Callie Gesmundo

Callie first came to Alaska as an undergrad working with the USGS Alaska Science Center studying Spectacled Eiders and Ruddy Turnstones in 2010. She has since worked all throughout the country, as well as abroad, until joining the Migratory Birds Program in Alaska from 2018-2021 as a seasonal Biological Science Technician and a Wildlife Biologist as of 2021. Callie coordinates and implements multi-species breeding bird survey and monitoring programs throughout Alaska and migratory bird tracking projects focused on species of high conservation and management concern. In addition to her field pursuits, Callie is involved in advancing the Alaska Migratory Bird Program’s communications and outreach efforts focused on migratory bird conservation and believes that effective conservation and management relies on public engagement. Callie is involved in several communications, outreach, and education initiatives and enjoys using her experience in field biology to tell stories, and engage with and teach others.

Outside of work, you will find Callie traveling in search of birds (and street food), spending time with family and friends, or on her couch enjoying sports, comedies, and a hot cup of Bird-friendly Coffee.

Select publications, stories, and news articles:

Changing Menus: When a Migratory Feast Turns to Famine (USFWS Story)

A Little Bird's Big Sisters: How decades of research, Alaska-Japan and USFWS-BLM collaborations, and Indigenous Alaska support brought together important sites and attention to the declining arcticola Dunlin (USFWS Story)

Ghost Bird of the North: In Search of a Disappearing Bird No One is Talking About (USFWS ArcGIS StoryMap)

For the Birds Monitoring Breeding Landbirds in Alaska's Interior (USFWS ArcGIS StoryMap)

Abundance and distribution of wintering shorebirds along the Pacific coast of Guatemala (Wader Study)

First record of Lapland Longspur Calcarius lapponicus for Thailand and South-East Asia (BirdingASIA)