Austin Parker is a wildlife biologist and Resource Advisor for federal wild land fires. Among other certifications, he hold US FWS recovery permits for California gnatcatchers, El Segundo blue butterfly, and Palos Verdes Blue Butterfly.
Multimedia
Learn more about our science in action in the field and laboratory. Check out some of our available photos and videos. For more information, e-mail werc_web@usgs.gov
Images
Biologist Austin Parker during a Peregrine Falcon survey
Austin Parker is a wildlife biologist and Resource Advisor for federal wild land fires. Among other certifications, he hold US FWS recovery permits for California gnatcatchers, El Segundo blue butterfly, and Palos Verdes Blue Butterfly.
Amanda Goldberg staff profile photo
Dr. Amanda R. Goldberg is a conservation biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey’s Western Ecological Research Center out of the Santa Ana, CA Substation.
Dr. Amanda R. Goldberg is a conservation biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey’s Western Ecological Research Center out of the Santa Ana, CA Substation.
Cindy_Hitchcock_cropped.jpg
This is Cindy Hitchcock's staff profile photo, taken during a stream survey. Cindy is a biologist working for the Western Ecological Research Center in Southern California.
This is Cindy Hitchcock's staff profile photo, taken during a stream survey. Cindy is a biologist working for the Western Ecological Research Center in Southern California.
Dozer Line through Repaired Habitat Supervised by SPARCS Fireline Resource Advisors during the Palisades Fire
linkBulldozer lines create breaks in vegetation and are commonly used when fighting wildfires. This dozer line was created during the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles County, California in January 2025.
Dozer Line through Repaired Habitat Supervised by SPARCS Fireline Resource Advisors during the Palisades Fire
linkBulldozer lines create breaks in vegetation and are commonly used when fighting wildfires. This dozer line was created during the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles County, California in January 2025.
Cinnamon teal wearing a tracking backpack
Cinnamon teal with a GPS tracking backpack that weighs 10 grams, making it much more successful in staying on longer than heavier tracking devices.
Cinnamon teal with a GPS tracking backpack that weighs 10 grams, making it much more successful in staying on longer than heavier tracking devices.
Shore of Lake Abert, Oregon
Lake Abert, Oregon is one of the 20 terminal lakes identified by USGS partners as priority ecosystems for study by the Saline Lakes Ecosystems IWAA.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Nevada Water Science Center, Oregon Water Science Center, Utah Water Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Saline Lake Ecosystems Integrated Water Availability Assessment
Lake Abert, Oregon is one of the 20 terminal lakes identified by USGS partners as priority ecosystems for study by the Saline Lakes Ecosystems IWAA.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Nevada Water Science Center, Oregon Water Science Center, Utah Water Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Saline Lake Ecosystems Integrated Water Availability Assessment
Videos
Saline Lake Ecosystems IWAA Spring Seminar: Project Updates and 2025 Field Season Plans
This video presents the Spring 2025 Saline Lake Ecosystems Integrated Water Availability Assessment Spring Seminar by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Hosted by Allison Shipp, the seminar provides updates on how hydroclimatic changes and water management affect terminal lake ecosystems and waterbird populations.
This video presents the Spring 2025 Saline Lake Ecosystems Integrated Water Availability Assessment Spring Seminar by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Hosted by Allison Shipp, the seminar provides updates on how hydroclimatic changes and water management affect terminal lake ecosystems and waterbird populations.
Saline Lakes IWAA Fall 2024 Webinar Series: Satellite Observations of Lake Surface Water Dynamics
linkThe sixth and final webinar in the Saline Lakes Ecosystems IWAA Fall 2024 Webinar Series is on satellite observations of lake surface water dynamics. John W. Jones of the USGS Hydrologic Remote Sensing Branch introduces the surface water and wetland remote sensing component of the Integrated Water Availability Assessment.
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Water Availability and Use Science Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Nevada Water Science Center, Oregon Water Science Center, Utah Water Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Saline Lake Ecosystems Integrated Water Availability Assessment
Saline Lakes IWAA Fall 2024 Webinar Series: Satellite Observations of Lake Surface Water Dynamics
linkThe sixth and final webinar in the Saline Lakes Ecosystems IWAA Fall 2024 Webinar Series is on satellite observations of lake surface water dynamics. John W. Jones of the USGS Hydrologic Remote Sensing Branch introduces the surface water and wetland remote sensing component of the Integrated Water Availability Assessment.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Water Availability and Use Science Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Nevada Water Science Center, Oregon Water Science Center, Utah Water Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Saline Lake Ecosystems Integrated Water Availability Assessment
Saline Lakes IWAA Fall 2024 Webinar Series: Waterbird Prey Availability
The fifth webinar in the Saline Lakes Ecosystems IWAA Fall 2024 Webinar Series is on waterbird prey availability in Great Basin terminal lakes.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Water Availability and Use Science Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Nevada Water Science Center, Oregon Water Science Center, Utah Water Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Saline Lake Ecosystems Integrated Water Availability Assessment
The fifth webinar in the Saline Lakes Ecosystems IWAA Fall 2024 Webinar Series is on waterbird prey availability in Great Basin terminal lakes.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Water Availability and Use Science Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Nevada Water Science Center, Oregon Water Science Center, Utah Water Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Saline Lake Ecosystems Integrated Water Availability Assessment
Saline Lakes Ecosystems IWAA Fall 2024 Webinar Series: Bird Movements
The fourth webinar in the Saline Lakes Ecosystems IWAA Fall 2024 Webinar Series is on movement of bird species associated with Great Basin terminal lake ecosystems. Cory Overton of the Western Ecological Research Center gives an overview of the USGS bird movement monitoring strategy and presents results from the 2024 field season.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Water Availability and Use Science Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Nevada Water Science Center, Oregon Water Science Center, Utah Water Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Saline Lake Ecosystems Integrated Water Availability Assessment
