Executive Director

Jill Bluso Demers is the Bird Observatory's Executive Director. Jill has a B.A. in Biology from Colby College, in Waterville, Maine, and has a M.S. in Natural Resources: Wildlife from Humboldt State University, where her research focused on the breeding ecology of Forster's Terns in San Francisco Bay. Jill came to the Bird Observatory as the Science Programs Director and became the Executive Director in July 2009. Previously, Jill was a biologist for the U.S. Geological Survey. Throughout her career, Jill's research interests centered on applied ecological studies that inform the management of birds and their habitats. 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 in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.

Contact:jdemers@sfbbo.org

Development Director

Melanie Kimbel is the Development Director at the Bird Observatory. Melanie learned the joys of environmental fundraising while working for the Sempervirens Fund, protecting California’s redwood forests. She has a long career of working with local nonprofit organizations and political officials. Melanie spent many years as staff representative for Congressman Don Edwards (D-CA), membership director for Girl Scouts of Santa Clara County, and volunteer services director for Our City Forest. She has a degree in Public Relations from San Jose State University. Melanie brings generous people together with great missions by creating complete programs - opportunities for  them to donate their time and money - harnessing the human will to make our world a better place, through philanthropy, voluntarism and hands-on experiences.

Contact:mkimbel@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 is the Finance Assistant for the Bird Observatory. She has a M.S. in Accounting and Finance from the University of Colorado and brings years of experience with corporate and nonprofit organizations in the retail, banking, pharmaceutical and higher education fields. Gail spent her childhood in Ohio where her grandmother introduced her to the wonders of nature in general and birds in particular. She is an avid birder and formerly volunteered as a bird bander at the Coyote Creek Field Station. She relishes the opportunity to use her strong background in accounting and financial analysis to support the mission and goals of the Bird Observatory.

Contact: grichardson@sfbbo.org

Science Staff

Caitlin Robinson-Nilsen is the Waterbird Program Director at the Bird Observatory, overseeing all aspects of the Waterbird Program. Caitlin has a B.A. in Environmental Studies and American Studies from Skidmore College in New York and a M.S. in Environmental Studies from San Jose State University. Her Master’s research focused on the Federally Threatened Western Snowy Plover nesting in the South Bay Salt Ponds. An authority on the Western Snowy Plover, she is the co-unit leader for the San Francisco Bay Recovery Unit. Caitlin uses her expertise to inform management and restoration of the Bay’s wetland habitats as a Science Team member of the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project, the largest wetland restoration on the west coast.

Contact: cnilsen@sfbbo.org

Josh Scullen is the biologist in charge of managing the Coyote Creek Field Station, the Bird Observatory's bird banding station, as well as management of our extensive databases. Josh also keeps busy in the field conducting waterbird surveys on the South Bay Salt Ponds and field studies for the Landbird Program. Josh has a B.S. in Wildlife Management from West Virginia University and is a North American Banding Council Certified Trainer. Originally from Maryland, Josh has spent several years conducting field work throughout North and Central America and Hawaii, and has lived on the California coast since 2006.

Contact: jscullen@sfbbo.org

Alvaro Jaramillois a senior biologist working with both the Science and Outreach Programs. Alvaro has a B.S. in Zoology from the University of Toronto, and a M.S. in Ecology and Evolution from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia. An expert on the birds of California and North America, he is also an authority on the birds of Chile, authoring of Birds of Chile (2003) and collaborating on Chile’s Important Bird Areas program. An author and contributor to numerous field guides and popular publications, Alvaro’s passion is not only to understand the biology and natural history of birds, but to enrich other’s enjoyment of birds and further avian conservation. He was recently nominated to receive the Eisenmann Medal of the Linnean Society of New York, established to honor those who excel in ornithology and encourage the amateur.

Contact: ajaramillo@sfbbo.org