Coley recently earned a degree in Fisheries & Wildlife Science from Arkansas Tech University. She currently works for the U.S. Forest Service as a Wildlife Surveyor, with a particular emphasis on birds. This is her fourth field season working with birds in various capacities.
From the prairies of northern Montana to the coasts of southern Texas, Coley has developed a special fondness for grassland and shorebirds. Least Terns, Long-billed Curlews, Wilson’s Plovers, and American Oystercatchers are just a few of the species she has studied. During her time with the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, she conducted research on the relationships between birds and prairie dogs—a project that was recently published in the journal Animal Behaviour. She hopes to write many more papers in the future, ideally with a few subtle puns along the way.
Inspired at a young age by watching The Crocodile Hunter with Steve Irwin, Coley always knew she wanted to become a field biologist and conservationist. Today, she brings that same enthusiasm, curiosity, and dedication to guiding. Whatever your goals or experience level, she is eager to share her knowledge and help create a memorable and rewarding birding experience.
