Elisa Fernandes-McDade

Avian Field Technician

Field research professional specializing in identifying, handling, and monitoring the populations of western
birds. My career is dedicated to contributing to natural resource management and research projects that have
direct conservation applications.

SKILLS
§ Extensive experience identifying birds visually and aurally; conducting breeding bird
surveys, abundance surveys, band resighting, and nest searching.
§ Comfortable taking brachial blood samples, taking morphological measurements, banding,
and extracting birds from mist nets. (~600 passerines; ~100 seabirds)
§ Extensive experience sampling and/or identifying birds, fish, mammals, plants, and
invertebrates using a field guide and/or dichotomous key.
§ Exceptional written communication skills to outline, research, write, and proofread
scientific content; and meet important deadlines.
§ Familiar with CEQA requirements and components of EIRs.
§ Able to quickly learn new data collection and QA/QC procedures.
§ Cooperative, communicative, able to work well as part of a team.
§ Able to navigate difficult terrain for long hours in adverse conditions while maintaining
morale and a high research standard.
§ Fluent in English; conversational in Spanish and Portuguese.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Banding Station Volunteer

Coyote Creek Field Station, Milpitas, CA (02/26/2022 – current) (1-4x/mo)
§ Volunteered at banding station 1-4 times per month for 6 hours shifts.
§ Checked nets every 30 minutes and extracted passerines under supervision.
§ Identified and marked high-priority individuals (i.e., small species, females with eggs,
recently fledged birds, and birds with pox) for banders.
§ Assisted in set up and take down of mist nets.
§ Complied with SFBBO’s Covid-19 protocol.
Cashier (Part-time)
Floor and Decor, Pleasant Hill, CA (03/08//2022 – current) (21 hrs/week)
§ Quickly handled transactions in fast-paced, high-stress environment.
§ Answered phone inquiries and directed customers to correct department.
§ Disinfected check out area and complied with Covid-19 protocol.
§ Communicated information in English and Spanish with customers.

Waterfowl Field Assistant

Utqiargvik/Barrow, AK (06/01/2022 – 07/21/2022) (40 hrs/week)
§ Conducted surveys to detect presence of multiple nesting species of waterfowl and avian
predators. (50%)
§ Conducted surveys to locate active nests of Steller’s Eiders, Spectacled Eiders, and avian
predators. (40%)
 § Used mist nets to capture eider hens for banding, morphometric collection, and blood
extraction. (5%)
§ Characterized habitat in which nests were located. (5%)
§ Recorded data in ArcGIS Field Maps app. Uploaded survey data nightly and maintained
crew equipment for future use.
§ Used ATVs regularly to transport crew and equipment to field sites.
§ Interfaced with local interns and community in culturally sensitive manner.
§ Tidied common area regularly, cooked meals for crew weekly, organized equipment
storage unit, and contributed to field house upkeep daily.

Seabird Research Assistant

Institute for Seabird Research and Conservation, Middleton Island, AK (05/04/2021 –
08/14/2021) (48 hrs/week)
§ Collected puffin bill loads, identified fish species from bill loads using field guide,
recorded length, weight, and sex of fish. (10%)
§ Conducted biweekly color band resighting at seabird colonies. (30%)
§ Measured, bled, and banded seabird chicks and adults (20%)
§ Labeled biological samples accurately; stored and prepared samples for shipment; tracked
biological sample records in field notebook and Excel sheet.
§ Located nests of burrowing-, ground-, and cliff-nesting species. (30%)
§ Installed and maintained camera stations at puffin runways and audio recorders at storm-
petrel colonies. (10%)
§ Performed data entry and QA/QC duties weekly.
§ Regularly operated ATVs to transport team members and equipment.
§ Lived at remote camp site without running water and poor internet connection with 12
other members. Completed camp chores daily to maintain research equipment, maintain
water supply, and keep common space clean.

Product Specialist
Living Spaces, San Jose (01/2020 – 09/2020)
§ Developed quick rapport with guests to discover their furniture needs and provide an
excellent guest experience.
§ Completed extensive product knowledge training to be able to educate guests about the
exceptional quality of our products.
§ Trained employees in showroom best practices and personal tablet functions.

