Dr. Lisa “Cali” Crampton, Project Leader

Dr. Crampton ("Cali”) has been KFBRP’s Project Leader since April 2010.  She obtained her Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology from the University of Nevada at Reno in December 2004.

Cali has extensive experience coordinating the design, conduct, and delivery of large research and monitoring projects with teams of diverse stakeholders.   For her doctoral research, she examined the landscape ecology and conservation of Phainopeplas, threatened passerines in southern Nevada, for the regional Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP).  As part of her post-doctoral work, she led a team of other scientists, NGOs, and government managers in designing the HCP’s adaptive management plan for conserving and restoring threatened desert woodlands on which Phainopeplas and other sensitive species in Nevada depend.  In addition to her familiarity with avian field research techniques, Cali is experienced in the use of multivariate statistical and spatial analysis tools to evaluate the effects of environmental variables on animal distribution, abundance, and fecundity. For example, while working at the USGS Kilauea Field Station on Hawai'i Island, she analyzed field data on the population and behavioral ecology of the endangered Laysan teal to improve monitoring and management strategies implemented by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.  Subsequently, for the US Forest Service, she analyzed impacts of recreation on abundance of Sierra Nevada forest birds, small mammals and carnivores.

All of Cali’s projects have involved substantial interaction and communication with scientific and non-scientific groups, including interpretative programs for the general public.   Consequently, her record includes numerous journal publications, technical reports, and conference presentations as well as popular articles and TV shows.

Barbara Heindl, Field Crew Leader

Barbara joined KFBRP as a seasonal field assistant in Spring 2010 and became a permanent staff member in Fall 2010. In December 2010, she was promoted to Field Crew Leader. She has degrees in Wildlife Ecology and Biological Aspects of Conservation from the University Wisconsin Madison. She has done previous bird work in Alaska, Mexico, New Mexico,  and with the Kaua'i Save our Shearwaters program. Barbara assists Lucas with coordination of field logistics and overseeing staff in the field.

Ruby Hammond, Field Assistant

Originally from Tennessee, Ruby graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in Zoology.  After leaving behind fried chicken and honky-tonk bars, she worked with a variety of birds on the mainland.  In 2007, she came to Hawai'i where she was quickly overtaken by a passion for studying the endangered avifauna of the islands.  She started working for KFBRP in January 2011 and is concurrently pursuing a M.S. degree at Northern Arizona University; her thesis topic is breeding biology of 'Akikiki and 'Akeke'e.

Adam Elzinga, Field Assistant

elzinga AT hawaii.edu

Adam joined KFBRP as a field technician in Feburary 2012 on his third excursion to the Hawaiian archipelago and became a permanent staff member in November 2012. In 2009, he was first introduced to the plight of Hawaiian forest birds while monitoring captive-reared Palila released on the north slope of Mauna Kea. A year later he returned to the islands to research the breeding ecology of the critically endangered Maui Parrotbill while working with the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project. Insights gained from wild Parrotbill breeding behavior and an understanding of current captive breeding difficulties encouraged him to invent a robotic feeding device as a means to strengthen pair bonds and increase captive propagation success of the species. Adam has gained extensive avian research experience on the mainland as well, spending the past five years working on a variety of research and conservation projects, but his passion remains with the Hawaiian honeycreepers. In his spare time he is currently developing a remotely-controlled aerial telemetry platform that he hopes may soon be of use in tracking the movements and survival of endangered birds in Hawaii’s rugged terrain.

Karyn Poulton, Office and Data Assistant

Growing up in California, Karyn had the mountains and beaches as her playgrounds.  She developed a love for nature at an early age.  She graduated from University of California San Diego with a BS in Biology, and then went back to school to earn a teaching credential in Secondary Science.  Thirteen years ago, she moved to Kaua'i and taught Science at Waimea High School.  In December 2010, she joined KFBRP, happy to get back to her Biology roots.  She loves to travel, cook and discover the wonders of nature with her boys.

Jonathan Dobbie, IT Specialist

Jonathan started working with KFBRP in 2010.  He graduated from the University of Michigan in 2006 with a BSE in Computer Engineering.  He brings 13 years of professional programming and system administration experience to the project.