CURRICULUM VITAE

Vanessa Rae Tisdale
perchingbird@yahoo.com

ACADEMIC PREPARATION

2005-2008 Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach,
M.Sc. Biology. Cumulative GPA 4.0

1997-2002 School of Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
B.S. Wildlife Management. Cumulative GPA 3.19 (Core Coursework GPA 3.53)

CERTIFICATIONS AND PERMITS

United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) 10 (a)(1)(A) Recovery Permit (TE-162994-0) for coastal California gnatcatcher, November 2007

PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS

4/2008- Present: TRC Solutions

• Interface with clients and agencies regarding sensitive biological resources
• Lead field staff on surveys and monitoring, including arranging schedules
• Assess and analyze parcels for vegetation and listed species mitigation potential
• Biological surveys for Southern California sensitive species and rare plants
• Prepare letters and technical reports for clients
• Prepare proposals for biological resource assessment
• Vegetation mapping
• Biological monitoring
• Access database design, management, and integration with ArcGIS 9.3

12/2006- 1/2008: Natural Resource Consultants

• Vegetation mapping
• Flora and fauna compilations
• Biological monitoring
• Data analysis via ArcGIS 9.2 and Microsoft Access, including California gnatcatcher pair mapping, and time-step assessment of habitat restoration
• Prepare letters and technical reports for clients
• Access database design, management, and integration with ArcGIS 9.2
• Website design using CSS, HTML, and Adobe Photoshop CS3

6/2006- 10/2006: Office of University Research

• Maintain proper care of animals
• Maintain facilities
• Assist researchers with procedures

8/2005- 6/2006: Teaching Assistant, Department of Biological Sciences.

• Prepare and present general biological concepts to undergraduate non-biology majors
• Prepare and present introductory statistic concepts to undergraduate biology majors
• Organize and set up general biology laboratory materials

8/2004- 8/2005: Biological Technician, Almanor Ranger District, Lassen National Forest, United States Forest Service.

• Database design, development, and management utilizing Access 2000 and ArcGIS
• Vegetation analysis of aspen, black oak, and northern goshawk nest sites
• Assist Wildlife biologists

5/2004-8/2004: Avian Conservation Biologist, Point Reyes Bird Observatory

• Nest-search and identify territory of Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Wood-Peewee, Dusky Flycatcher, Yellow Warbler, MacGuillivray’s Warbler, Green-tailed Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, and Oregon Junco via spot-mapping
• Complete vegetation surveys of nest locations
• MAPS constant-effort mist-net, band, and process birds in wet meadows and riparian zones, (140+ birds)
• Oversee project data entry using FoxPro databases, MS Word and Excel and complete end-of-season reports
• Assist in training of other seasonal employees

9/2003- 4/2004: CEM Technician, Axim Concrete Technologies

• Perform slump and spread testing on mortar utilizing assorted combinations of cement and superplasticizer admixtures
• Data entry and analysis, Microsoft Excel
• Evaluate and estimate dosages of admixtures to achieve desired slump specifications
• Write technical reports utilizing data from Concrete Equivalent Mortar testing
• Train and supervise CEM technicians

5/2003-8/2003: Avian Conservation Biologist, Point Reyes Bird Observatory

• Nest search and identify territory of Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Wood-Peewee, Dusky Flycatcher, Yellow Warbler, MacGuillivray’s Warbler, Green-tailed Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, and Oregon Junco via spot-mapping
• Complete vegetation surveys of nest locations
• Data entry using FoxPro and MS Excel
• MAPS protocol constant-effort mist-net, band, and process birds in wet meadows and riparian zones, (77+ birds)

8/2002- 3/2003: Quail Technician, Ames Plantation, Tennessee

• Track Bobwhite Quail via radio telemetry
• Trap Bobwhite Quail via night-netting and bait traps
• Band, process, and fit with radio collars captured Bobwhite Quail
• Release and monitor pen-raised Bobwhite Quail
• Data entry, Arcview GIS, Trimble GPS, Microsoft Excel
• Complete vegetation surveys of nest and brood sites

3/2000-12/2000: Naturalist/Maintenance Intern, Sharon Woods Metro Park

• Develop and present interpretive programs to the public, from pre-school through adults
• Administer volunteer base, including scheduling for interpretive programs and writing newsletters
• Management of the volunteer bluebird trails, including training, organization and scheduling of trail checks, and data entry management in MS Excel
• Conduct biotic surveys
• Provide information on the park and its ecology to visitors
• Maintenance of the Ranger Station, including animal husbandry of interpretive creatures
• Maintain interpretive program unsupervised during personnel shift, and assist training of the hub naturalist

RESEARCH

Interests

Wildlife-habitat-human interactions, habitat selection thresholds, avian ecology and behaviour, forest ecology, integration of human activities and wildlife

Experience

2008. Interspecific differences in anti-predator behavior in two passerines with different visual systems: House Sparrow and European Starling. FOR Master's Thesis. California State University, Long Beach.

