Hamilton Smith
Senior Ecologist/Wildlife Biologist
Mr. Smith has a broad background in wildlife studies, with an emphasis on raptors, prairie grouse, and neotropical migratory songbirds. Much of his project related experience was gained over nearly ten years as an assistant zoologist with Natural Heritage Programs in New Mexico and Wyoming. In addition to his background in avian studies, Mr. Smith has participated in aerial telemetry studies of raptors and ungulates, fisheries monitoring, and extensive small mammal trapping to further understand distribution of jumping mice in southeastern Wyoming. Hamilton began his studies in ecology and ornithology while earning a minor in biology at Tulane University. In the summer of 2003 Mr. Smith completed an M.S. in Biology, at the University of New Mexico, with a concentration in Avian Ecology. Hamilton has shown a willingness to draw from extensive fieldwork to add to collaborative conservation projects; such as, the New Mexico Lesser Prairie-Chicken Stakeholders Working Group, Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse Interstate Working Group, and select committee work for Wyoming Partners in Flight. Hamilton’s specialty is assessment of wildlife habitat uses through a variety of survey protocols, and he has authored over a dozen management guidance documents on Candidate, Threatened, and Endangered species for the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service. As the Senior Ecologist/Wildlife Biologist with Biota, Hamilton provides biological analysis for NEPA compliance, and consultation with county, state, and federal regulators. In 2006, Hamilton completed project-level analysis for the National Park Service, Wyoming Department of Transportation, Teton County, Wyoming, Teton County, Idaho, the Wind River Indian Reservation, and a variety of private clients.
Resumé
HAMILTON SMITH
Senior Ecologist/Wildlife Biologist
Biota Research and Consulting, Inc.
P.O. Box 8578, Jackson, Wyoming 83002-8578
(307) 733-4216 (voice) (307) 733-1245 (fax)
Email Address: Hamilton@biotaresearch.com
Master of Science degree, received in 2003. Attended The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 1999-2003; Thesis title: Lesser Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinictus) Parasite Survey and Nest Habitat Study; Master’s degree concentration: Avian Ecology and Conservation Biology; 52 graduate semester hours earned in biology and 6 graduate semester hours in statistics
Graduate Non-degree Student, Montana State University; Fish and Wildlife Department, Bozeman, MT, 09/95-05/96; Courses completed in statistics, biochemistry, genetics and wildlife management; ornithology laboratory teaching assistant, 5 graduate and 3 undergraduate semester hours in biological sciences, 5 undergraduate semester hours in biochemistry, 3 undergraduate semester hours in statistics.
Bachelor of Arts degree, received in 1992. Attended Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 1988-1992.
Major, History; Minor, Ecological, Environmental, and Organismal Biology; 141 semester hours earned, of which 22 undergraduate semester hours earned in biological sciences
Undergraduate summer semester, University of Montana, Flathead Lake Biological Station, Big Fork, MT,1990; studied ornithology, systems ecology and modeling, 10 undergraduate semester hours of credit earned in biological sciences
High School Diploma, received in 1988. Attended Hopkins Grammar Day Prospect Hill School, New Haven, CT. 1984-1988.
Technical Skills: research administration, wildlife monitoring, desktop publishing, report writing, operation and data analysis with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), oversight and training of field personnel, data management and statistical analysis
Commonly Used Software; Microsoft-Windows, Word, Excel, Access ; ESRI-ArcMap 8.1and ArcView 3.2, Adobe-Photoshop, GPS interface software (Garmin); statistical packages including Distance 5.0 and Minitab 12. Advanced Microsoft Access training, University of New Mexico, 2000. Trained in the use of the Natureserve Network’s Biotics database, including the ArcView 3.2 based GIS applications.
Foreign Language Skills: I am an intermediate Spanish speaker. 3 undergraduate semester credits, and eight months of work experience in Latin America.
Professional Affiliations:
Wyoming Wildlife Society
Wyoming Partners in Flight
Wyoming Partners in Flight Intermountain West Joint Venture Committee
Laramie Audubon Society
Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse Working Group, USFWS, Denver, CO, 2004
Lesser Prairie-Chicken Interstate Working Group, 2002-2003
RECENT WORK EXPERIENCE
Senior Ecologist/Wildlife Biologist, Biota Research and Consulting, Inc., Jackson, WY. 01/06 – present. Supervisor, Tom Campbell; Director, Biota Research and Consulting, Inc.; P.O. Box 8578; Jackson, WY, 83001; Phone: 307-733-4216
Duties and accomplishments:
• Provide expert consultation in wildlife ecology; including, interpretation of county, state and federal guidances and regulations with regards to sensitive, threatened, and endangered species.
• Perform analysis on natural resource and wildlife data; develop GIS-based figures and presentations; prepare environmental impact assessments; provide NEPA compliance guidance; participate in natural resources inventories; design and implement USFWS partnerships.