Collared Flycatcher Field Assistant

Burgsvik, Sweden; through Uppsala University, Sweden (05/2019 – 07/2019) (40 hrs/week)
§ Checked nest boxes daily using a GPS, compass, and topographical maps.
§ Identified occupying species based on nest construction, recorded nest construction
progress, and nestling health.
§ Took morphological measurements using calipers and scale; banded adults and young; and
took brachial blood samples independently.
§ Labeled, recorded, and stored biological samples according to protocol.
Songbird Nestbox Project Volunteer
Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology, Davis, CA (04/2017 – 06/2018) (12 hrs/week)
§ Checked nest boxes biweekly; identified occupying species based on nest construction,
recorded nest construction progress, and nestling health.
§ Banded nestlings and resighted colored bands on adults.
§ Coordinated carpools and worked independently with team members.
§ Installed and maintained cameras at nest boxes for behavioral study.

UC Davis Wood Duck Project

Putah Creek Riparian Reserve, Davis, CA (04/2018 – 06/2018) [Part Time]
§ Visited nest boxes weekly; recorded nest occupation status, number of eggs, and hen
behavior.
§ Ensured that RFID reader was functional.
§ Processed Wood Duck ducklings.

Rotary Screw Trap Volunteer

UCD Dept. of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, Davis, CA (03/15/2018 – 06/15/2018)
[5 hrs/week]
§ Maintained rotary screw trap for juvenile salmon study.
§ Captured and identified native and non-native fish species
§ Took morphological measurements and caudal fin samples of juvenile fall run Chinook
salmon.
§ Measured water quality using multiparameter meter prior to sampling.

Ecogeomorphology Course
UC Davis, Davis, CA (04/02/2018 – 06/29/2018) [8* – 40 hrs/week**]
§ Identified fish and amphibians native to the Sierra Nevada in both a laboratory and field
setting.
§ Sampled aquatic invertebrates and sediments for final research paper at multiple field sites.
§ Identified common aquatic invertebrates of the Sierra Nevada using a microscope.
§ Used elementary white water rafting skills to navigate rapids up to Class IV.
§ *Classroom/laboratory portion (2.5 months)
§ **Field work/laboratory portion (2 weeks)

Student Assistant
Office of Environmental Health Hazards Assessment, Sacramento, CA (04/2017 – 06/2018)
(12-20 hrs/week)
§ Synthesized new and relevant scientific findings into a technical report about the evidence
of climate change in California, “Indicators of Climate Change in California, 2017."

Restoration Ecology Lab

Winters Resource Conservation District and UC Davis, CA (03/2017 – 06/2017) (8
hrs/week)
§ Worked with team to gather data on floral and faunal diversity, soil types, and hydrological
conditions present at the field site over three months.
 § Organized information from academic research and management guides into a management
plan for the site.
Research Assistant
UC Davis Road Ecology Center, Davis, CA (06/2015 – 10/2015) (12 hrs/week)
§ Monitored wildlife camera traps along I-80 and HWY-50: changed batteries, downloaded
photos, switched out SD cards.
§ Uploaded photos with species identification and site data to the Wildlife Observer
Network.
§ Created species identification documents using MS Publisher for training new hires.

White-crowned Sparrow Study Intern

University of California, Davis, CA (10/2015 – 03/2016) (4 hrs/week)
§ Set up mist nets and Potter traps; extracted and banded sparrows; sexed birds, took
morphological measurements, and brachial blood samples
§ Performed weekly data entry from scanned field notebooks.
§ Attended weekly paper discussions with research team.

Summer Sprig Tales Intern

California Waterfowl Association, Roseville CA (05/2015 – 08/2015) [Part Time]
§ Researched topics in waterfowl biology and conservation to produce four education
newsletters, Sprig Tales, for children 12 and under.
§ Created educational games in each issue.
§ Designed issues with Adobe Publisher and Adobe Photoshop.

SEEDS Pygmy Forest Research Project

UC Davis and Jug Handle State Natural Preserve, CA (01/2015 – 05/2015) (4 hrs/week)
§ Collected, prepared soil core and root samples at Jug Handled State Natural Reserve for
enzyme assay.
§ Lab work: 3 hrs/week: organized samples, used fume hood, cleaned equipment.

Wild Campus Bird Team Member

University of California, Davis, CA (11/2014 – 05/2015) [Part Time]
§ Formulated research methodology for a team research project about territorial responses in
Ruby-crowned Kinglets.
§ Conducted point counts during fall migration and winter.
§ Developed visual and aural identification skills of western North American birds.
§ Collaborated with team to analyze data, wrote a final report, and submitted to Western
Birds (though it was not published).

Museum Host
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz, CA (08/2013 – 05/2014) [Part Time]
§ Visitor engagement.
§ Shared information about exhibits, events, and natural history.
§ Attended spotting scope training and museum host training.
§ Collected marine animals for touch tank.