Katie Huddleston

Assisted in planning for a 3-month research program across 915 miles of the PCT, from Campo CA to Devils Postpile CA. The program's focus is to study the migration of birds on the Pacific Cordelia by documenting their presence in all sections of the trail by deploying automatic recording devices (ARUs) and retrieving them with a second team.

• Designed and produced 350 maps in GIS to guide researchers: included emergency exits, water points, survey site points, ARU locations, safety notes.
• Created and submitted National Park research permits: Sequoia Park & Kings Canyon Park and Yosemite Park.
• Managed inventory of research equipment: backpacking gear, ARUs, cameras, binoculars, field books, Inreach Garmin GPSs, safety equipment.
• Setup of Inreach Garmin GPSs for field use.
• Organized both teams' 3 month schedules: time at base camp, time on trail for each section, miles, and survey sites per day, pick up and drop off times.
• Communicated with Professor and team leaders on numerous details for the project.

Participated in the Pacific Crest Trail Biodiversity Megatransect Research Expedition.

• Hiked for an average of 12 miles a day while carrying a 50 pound backpack.
• Conducted habitat surveys at randomly selected sites: took temperature and wind speed readings, determined BAF of live trees and snags, calculated DBH of live trees, noted coordinates, burn severity, and weather, as well as any evidence of logging and fires. Identified vegetation in the understory and calculated percent cover. Used California Wildlife Habitat Relationship Systems to classify each site's habitat.
• Conducted avian surveys at randomly selected sites: observed and noted avian species occurring within the plot radius in a 7 minute time frame, tracked by using 4 letter bird codes.
• Deployed automated recording units at random sites, depicted on the maps. Recorded plot number, day, time, and name on each recording unit. Programmed every unit to record 30 minutes before sunrise, at sunrise, and 30 minutes after sunrise for 3 days. Placed the recording unit away from the trail with small bits of flagging for the second team to find.