Assistant Zoologist, Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, Laramie, WY, 10/03-11/05.
Supervisor, Douglas Keinath; Zoology Program Manager; Wyoming Natural Diversity Database; P.O. Box 3381; University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071; Phone: 307-766-3013
Duties and accomplishments:
• Design, administer, and complete field research that develops new data and information on rare and sensitive animals in Wyoming; including, Preble’s meadow jumping mouse, white-tailed prairie dog, black-tailed prairie dog, and Northern Goshawk
• Prepare technical reports and analyses outlining zoological research projects
• Hire, train, and supervise research staff
• Incorporate zoological data from research projects and other sources into the Wyoming statewide sensitive species database
• Apply technical skills in wildlife research including; small mammal live trapping, avian point counts, radio telemetry (ground and aerial), observation and identification skills of all avian and mammalian species; blood, fecal and tissue specimen collection for parasitological and genetic analysis of birds and mammals; GIS mapping and analysis, GPS data collection.
• Member of Wyoming Partners in Flight, Member of the Wyoming Partners in Flight Intermountain West Joint Venture Committee , member of Laramie Audubon Society, and member of the Wyoming Wildlife Society, Participant in the Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse Working Group, USFWS, Denver, CO, 2004.
Assistant Zoologist, Natural Heritage New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 01/97-08/03
Supervisor, Dr. Kristine Johnson; Research Associate Professor; Natural Heritage New Mexico; Department of Biology; University of New Mexico; 167 Castetter Hall; Albuquerque, NM 87131; (505) 277-3822, ext. 223
Duties and accomplishments:
• Conducted a comprehensive avian habitat relationship study for Chaco Culture National Historical Park, emphasis on point count surveys, habitat evaluation, and distribution of sensitive species
• Performed GIS based analysis of Mexican Spotted Owl dispersal and breeding habitat for White Sands Missile Range
• Developed a database (MS Access) and queried for 25-year population trends of the Lesser Prairie-Chicken in southeast New Mexico
• Conducted Lesser Prairie-Chicken research; including censuses, trapping/banding, radio tracking, parasitological screening, habitat analysis and nest monitoring.
• Conducted avian point count studies and surveys of rare land snail and chipmunk populations, Organ Mountains, NM
• Censused Least Terns, Mountain Plovers
• Southwestern Willow Flycatcher nest habitat evaluation, census (USFWS trained in 2000), and USFWS certified for nest monitoring.
Avian Ecologist, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 05/96-10/96
Supervisor, Dr. Jay Rotella, Department of Ecology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717; (406) 994-4548; Email rotella@montana.edu
• Censused neotropical migratory songbirds in the major life zones of the greater Yellowstone ecosystem, conducted passerine nest monitoring study, collected pertinent vegetation data
Wildlife Biologist, Raedeke Associates, Seattle, WA, 03/93-09/95
Supervisor, Dale Herter; 5711 NE 63rd Street; Seattle, WA; 98115; 206-525-8122; Email: drherter@raedeke.com
• Monitored wildlife populations including Northern Spotted Owl, Northern Goshawk, Marbled Murrelet, Bull Trout and Columbia Black-tailed Deer. Nest monitoring of Northern Spotted Owl.
• Data collection, radio telemetry, GPS and capture/banding of spotted owls adults and juveniles.
PUBLICATIONS
• Smith, B.H., D.W. Duszynski, and K. Johnson. 2003. Survey for Coccidia and Haemosporidia in the Lesser Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) from New Mexico with the description of a new Eimeria species. in press, Journal of Wildlife Diseases.
• Johnson, K., H. Smith, G. Sadoti, T. Neville and P. Neville. Habitat Use by Nesting Lesser Prairie-chickens in Southeastern New Mexico. in press, Southwestern Naturalist.
TECHNICAL REPORTS
• Smith, H., G. Beauvais, and D. Keinath. 2005. Five year study of factors affecting jumping mice (Zapus sp.) on the Medicine Bow National Forest, Wyoming. Report prepared by the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database - University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming. 21 pp.
• Smith, H., G. Beauvais, and D. Keinath. 2005. Survey of historic Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) locations on the Shoshone National Forest~2005. Report prepared for the Shoshone National Forest by Wyoming Natural Diversity Database - University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY. 18 pp.
• Smith, H., G. Beauvais, and D. Keinath. 2004. Five year study of factors affecting jumping mice (Zapus sp.) on the Medicine Bow National Forest, Wyoming. Report prepared by the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database - University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming. 24 pp.
• Smith, H., G. Beauvais, and D. Keinath. 2005. Species conservation assessment for Mountain Plover (Charadrius montanus). Report prepared for the BLM by Wyoming Natural Diversity Database. Laramie, WY. 49 pp.