The fourth webinar in the Saline Lakes Ecosystems IWAA Fall 2024 Webinar Series is on movement of bird species associated with Great Basin terminal lake ecosystems. Cory Overton of the Western Ecological Research Center gives an overview of the USGS bird movement monitoring strategy and presents results from the 2024 field season.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Water Availability and Use Science Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Nevada Water Science Center, Oregon Water Science Center, Utah Water Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Saline Lake Ecosystems Integrated Water Availability Assessment
Saline Lakes Ecosystems IWAA Fall 2024 Webinar Series: Water-Quality Monitoring of Great Basin Terminal Lake Ecosystems
linkThe third webinar in the Saline Lakes Ecosystems IWAA Fall 2024 Webinar Series is on water-quality monitoring of Great Basin terminal lake ecosystems. Christine Rumsey of the Utah Water Science Center and Casie Smith of the Oregon Water Science Center give an overview of the USGS water-quality monitoring strategy and present results from the 2024 field season.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Water Availability and Use Science Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Nevada Water Science Center, Oregon Water Science Center, Utah Water Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Saline Lake Ecosystems Integrated Water Availability Assessment
Saline Lakes Ecosystems IWAA Fall 2024 Webinar Series: Water-Quality Monitoring of Great Basin Terminal Lake Ecosystems
linkThe third webinar in the Saline Lakes Ecosystems IWAA Fall 2024 Webinar Series is on water-quality monitoring of Great Basin terminal lake ecosystems. Christine Rumsey of the Utah Water Science Center and Casie Smith of the Oregon Water Science Center give an overview of the USGS water-quality monitoring strategy and present results from the 2024 field season.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Water Availability and Use Science Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Nevada Water Science Center, Oregon Water Science Center, Utah Water Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Saline Lake Ecosystems Integrated Water Availability Assessment
Saline Lake Ecosystems IWAA Fall 2024 Webinar Series: Physical and Chemical Monitoring in Support of Water Budgets of Select Great Basin Saline Lakes
linkThe second webinar in the Saline Lake Ecosystems IWAA Fall 2024 Webinar Series is on physical and chemical monitoring in support of water budgets of select Great Basin saline lakes.
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Water Availability and Use Science Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Nevada Water Science Center, Oregon Water Science Center, Utah Water Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Saline Lake Ecosystems Integrated Water Availability Assessment
Saline Lake Ecosystems IWAA Fall 2024 Webinar Series: Physical and Chemical Monitoring in Support of Water Budgets of Select Great Basin Saline Lakes
linkThe second webinar in the Saline Lake Ecosystems IWAA Fall 2024 Webinar Series is on physical and chemical monitoring in support of water budgets of select Great Basin saline lakes.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Water Availability and Use Science Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Nevada Water Science Center, Oregon Water Science Center, Utah Water Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Saline Lake Ecosystems Integrated Water Availability Assessment
Audio
Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus) Call
Bats produce a variety of vocalizations that are used for navigation, feeding, and social communication. Most vocalizations are pitched well above the range of human hearing and are referred to as ultrasonic.
Bats produce a variety of vocalizations that are used for navigation, feeding, and social communication. Most vocalizations are pitched well above the range of human hearing and are referred to as ultrasonic.
California myotis (Myotis californicus) Call
Bats produce a variety of vocalizations that are used for navigation, feeding, and social communication. Most vocalizations are pitched well above the range of human hearing and are referred to as ultrasonic.
Bats produce a variety of vocalizations that are used for navigation, feeding, and social communication. Most vocalizations are pitched well above the range of human hearing and are referred to as ultrasonic.
Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus) Echo Call
Bats produce a variety of vocalizations that are used for navigation, feeding, and social communication. Most vocalizations are pitched well above the range of human hearing and are referred to as ultrasonic.
Bats produce a variety of vocalizations that are used for navigation, feeding, and social communication. Most vocalizations are pitched well above the range of human hearing and are referred to as ultrasonic.
Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus) Social Call
Bats produce a variety of vocalizations that are used for navigation, feeding, and social communication. Most vocalizations are pitched well above the range of human hearing and are referred to as ultrasonic.
Bats produce a variety of vocalizations that are used for navigation, feeding, and social communication. Most vocalizations are pitched well above the range of human hearing and are referred to as ultrasonic.
Yuma myotis (Myotis yumanensis) Call
Bats produce a variety of vocalizations that are used for navigation, feeding, and social communication. Most vocalizations are pitched well above the range of human hearing and are referred to as ultrasonic.
Bats produce a variety of vocalizations that are used for navigation, feeding, and social communication. Most vocalizations are pitched well above the range of human hearing and are referred to as ultrasonic.
Ashy Storm-Petrel Call
This is the call of the elusive Ashy Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma homochroa). Ashy Storm-Petrels nest in burrows and crevices on offshore rocks and islands. To avoid predators, they only arrive and depart their island nests under the cover of darkness. That makes studying them pretty difficult.
This is the call of the elusive Ashy Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma homochroa). Ashy Storm-Petrels nest in burrows and crevices on offshore rocks and islands. To avoid predators, they only arrive and depart their island nests under the cover of darkness. That makes studying them pretty difficult.