Aspen Ellis - 2014

Aspen studied cooperative breeding behaviors and seabird conservation strategies at Michigan University in Ann Arbor.  In addition to her academic pursuits, Aspen is an artist who enjoys focusing on birds and the natural world around her.  While in school, she has spent two the summers working on the islands off the coast of Maine as a volunteer research assistant for the Seabird Restoration Project.  Her work on this project was focused on monitoring the breeding populations of terns and alcids.  Post graduation Aspen performed seabird monitoring for the Alaska Maritime NWR and is now pursuing her PhD at UC Santa Clara where she will be studying the impacts of wind energy on seabirds and marine life.