MADELINE TALNAGI
Virginia Beach,VA
Overview
3
3
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Sea Turtle Research Technician
Georgia Sea Turtle Center
01.2023 - 10.2023
- Applies flipper and PIT tags to nesting sea turtles
- Collects morphometric data and tissue samples
- Locates and marks sea turtle nests and relocates threatened nests
- Collects nesting and hatchling data
- Performs post-hatching excavations
- Responds to stranded sea turtles following STSSN Protocol
- Aids in release of rehabilitated sea turtles
- Performs road based and boat based diamondback terrapin surveys
- Responds to injured diamondback terrapins
- Enters data and manages databases
- Operates and maintains utility vehicles
- Performs nightly educational public “Turtle Talks” and beach education programs
- Provides enrichment to reptiles in a rehabilitation setting
- Prepares diets for rehabilitation patients
Naturalist
Greyfield Inn On Cumberland Island
09.2022 - 01.2023
- Promoted education on ecology, natural resources and environmental concerns to visitors through captivating presentations and community outreach
- Designed and led interpretive programs to educate children and adults on barrier island ecology
- Assisted National Park Service biologists with sea turtle strandings and nest excavations
- Operated four wheel drive vehicles on sandy and uneven terrain
Sea Turtle Tagging Technician
Conservancy of Southwest Florida
04.2022 - 09.2022
- Applied flipper, satellite, and PIT tags to nesting sea turtles
- Constructed and deployed protective nesting cages
- Performed data entry and analysis
- Collected morphometric data and assessed health of turtles
- Responded to stranded and injured sea turtles following Florida FWC and STSSN protocols
- Educated the public on sea turtle conservation efforts
- Captured and removed invasive Burmese pythons
- Performed nest excavations and evaluated hatching success and rates of predation
- Inspected equipment to identify areas of wear or causes of malfunctions.
- Operated and maintained utility vehicles and motorboats
Coastal Science Technician
Bald Head Island Conservancy
08.2021 - 04.2022
- Conducted water quality monitoring for 17 freshwater aquifer sites
- Conducted weekly radio telemetry assessments and triangulated for lost transmitters
- Performed invasive plant removal using chemical treatment
- Conducted weekly brackish water quality monitoring and filtering using a YSI PRO
- Executed oyster spat monitoring and oyster reef restoration
- Maintained protective sea turtle nesting cages and monitored for predation
- Performed excavations of loggerhead sea turtle nests
- Responded to stranded loggerhead, green, and kemp's ridley sea turtles
- Operated and responded to calls on conservancy’s wildlife hotline
- Collected morphometric data and PIT tagged 10 American alligators
Chesapeake Conservation Corps Member
Maryland Coastal Bays Program
08.2020 - 08.2021
- Conducted wetland assessments to determine the health of the tidal wetlands using the Mid-Atlantic Tidal Wetland Rapid Assessment Method (MidTRAM).
- Installed and monitored 10 surface elevation tables (SETs) to evaluate wetland accretion
- Performed water quality monitoring and E-DNA sampling for 10 restoration sites
- Surveyed and analyzed data for anadromous fishing sampling using electrofishers and fyke nets
- Designed and installed a series of diamondback terrapin nesting sanctuaries
- Performed nest surveys for colonial nesting birds in Maryland Coastal Bays Watershed
- Banded and monitored 25 common terns and American oystercatchers in collaboration with Assateague National Seashore
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Psychological Sciences and History
William & Mary
2020
Associate of Science - Biological Sciences
Tidewater Community College
2018
Skills
- Adobe Premiere
- ArcGIS
- Google Earth Pro
- Microsoft Suite
- SuperLab
- SPSS
- R
Certification
- IWRC certified Wildlife Rehabilitator 2023
- MOCC Boating Certification 2022
- Growing up WILD Educator 2021
- Project Learning Tree Educator 2021
- BEETLES Educator 2021
Internship and Volunteer Experience
- Island Ambassador, Wild Cumberland, 2022
- Island Steward, The Nature Conservancy, 2020, 2021
- Seal Steward, National Aquarium, 2020, 2021
- Oyster Restoration Intern, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 2019
- Environmental Policy Intern, EPA 2018
Timeline
Sea Turtle Research Technician
Georgia Sea Turtle Center
01.2023 - 10.2023
Naturalist
Greyfield Inn On Cumberland Island
09.2022 - 01.2023
Sea Turtle Tagging Technician
Conservancy of Southwest Florida
04.2022 - 09.2022
Coastal Science Technician
Bald Head Island Conservancy
08.2021 - 04.2022
Chesapeake Conservation Corps Member
Maryland Coastal Bays Program
08.2020 - 08.2021
Bachelor of Arts - Psychological Sciences and History
William & Mary
Associate of Science - Biological Sciences
Tidewater Community College