2004. Black Oak Management in a Mixed Conifer Forest. With Mark Williams, District Biologist, and Coye Robbins, Wildlife Biologist. FOR Almanor Ranger District, Lassen National Forest.

2002. Habitat Suitability: Effects of Habitat Quality on Red-wing Blackbird Populations at Three Emergent Wetlands in Central Ohio. FOR Natural Resources 662, Dr. Robert Gates. School of Natural Resources, The Ohio State University.

2002. Behaviour Repertoire of Poecile carolinensis During Feeding Bouts at Suburban Bird Feeders. FOR Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology 440, Dr. T.C. Grubb Jr. College of Biological Sciences, The Ohio State University.

2001. Developing forest between two experimental wetlands. FOR Natural Resources 725, Dr. William Mitsch. School of Natural Resources, The Ohio State University.

2001. Colonization of fragmented woodlots by Poecile carolinensis. Jeremiah Groom and Dr. T.C. Grubb, Jr. College of Biological Sciences, The Ohio State University.

PUBLICATIONS

2009. Tisdale, V, and E. Fernández-Juricic. Vigilance and predator detection vary between species with different visual acuity and coverage. Behavioral Ecology 20:936-945.

2009. Tisdale, V. Interspecific differences in anti-predator behavior in two passerines with different visual systems: house sparrow and European starling. Master’s Thesis. California State University, Long Beach. Long Beach, California.

2008. Fernández-Juricic, E., M. Gall, T. Dolan, V Tisdale, & G.R.Martin. In revision.The visual fields of two ground foraging birds, House Finches and House Sparrows, allow for simultaneous foraging and anti-predator vigilance. Ibis 150:779-787.

Extension publications (1)
2002. Tisdale, V.R. and A.D. Rodewald. Water Features for Wildlife. The Ohio State University Extension.

In-house publications (3)
2005.  Tisdale, V.R. California Spotted Owl, habits and requirements. Literature review, USDA Forest Service, Lassen National Forest.
2004.  Tisdale, V.R. Superplasticizer Performance in Unistress Mix Design. Technical report, Axim Concrete Technologies.
2000. Tisdale, V.R. Bluebird Trail Monitoring. Volunteer manual for Sharon Woods Metro Park. Private publication.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

2007 American Environmental Professionals, San Diego
2007 American Ornithologists’ Union
2001-2002. The Wildlife Society

HONORS AND AWARDS

2005. University Grant, California State University
2002. Student Leadership Award, The Ohio State Alumni Association

CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS

2009, March 11-12. Avian Interactions with Power Lines Workshop. Southern California Edison. Torrance, California.
2008, October X-X. Desert Tortoise Surveying, Monitoring, and Handling Techniques Workshop. Desert Tortoise Council. Ridgecrest, California.
2005, May 20. Basic 32 (S-110, S-130, S-190, L-180). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Chester, California
2001, December 9-12. 63rd Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference. The Wildlife Society. Des Moines, Iowa
2000, October 28. Nature Connections: David Stokes at the Wilds. Cumberland, Ohio
2000, August 25. Invasive Plants. Resource Management Training Session. Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks. Columbus, Ohio

PRESENTATIONS

5/15/2008. Interspecific differences in anti-predator behavior in two passerines with different visual systems: House Sparrow and European Starling. Public Thesis Defense, California State University, Long Beach. Long Beach, California.
9/8/2006 Poster: Predator detection varies in two bird species with different visual acuity. Student Symposium. California State University, Long Beach., California.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

2008. Least Tern Habitat Restoration, San Diego Audubon Society.
2004. Christmas Bird Count, The Audubon Society.
2004. Salmon redd stream survey. Lassen National Forest.
2004. Bird Banding and MAPS protocol. Lassen Volcanic National Park.
2001. Bird Banding Workshop, The Student Chapter of the Wildife Society, The Ohio State University.
2001. Deer Drive Census, Blennerhasset Historical State Park. Ohio Division of Wildlife, West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, and Hocking College
2001. Constant-effort mist-netting and banding under Robert Dusek, National Wildlife Health Center, USGS (100+ birds)
2000. Deer Check Station. Ohio Division of Wildlife
2000. Chainsaw Safety Workshop
1999-2002. The Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society. Positions held: President, Vice President, and Web Administrator (http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~sctws)
1997. Environmental Chair for the Fifth floor, Taylor Tower

ADDITIONAL SKILLS

• Arcview GIS 3.2 and ArcGIS 9.3
• Microsoft Office suite (Access, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Publisher, Outlook, Frontpage)
• Navigation via GPS, aerial map, topographic map and compass
• Graphic art and design using mixed medias and computer graphics