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Laura is a data scientists and biologist who specializes in data management and the movement and breeding ecology of migratory shorebirds.
My duties include assisting staff with the creation, modification, and publishing of data release, digitally archiving legacy data for public use, producing data visualizations to engage the public in research produced by Alaska Science Center scientists, and providing field assistance to research biologists.
The Teshekpuk Lake region was designated as a Special Area in 1977 by the Secretary of the Interior, Cecil Andrus. The map shows the approximate boundary of the Special Area in 2008, 2013, and 2020.
The Teshekpuk Lake region was designated as a Special Area in 1977 by the Secretary of the Interior, Cecil Andrus. The map shows the approximate boundary of the Special Area in 2008, 2013, and 2020.
Lesser Yellowlegs adult male, “A73”, watches for predators as he follows his recently hatched chicks through the boreal landscape of Churchill, Manitoba, Canada.
Lesser Yellowlegs adult male, “A73”, watches for predators as he follows his recently hatched chicks through the boreal landscape of Churchill, Manitoba, Canada.
Lesser Yellowlegs nest near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. The egg on the far left of the frame is ‘pipped’, meaning that the chick’s bill has broken through the egg membrane and shell and will emerge within 24 hours. The chick in the middle of the frame recently emerged from the egg and is covered in fluid.
Lesser Yellowlegs nest near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. The egg on the far left of the frame is ‘pipped’, meaning that the chick’s bill has broken through the egg membrane and shell and will emerge within 24 hours. The chick in the middle of the frame recently emerged from the egg and is covered in fluid.
Hatching Lesser Yellowlegs nest near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. The egg on the far left of the frame is ‘pipped’, meaning that the chick’s bill has broken through the egg membrane and shell and will emerge within 24 hours. Since the 1970s, this species has declined by ~63%, yet the potential cause(s) of the decline are not fully understood.
Hatching Lesser Yellowlegs nest near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. The egg on the far left of the frame is ‘pipped’, meaning that the chick’s bill has broken through the egg membrane and shell and will emerge within 24 hours. Since the 1970s, this species has declined by ~63%, yet the potential cause(s) of the decline are not fully understood.
Lesser Yellowlegs incubating near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Since the 1970s, this species has declined by ~63%, however, the potential cause(s) of the decline are not fully understood.
Lesser Yellowlegs incubating near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Since the 1970s, this species has declined by ~63%, however, the potential cause(s) of the decline are not fully understood.
Lesser Yellowlegs chicks are precocial, meaning that they hatch in an advanced state and are capable of feeding themselves and moving independently almost immediately after hatch. Since the 1970s, this species has declined by ~63%, yet the potential cause(s) of the decline are not fully understood.
Lesser Yellowlegs chicks are precocial, meaning that they hatch in an advanced state and are capable of feeding themselves and moving independently almost immediately after hatch. Since the 1970s, this species has declined by ~63%, yet the potential cause(s) of the decline are not fully understood.
Lesser Yellowlegs typically consume insects, such as flies, beetles, and mayflies, small fish, crustaceans, aquatic worms, mollusks, spiders, and seeds. Lesser Yellowlegs are active foragers and are commonly observed walking rapidly through shallow wetlands while pursuing prey.
Lesser Yellowlegs typically consume insects, such as flies, beetles, and mayflies, small fish, crustaceans, aquatic worms, mollusks, spiders, and seeds. Lesser Yellowlegs are active foragers and are commonly observed walking rapidly through shallow wetlands while pursuing prey.
Lesser Yellowlegs typically consume insects, such as flies, beetles, and mayflies), small fish, crustaceans, aquatic worms, mollusks, spiders, and seeds. Lesser Yellowlegs are active foragers and are commonly observed walking rapidly through shallow wetlands while pursuing prey.
Lesser Yellowlegs typically consume insects, such as flies, beetles, and mayflies), small fish, crustaceans, aquatic worms, mollusks, spiders, and seeds. Lesser Yellowlegs are active foragers and are commonly observed walking rapidly through shallow wetlands while pursuing prey.
A Spectacled Eider carrying an intracoelomic radio transmitter near the Colville River. To track the movements of Spectacled Eider and other waterfowl for extended periods of time, intracoelomic radio transmitters were surgically implanted in birds during the late 90s through the early 2010s.
A Spectacled Eider carrying an intracoelomic radio transmitter near the Colville River. To track the movements of Spectacled Eider and other waterfowl for extended periods of time, intracoelomic radio transmitters were surgically implanted in birds during the late 90s through the early 2010s.
Surface pools on the edge of West Long Lake in the Teshekpuk Lake Special Use Area of Alaska’s North Slope. These pools are formed by permafrost. During the summer months, snow and ice melt and the water remains pooled on the surface, resulting in thousands of pools and lakes that support wildlife.
Surface pools on the edge of West Long Lake in the Teshekpuk Lake Special Use Area of Alaska’s North Slope. These pools are formed by permafrost. During the summer months, snow and ice melt and the water remains pooled on the surface, resulting in thousands of pools and lakes that support wildlife.
Shorebird nests and broods were monitored daily as part of a long-term study to determine reproductive success of multiple species. The tundra habitat around Pt. Storkersen supports a diversity of shorebird and waterfowl species.
Shorebird nests and broods were monitored daily as part of a long-term study to determine reproductive success of multiple species. The tundra habitat around Pt. Storkersen supports a diversity of shorebird and waterfowl species.
A flock of waterfowl flying over Izembek Lagoon on the outskirts of Izembek National Wildlife Refuge on the Alaska Peninsula. Scientists observed the response of Black Brant and other geese to the disturbance of aircraft overflights during a long-term study in the 1980s.
