Kristina Smucker, Avian Science Center

Kristina, Program Coordinator for the Avian Science Center at the University of Montana, went above and beyond the call of duty to teach CFWEP students and members of the public about Montana's birds and their relationship to restoration issues at numerous events during the summer. Aside from manning bird banding stations, which gave the public a chance to get up-close-and-personal with Clark Fork Basin songbirds, at Galen, the Grant-Kohrs Ranch, and Rock Creek, Kristina led several early-morning bird walks (check out the CFWEP Blog entry on "Walking with Birds") and contributed to numerous CFWEP fieldtrips this summer.

With Kristina's gracious help, CFWEP launched a new program working with the Butte juvenile probation program with comprehensive lessons and a fieldtrip all about avian science. Her knowledge and experience made the first session of this exciting new program a soaring success. She also shared her enthusiasm for our winged neighbors with Upward Bound students, and her work with the Avian Science Center's Birds-Eye Education Program gave student interns the opportunity to gain practical field experience in bird banding and identification throughout the summer.

Her work with the Landbird Monitoring Program at the Avian Science Center is also helping scientists to better understand the relationship between birds and their habitat in southwestern Montana. This research is particularly noteworthy in the Clark Fork Basin, where remediation and restoration efforts directly impact habitat in riparian areas.

Kristina's educational work also extends beyond CFWEP, as she is very involved in the Avian Science Center's eduction efforts and currently runs the Birds-Eye View Education Program.

Thanks, Kristina!!

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Past CFWEP
Volunteers of the Month:
Summer 2007: Greg Mullen & Rich Prodgers
May 2007: Butte High School Environmental Biology Class
April 2007: Angela Smith
March 2007: Joe Griffin