keynote Speaker: Rob Clay

Rob Clay has been active in migratory bird conservation in the Western Hemisphere for more than 20 years. A native of the United Kingdom, his interest in Neotropical birds and conservation began during an undergraduate expedition to Paraguay in 1992, which led to Ph.D. studies of manakins in Costa Rica and Panama.

Prior to joining the Western Hemisphere Reserve Network (WHSRN) Executive Office (and Manomet) in May 2014, Rob worked for BirdLife International as Senior Conservation Manager in the Americas Secretariat. There, he led the development of conservation programs for a wide variety of migratory birds and globally threatened species. He was instrumental in building BirdLife’s Southern Cone Grasslands Alliance, a coalition of cattle ranchers, government agencies, research institutions, and conservation organizations working together in the South American Pampas grasslands.

Through his role at BirdLife, Rob worked closely with WHSRN staff and site partners over the years. He also served on the WHSRN Hemispheric Council, and is a past Chair of the Waterbird Conservation Council, and former Vice President of the Heron Specialist Group (HeronConservation). He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative, the Steering Committees of the Pacific and Midcontinent Shorebird Conservation Initiatives, the Americas Steering Committee of the Arctic Migratory Bird Initiative, and a Conference of the Parties Appointed Scientific Councilor for Birds to the Convention on Migratory Species.

In 1997, Rob helped found Guyra Paraguay – now the country’s leading conservation NGO, and he has called Paraguay home ever since (except for two years in Ecuador). Rob and his family live in Asunción, where he conducts regular monitoring of shorebirds at the Asunción Bay WHSRN site.

presenter: Liliana Coelho Naves

Lili has over two decades of life and work experience in Alaska dedicated to bird conservation, research, and management. She has worked in collaboration with state, federal, Indigenous, nonprofit, and other partners. Lili’s work has blended natural and social sciences, focusing on bird ecology, harvest assessment, Indigenous knowledge, co-management, outreach and education, and place- and culture-based conservation actions. She is a recipient of the Alaska Bird Conference Isleib Award for outstanding contributions to bird conservation. Lili serves as the Director of Conservation for the Alaska Program of the National Audubon Society. Lili earned a BS in Oceanography and MS in Biological Oceanography from the Federal University of Rio Grande (Brazil) and a PhD in Biodiversity from the Sorbonne-Université Pierre et Marie Curie (France).

presenter: Erin Cooper

Erin Cooper, a Wildlife Biologist for the Forest Service, has lived and worked in Cordova for 24 years. Her work has ranged from shorebirds and waterfowl to mountain goats and moose with a focus on ecosystems of the Copper River Delta. Since 2001 she has been a core member of the Copper River International Migratory Bird Initiative, promoting international conservation for migratory birds and their habitats throughout the Pacific Flyway.

presenter: Dotty Widmann

Dotty Widman has been teaching a variety of workshops in Cordova, Alaska through her craft store, The Net Loft, over the past 34 years of owning the shop.  She enjoys translating botanical and natural history into fiber art interpretations using wool and yarn, and loves teaching and sharing new techniques as a means to encourage creativity and community.

CO-PRESENTER: SUSAN OEHLERS

Tern Talk! (Or, As the World Terns)

Join Anne Schaefer and Susan Oehlers to learn about the conservation status of terns in Alaska, what is being done to learn more about them, and a sneak peek at the Yakutat Tern Festival!

Susan Oehlers grew up in Minnesota, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota and a Master's Degree in wildlife biology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Susan has worked with a wide variety of animals and birds, including wolves, moose, brown bears, small mammals, spotted owls, songbirds, Canada geese, and terns. Susan is currently the wildlife biologist for the Yakutat Ranger District of the Tongass National Forest. As co-chair of the Pacific Seabird Group Aleutian Tern Technical Committee, she is involved in the Yakutat-based Aleutian tern research. Susan also plays a key role in the Yakutat Tern Festival.

CO-PRESENTER: ANNE SCHAEFER

Tern Talk! (Or, As the World Terns)

Join Anne Schaefer and Susan Oehlers to learn about the conservation status of terns in Alaska, what is being done to learn more about them, and a sneak peek at the Yakutat Tern Festival!

Anne grew up in South Dakota and has spent the past 12 years living and working in Alaska. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from South Dakota State University and a Master of Science in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana. Anne is currently a researcher at the Prince William Sound Science Center in Cordova, Alaska, where her primarily focuses on seabirds and shorebirds in Prince William Sound and on the Copper River Delta. 

PRESENTER: Brooke Kwiik Mallory

Brooke is a member of the Native Village of Eyak (NVE) and grew up commercial fishing with her family out of Cordova, Alaska. She has been involved with NVE for 16 years, serving both as staff and on the Tribal Council, 2 years as the Chair, and currently serves as their Interim Executive Director. She served on The Eyak Corporation Board of Directors for 6 years, 3 of them as the Chair. Brooke has vast experience working with Alaskan Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, and Tribal nonprofits, where she works to educate and partner with outside organizations, educating others on how diverse Alaska is. Brooke works to blend traditional knowledge with the scientific world to provide tribally led conservation practices. Brooke earned a BS in Education from Linfield College, with an emphasis on science, math, and art.