Caylen Wolfer

Experience

1. Avian Biologist

   Cell Tower Osprey Management (CTOM)

   May 2026 — Present

   Conduct avian nest surveys and monitoring to provide wildlife compliance support to the wireless telecommunications industry. • Identify nesting bird species and assess breeding status and chick development on wireless communications equipment. • Collect detailed field data and photograph documentation.

2. American Kestrel Project Technician

   The Clifton Institute

   Mar 2021 — Aug 2023 · Warrenton, Virginia, United States

   Lead field technician on The Northern Virginia Piedmont Kestrel Project, an ongoing study investigating movements, territory use, habitat selection, and potential causes for population decline in American Kestrels in Northern Virginia. • Conducted morphometric measurements, bleeding, and attachment of transmitters using backpack-style harnesses on adult and fledgling kestrels. • Tracked tagged kestrels using remote radio download or VHF, keeping detailed notes on status and behavior. • Coordinated maintenance and monitoring of ~200 kestrel boxes throughout Fauquier and Rappahannock counties, working closely with landowners, crew members, and volunteers. • Data management, manipulation, and analysis performed using R Studio, QGIS, Excel, and Google Sheets. • Promoted to Project Manager for 2023 field season.

3. Conservation Research Apprentice

   Brandywine Zoo

   Jan 2020 — Feb 2021 · Wilmington, Delaware, United States

   Lead field technician of the Brandywine Zoo’s in-situ conservation programs, primarily the Delaware Kestrel Partnership and the Urban Wild wildlife monitoring program. • Led seasonal project planning, volunteer management (25+ volunteers), field work, and data entry/maintenance. • Installed new kestrel boxes and maintain previous installations (70+) throughout DE, conducted kestrel box surveys, and aided in capture/banding of adult and juvenile kestrels, • Maintained a trail camera transect of 32 cameras across New Castle County DE for the Lincoln Park Zoo’s Urban Wildlife Information Network, organized collected photos for database uploading, tagged 5000+ photos, and validated photos tagged by volunteers. • Used Excel, Google Sheets, Google Forms, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and Google Earth in managing and manipulating data.

4. Northern Spotted Owl Research Assistant

   Colorado State University

   Apr 2019 — Aug 2019 · Salyer, CA

   Field assistant assessing reproduction of northern spotted owls (Strix occidentalis caurina) in ongoing long-term population ecology study in northwest California. • Performed spot calling surveys and aided in banding of juvenile owls. • Conducted night work as a team and independently hiking in variable weather conditions and rigorous terrain carrying 30+ lbs of field equipment. • Shown proficiency in backcountry-orienteering using maps, compasses, and handheld GPS • Took detailed field notes and assisted in data entry.

5. Data Technician

   University of Idaho

   Jun 2018 — Feb 2020

   Screened and digitized camera footage for study of thermal constraints on the life histories of burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia). • Reviewed 3000+ hours of nest video data to transcribe behavior, detect incubation frequency, and identify prey in Excel. • Manage personal schedule and QA/QC data.

6. Research Technician

   CAPE MAY RAPTOR BANDING PROJECT INC

   Aug 2017 — Dec 2017 · Cape May, NJ

   Intern of long-term raptor banding project in Cape May, NJ. • Banded/processed 300+ diurnal raptors- captured using bow traps, mist nets, and dho-gazas. • Assisted in feather sampling, avian hippoboscid fly collection, and cellular tracker attachment on raptors. • Managed daily maintenance of 4 banding stations and assisted banders at stations. • Performed outreach through weekly presentations to the public and oversaw social media platforms. • Created weekly reports and organized data in Excel.

7. Field Crew Leader

   University of Delaware

   May 2016 — Jul 2018 · Newark, DE

   Lead field technician of long-term wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) and gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) population study for Forest Fragments in Managed Ecosystems Project (FRAME). • Organized daily schedule to sample 21 sites for nest searching and monitoring. • Oversaw mist netting and banding of passerines and assisted in attaching transmitters on wood thrush. • Trained and led 8 crew members, working cooperatively and independently in the field. • Identified vegetation species commonly found in Mid-Atlantic deciduous forests. • Entered and maintained data in Excel. • Deployed and maintained trail cameras for passerine foraging study.

8. Laboratory Technician

   University of Delaware

   Apr 2016 — Aug 2017 · Newark, Delaware, United States

   Assisted with federally funded Hurricane Sandy research focused on determining American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) carrying capacity at 3 National Wildlife Refuge salt marsh restoration sites. • Properly handled soil core samples treated with formalin and rose-bengal dye per safety protocol. • Used a light microscope to identify and collect food resources (seeds and invertebrates) to be weighed.

9. Research Assistant

   University of Delaware

   May 2015 — Jul 2018 · Newark, DE

   Assist in data entry and management for Forest Fragments in Managed Ecosystems Project (FRAME) and Saltmarsh Habitat and Avian Research Project (SHARP). • Screened and digitized ~1,600 hours of video camera data for foraging experiment into Excel. • QA/QC 1,000+ data sheets in SQL online database system. • Organized long-term wood thrush demographic data (1972 – 2017).

10. Intern

    Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research, Inc.

    May 2014 — Sep 2014 · Newark, DE

    • Aided in rehabilitating wild birds through proper cleaning, feeding, and medical care procedures of patients. • Worked closely under supervisors and managed volunteers. • Kept detailed records of patient care and progress. • Handled raptors, passerines, waterfowl, and shorebirds.

Education

• Virginia Tech

  Master of Science - MS · Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences

  2023 — 2025

• University of Delaware

  Bachelor of Science - BS · Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

  2012 — 2016

Skills

• Organization Skills
• Teamwork
• Technical Writing
• Wildlife Conservation
• Environmental Consulting
• Birds
• Training
• QAQC
• Outdoors
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Animal Care
• Team Leadership
• Wildlife Management
• Mist Netting
• Wildlife Biology
• Public Speaking
• Research
• Natural Resources
• RStudio
• Bird Watching
• Ornithology
• Wildlife
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Bird Banding
• Field Work
• Data Maintenance
• Animal Husbandry
• Management
• Raptor Handling
• Environmental Compliance
• Microsoft Word
• Data Entry
• Conservation Issues
• Data Collection
• Presentations
• Project Management
• Analytical Skills
• Animal Handling
• Avian Ecology
• Data Analysis