Executive Director

Jill Bluso Demers is the Bird Observatory's Executive Director. Jill brings a deep love and commitment to avian conservation science, as well as the strong belief that the Bird Observatory's work positively contributes to Bay Area conservation. Jill has a B.A. in Biology from Colby College, in Waterville, Maine, and her a M.S. in Wildlife/Natural Resources from Humboldt State University. Her Master's research focused on the spatial ecology of breeding Forster's Terns in San Francisco Bay. Jill came to the Bird Observatory in August 2008 as the Science Programs Director. Previously, Jill was a biologist for the U.S. Geological Survey, where she researched migratory, breeding, and wintering ecology; natural resource selection; and containment uptake in waterbirds. Jill looks forward to continuing to lead the Bird Observatory’s Science and Outreach Programs in new directions to help fulfill our mission of using science to conserve birds and aid in land management decisions in the San Francisco Bay Area – and beyond!

Contact:jdemers@sfbbo.org

Administrative Assistant

Kathi Kendrick joined the Bird Observatory as an Administrative Assistant, and we are all singing her praises as she organizes and streamlines our office and brings smiles to our faces daily. Originally from Nevada, she later traded the sagebrush for palm trees and moved to California where she became keenly interested in nature and conservation. Kathi comes to us with 9 years of administrative experience while working for H.T. Harvey & Associates, an ecological consulting firm in Los Gatos.

Contact: kkendrick@sfbbo.org

Finance Assistant

Gail Richardson joined the Bird Observatory in 2007 as the Finance Assistant. Gail comes from a strong background of corporate and nonprofit accounting and finance. Furthermore, Gail is an avid birder and volunteers as a bird bander at the Coyote Creek Field Station.

Contact: grichardson@sfbbo.org

Science Staff

Caitlin Robinson-Nilsen is the Waterbird Program Supervisor, focusing on the Western Snowy Plover Recovery Program. Caitlin became interested in bird research while doing habitat restoration in the rainforests of Australia. She monitored Piping Plovers and Least Terns on Long Island, NY. She then traveled the Hudson River estuary, educating the public on environmental issues facing the estuary. Caitlin has a B.A. in Environmental Studies and American Studies from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY and a Master's in Environmental Studies from San Jose State University. Her master’s thesis work focused on Western Snowy Plover use of salt ponds in the south bay.

Contact: cnilsen@sfbbo.org

Josh Scullen is a Biologist in charge of managing the Coyote Creek Field Station as well as the Bird Observatory's data and databases. Josh is also busy in the field, conducting waterbird surveys on the South Bay Salt Ponds and point counts for various projects around the region. Originally from Maryland, over the past three years, Josh has acquainted himself with the Coastal California, working with the Ventana Wildlife Society at the former Bird Sur Ornithology Lab, educating the public about bird conservation, and assisting with a long-term bird monitoring station.

Contact: jscullen@sfbbo.org

Alvaro Jaramillo is a Biologist with the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory and a professional tour guide leader for Field Guides Inc., specializing in birding the Americas, in particular southernmost South America. His interests range from field identification, to the evolution of behavior, to conservation biology of migratory birds in California. He has a particular fascination with the ocean and spends much time out at sea in various regions of the world. He authored the field guide Birds of Chile (2003), and coauthored the Helm Series title New World Blackbirds: The Icterids (1999). He also contributed chapters to the National Geographic's Complete Birds of North America and the Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior (2001). He is an associate editor for the ABA periodical publication North American Birds. His passion is not only to understand the biology and identification of birds, but also to pass on this information to enrich the birding experience for other birders and naturalists.

Contact: ajaramillo@sfbbo.org