• Smith, H., G. Beauvais, and D. Keinath. 2004. Species conservation assessment for Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis). Report prepared for the BLM by Wyoming Natural Diversity Database. Laramie, WY. 45 pp.
• Smith, H., G. Beauvais, and D. Keinath. 2004. Species conservation assessment for Preble’s meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei). Report prepared for the BLM by Wyoming Natural Diversity Database. Laramie, WY. 49 pp.
• Smith, H., G. Beauvais, and D. Keinath. 2004. Survey of historic Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) locations on the Shoshone National Forest~2004. Report prepared for the Shoshone National Forest by Wyoming Natural Diversity Database. Laramie, WY. 17 pp.
• Smith, H., and D. Keinath 2005. Point Count Surveys for Avian Management Indicator Species Surveys on the Medicine Bow National Forest~2005. Report prepared for the Medicine Bow National Forest by Wyoming Natural Diversity Database - University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY.
• Smith, H. and K. Johnson. 2003. Southwestern willow flycather nesting success, cowbird parasitism, and habitat characteristics at the Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico. Natural Heritage New Mexico Publ. No. 03-GTR-255. Natural Heritage New Mexico, Albuquerque.
• Smith, H., and K. Johnson. 2002. Bird Inventory of Chaco Culture National Historical Park. New Mexico Natural Heritage Program final to the National Park Service. 38 pp.
• Smith, H., and K. Johnson. 2001. Survey of Interior Least Terns on Bureau of Land Management lands, Roswell Field Office Area, NM. 2001. New Mexico Natural Heritage Program technical report to the Bureau of Land Management. 21pp.
• Smith, H., and K. Johnson. 2000. Survey and Monitoring of the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher on the Pueblo of Isleta. New Mexico Natural Heritage Program technical report to the US Army Corp of Engineers. 17 pp.
• Smith, H. 1997. Mexican Spotted Owl Inventory: 1997 technical report. BHS Consulting unpublished report to SWCA Inc. 9 pp.
• Smith, H., and K. Johnson. 1998. Survey of Interior Least Terns on Bureau of Land Management lands, Roswell Resource Area, NM. 1998. New Mexico Natural Heritage Program technical report to the Bureau of Land Management. 23 pp.
• Smith, H., K. Johnson, and L. DeLay. 1998. Survey of the Lesser Prairie-Chicken on Bureau of Land Management lands, Carlsbad Resource Area, NM. 1998. New Mexico Natural Heritage Program technical report to the Bureau of Land Management. 53 pp.
TECHNICAL REPORTS; second author
• Beauvais, G. and H. Smith. 2005. Survey for Preble’s meadow jumping mice (Zapus hudsonius preblei) on F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. Report prepared for the U.S. Air Force-F.E. Warren Air Force Base by Wyoming Natural Diversity Database - University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY.
• Johnson, K., J. Brown-Ellington, H. Smith. 1997. Interior Least Terns nesting on Bureau of Land Management lands, Roswell Resource Area, NM. New Mexico Natural Heritage Program technical report to the Bureau of Land Management. 29 pp.
• Johnson, K., K. Score, and H. Smith. 1997. Final report of 1997 surveys for Lesser Prairie-Chickens on New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Prairie-Chicken Management Areas and trapping and radio telemetry on BLM lands. New Mexico Natural Heritage Program technical report to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. 48 pp.
• Johnson, K., K. Score, H. Smith, and L. DeLay. 1998. Post-fire ecological studies in the Organ Mountains: monitoring sensitive species and vegetation, volume 2. -animals. New Mexico Natural Heritage Program technical report to Ft. Bliss. 90 pp.
• Johnson, K. and H. Smith. 1999. Lesser Prairie-Chicken habitat use on the Sand Ranch and population status in the Caprock Wildlife Habitat Management Area, 1999. New Mexico Natural Heritage Program technical report to the Bureau of Land Management. 19 pp. + maps
• Johnson, K. and H. Smith. 1999. Lesser Prairie-Chicken surveys on New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Prairie-chicken Management Areas. New Mexico Natural Heritage Program technical report to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. 27 pp.
• Johnson, K. and H. Smith. 1999. Survey of the Lesser Prairie-Chicken on Bureau of Land Management Lands, Carlsbad Resource Area, NM. New Mexico Natural Heritage Program technical report to the Bureau of Land Management. 12 pp.
• Johnson, K., and H. Smith. 1998. Radio telemetry study of Lesser Prairie-Chicken habitat use in the Caprock Wildlife Habitat Management Area. New Mexico Natural Heritage Program technical report to the Bureau of Land Management. 17 pp.
• Johnson, K., H. Smith, and K. Score. 1997. Trapping and radio telemetry of Lesser Prairie-Chickens on BLM lands: 1997 final report. New Mexico Natural Heritage Program technical report to the Bureau of Land Management. 21 pp.