecosystems
  • Identify important migration breeding and stopover habitats (birds and bats)
  • Develop regional or national models to evaluate the potential risk to avian wildlife from wind power and/or cellular communication towers

• Wayne E. Thogmartin

Email: wthogmartin@usgs.gov
Phone: 608-781-6309

• Scientific lead - landscape and habitat ecology
• Research activities include:
  • Create geospatial tools for wildlife managers and decision makers, for science-based management of wildlife and plant populations
  • Develop geospatial models for rare or declining species, to identify existing habitats and sites with restoration potential

Consulting and Support Staff

• Pete J. Boma
  

Email: pboma@usgs.gov
Phone: 608-781-6334

• Provides field and geospatial support

• Brian R. Gray
  

Email: brgray@usgs.gov
Phone: 608-781-6234

• Statistical analysis

• Steve Houdek
  
  Email: shoudek@usgs.gov
  Phone: 608-781-6305

• Field and laboratory support

• Patrick C. McKann
  
  Email: pmckann@usgs.gov
  Phone: 608-781-6303
  

• Melissa S. Meier
  

Email: mmeier@usgs.gov
Phone: 608-781-6396

• Operates songbird banding stations

• James Rogala
  

Email: jrogala@usgs.gov
Phone: 608-781-6373

• Spatial and statistical analysis

• Larry R. Robinson
  

Email: lrobinson@usgs.gov
Phone: 608-781-6354

• Using geospatial technology and aerial photography to count waterbirds

• Manuel J. Suarez
  

Email: msuarez@usgs.gov
Phone: 608-781-6295

• Geospatial specialties
  • Geospatial programming
  • Using NEXRAD radar technology
  • Using portable radar units

• Mike Wellik
  
  Email: mwellik@usgs.gov
  Phone: 608-781-6225

• Study bird movement to assess potential risks from wind energy development
• Development of databases and analysis of data.
• Provide field support