A flock of waterfowl flying over Izembek Lagoon on the outskirts of Izembek National Wildlife Refuge on the Alaska Peninsula. Scientists observed the response of Black Brant and other geese to the disturbance of aircraft overflights during a long-term study in the 1980s.
The Teshekpuk Lake region was designated as a Special Area in 1977 by the Secretary of the Interior, Cecil Andrus. The map shows the approximate boundary of the Special Area in 2008, 2013, and 2020.
The Teshekpuk Lake region was designated as a Special Area in 1977 by the Secretary of the Interior, Cecil Andrus. The map shows the approximate boundary of the Special Area in 2008, 2013, and 2020.
Lesser Yellowlegs adult male, “A73”, watches for predators as he follows his recently hatched chicks through the boreal landscape of Churchill, Manitoba, Canada.
Lesser Yellowlegs adult male, “A73”, watches for predators as he follows his recently hatched chicks through the boreal landscape of Churchill, Manitoba, Canada.
Lesser Yellowlegs nest near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. The egg on the far left of the frame is ‘pipped’, meaning that the chick’s bill has broken through the egg membrane and shell and will emerge within 24 hours. The chick in the middle of the frame recently emerged from the egg and is covered in fluid.
Lesser Yellowlegs nest near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. The egg on the far left of the frame is ‘pipped’, meaning that the chick’s bill has broken through the egg membrane and shell and will emerge within 24 hours. The chick in the middle of the frame recently emerged from the egg and is covered in fluid.
Hatching Lesser Yellowlegs nest near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. The egg on the far left of the frame is ‘pipped’, meaning that the chick’s bill has broken through the egg membrane and shell and will emerge within 24 hours. Since the 1970s, this species has declined by ~63%, yet the potential cause(s) of the decline are not fully understood.
Hatching Lesser Yellowlegs nest near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. The egg on the far left of the frame is ‘pipped’, meaning that the chick’s bill has broken through the egg membrane and shell and will emerge within 24 hours. Since the 1970s, this species has declined by ~63%, yet the potential cause(s) of the decline are not fully understood.
Lesser Yellowlegs incubating near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Since the 1970s, this species has declined by ~63%, however, the potential cause(s) of the decline are not fully understood.
Lesser Yellowlegs incubating near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. Since the 1970s, this species has declined by ~63%, however, the potential cause(s) of the decline are not fully understood.
Lesser Yellowlegs chicks are precocial, meaning that they hatch in an advanced state and are capable of feeding themselves and moving independently almost immediately after hatch. Since the 1970s, this species has declined by ~63%, yet the potential cause(s) of the decline are not fully understood.
Lesser Yellowlegs chicks are precocial, meaning that they hatch in an advanced state and are capable of feeding themselves and moving independently almost immediately after hatch. Since the 1970s, this species has declined by ~63%, yet the potential cause(s) of the decline are not fully understood.
Lesser Yellowlegs typically consume insects, such as flies, beetles, and mayflies, small fish, crustaceans, aquatic worms, mollusks, spiders, and seeds. Lesser Yellowlegs are active foragers and are commonly observed walking rapidly through shallow wetlands while pursuing prey.
Lesser Yellowlegs typically consume insects, such as flies, beetles, and mayflies, small fish, crustaceans, aquatic worms, mollusks, spiders, and seeds. Lesser Yellowlegs are active foragers and are commonly observed walking rapidly through shallow wetlands while pursuing prey.
Lesser Yellowlegs typically consume insects, such as flies, beetles, and mayflies), small fish, crustaceans, aquatic worms, mollusks, spiders, and seeds. Lesser Yellowlegs are active foragers and are commonly observed walking rapidly through shallow wetlands while pursuing prey.
Lesser Yellowlegs typically consume insects, such as flies, beetles, and mayflies), small fish, crustaceans, aquatic worms, mollusks, spiders, and seeds. Lesser Yellowlegs are active foragers and are commonly observed walking rapidly through shallow wetlands while pursuing prey.
A Spectacled Eider carrying an intracoelomic radio transmitter near the Colville River. To track the movements of Spectacled Eider and other waterfowl for extended periods of time, intracoelomic radio transmitters were surgically implanted in birds during the late 90s through the early 2010s.
A Spectacled Eider carrying an intracoelomic radio transmitter near the Colville River. To track the movements of Spectacled Eider and other waterfowl for extended periods of time, intracoelomic radio transmitters were surgically implanted in birds during the late 90s through the early 2010s.
Surface pools on the edge of West Long Lake in the Teshekpuk Lake Special Use Area of Alaska’s North Slope. These pools are formed by permafrost. During the summer months, snow and ice melt and the water remains pooled on the surface, resulting in thousands of pools and lakes that support wildlife.
Surface pools on the edge of West Long Lake in the Teshekpuk Lake Special Use Area of Alaska’s North Slope. These pools are formed by permafrost. During the summer months, snow and ice melt and the water remains pooled on the surface, resulting in thousands of pools and lakes that support wildlife.
Shorebird nests and broods were monitored daily as part of a long-term study to determine reproductive success of multiple species. The tundra habitat around Pt. Storkersen supports a diversity of shorebird and waterfowl species.
Shorebird nests and broods were monitored daily as part of a long-term study to determine reproductive success of multiple species. The tundra habitat around Pt. Storkersen supports a diversity of shorebird and waterfowl species.
A flock of waterfowl flying over Izembek Lagoon on the outskirts of Izembek National Wildlife Refuge on the Alaska Peninsula. Scientists observed the response of Black Brant and other geese to the disturbance of aircraft overflights during a long-term study in the 1980s.
A flock of waterfowl flying over Izembek Lagoon on the outskirts of Izembek National Wildlife Refuge on the Alaska Peninsula. Scientists observed the response of Black Brant and other geese to the disturbance of aircraft overflights during a long-term study in the 1980s.
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government