Young Arctic Warbler with a band, Seward Peninsula, Alaska.
Rachel M Richardson
Rachel is a Wildlife Biologist for the Alaska Science Center.
Professional Experience
2012 - Present Wildlife Biologist, USGS, Alaska Science Center
2011 - 2012 Biological Science Technician, USGS, Alaska Science Center
2009 - 2011 Wildlife Biologist, Beartooth Wildlife Research, LLC
2008 Research Technician, University of Minnesota
2007 Research Technician, University of Montana
2006 Biological Science Technician, USFS, Pacific Northwest Research Station
2005 - 2006 Research Technician, University of Arizona
2005 Research Technician, University of Minnesota
2004 - 2005 Wildlife Biologist, Ventana Wildlife Society
2003 Field Assistant, The Peregrine Fund
Education and Certifications
M.S. 2022 University of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska Interdisciplinary Studies; Concentration: Wildlife Ecology
B.S. 2011 University of Montana, Missoula, Montana Wildlife Biology
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Ornithological Society
Western Field Ornithologists
The Wildlife Society
Boreal Partners In Flight (BCR1 Coordinator)
Alaska Shorebird Group
Science and Products
Young Arctic Warbler with a band, Seward Peninsula, Alaska.
Male Arctic Warbler singing on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
Male Arctic Warbler singing on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
American Tree Sparrow in low to medium shrub thicket habitat. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
American Tree Sparrow in low to medium shrub thicket habitat. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
Savannah Sparrow sitting on a hummock in dwarf shrub meadow habitat. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
Savannah Sparrow sitting on a hummock in dwarf shrub meadow habitat. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
Whimbrel in dwarf shrub meadow habitat on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska.
Whimbrel in dwarf shrub meadow habitat on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska.
Whimbrel feeding on a hummock of dwarf shrub meadow habitat.
Whimbrel feeding on a hummock of dwarf shrub meadow habitat.
Savannah Sparrow on a hummock in dwarf shrub meadow habitat. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
Savannah Sparrow on a hummock in dwarf shrub meadow habitat. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
Adult male Bluethroat with bands on the Seward Peninsula in Alaska.
Adult male Bluethroat with bands on the Seward Peninsula in Alaska.
A Black-capped Chickadee with a severely deformed beak where the upper beak is elongated and curved down while the lower beak is elongated and straight
A Black-capped Chickadee with a severely deformed beak where the upper beak is elongated and curved down while the lower beak is elongated and straight
A Black-capped Chickadee with a severely deformed beak where the upper beak is elongated and curved down while the lower beak is elongated and straight. Avian keratin disorder (AKD) is a disease characterized by debilitating beak overgrowth and other abnormalities of keratinized tissues.
A Black-capped Chickadee with a severely deformed beak where the upper beak is elongated and curved down while the lower beak is elongated and straight. Avian keratin disorder (AKD) is a disease characterized by debilitating beak overgrowth and other abnormalities of keratinized tissues.
A black-capped chickadee with a normal beak captured at an Anchorage banding station.
A black-capped chickadee with a normal beak captured at an Anchorage banding station.
A Black-capped Chickadee with an upper beak slightly longer than the lower beak. Avian keratin disorder (AKD) is a disease characterized by debilitating beak overgrowth and other abnormalities of keratinized tissues. Affected birds have difficulty feeding and preening and may suffer high rates of mortality.
A Black-capped Chickadee with an upper beak slightly longer than the lower beak. Avian keratin disorder (AKD) is a disease characterized by debilitating beak overgrowth and other abnormalities of keratinized tissues. Affected birds have difficulty feeding and preening and may suffer high rates of mortality.
A Slate-colored Junco on Middleton Island, Alaska.
A Slate-colored Junco on Middleton Island, Alaska.
A close up of the head of a Wilson’s Snipe.
Juvenile Northern Shrike. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
Juvenile Northern Shrike. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
Whimbrel on the tundra on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska.
Whimbrel on the tundra on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska.
Savannah Sparrow nest with egg. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
Savannah Sparrow nest with egg. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
A Black-capped Chickadee with a beak that has grown long and curved down. Avian keratin disorder (AKD) is a disease characterized by debilitating beak overgrowth and other abnormalities of keratinized tissues. Affected birds have difficulty feeding and preening and may suffer high rates of mortality.
A Black-capped Chickadee with a beak that has grown long and curved down. Avian keratin disorder (AKD) is a disease characterized by debilitating beak overgrowth and other abnormalities of keratinized tissues. Affected birds have difficulty feeding and preening and may suffer high rates of mortality.
A young Northern Shrike captured at a banding station on the Seward Peninsula. This photo was taken as part Phase 1 of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
A young Northern Shrike captured at a banding station on the Seward Peninsula. This photo was taken as part Phase 1 of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
Scientist holding an Yellow Warbler on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. This photo is part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystems Boreal-Arctic Transition program.
Scientist holding an Yellow Warbler on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. This photo is part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystems Boreal-Arctic Transition program.
USGS scientists holding a Varied Thrush recenly banded on the Seward Peninsula in Alaska.
USGS scientists holding a Varied Thrush recenly banded on the Seward Peninsula in Alaska.
Science and Products
Young Arctic Warbler with a band, Seward Peninsula, Alaska.
Young Arctic Warbler with a band, Seward Peninsula, Alaska.
Male Arctic Warbler singing on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
Male Arctic Warbler singing on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
American Tree Sparrow in low to medium shrub thicket habitat. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
American Tree Sparrow in low to medium shrub thicket habitat. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
Savannah Sparrow sitting on a hummock in dwarf shrub meadow habitat. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
Savannah Sparrow sitting on a hummock in dwarf shrub meadow habitat. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
Whimbrel in dwarf shrub meadow habitat on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska.
Whimbrel in dwarf shrub meadow habitat on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska.
Whimbrel feeding on a hummock of dwarf shrub meadow habitat.
Whimbrel feeding on a hummock of dwarf shrub meadow habitat.
Savannah Sparrow on a hummock in dwarf shrub meadow habitat. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
Savannah Sparrow on a hummock in dwarf shrub meadow habitat. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
Adult male Bluethroat with bands on the Seward Peninsula in Alaska.
Adult male Bluethroat with bands on the Seward Peninsula in Alaska.
A Black-capped Chickadee with a severely deformed beak where the upper beak is elongated and curved down while the lower beak is elongated and straight
A Black-capped Chickadee with a severely deformed beak where the upper beak is elongated and curved down while the lower beak is elongated and straight
A Black-capped Chickadee with a severely deformed beak where the upper beak is elongated and curved down while the lower beak is elongated and straight. Avian keratin disorder (AKD) is a disease characterized by debilitating beak overgrowth and other abnormalities of keratinized tissues.
A Black-capped Chickadee with a severely deformed beak where the upper beak is elongated and curved down while the lower beak is elongated and straight. Avian keratin disorder (AKD) is a disease characterized by debilitating beak overgrowth and other abnormalities of keratinized tissues.
A black-capped chickadee with a normal beak captured at an Anchorage banding station.
A black-capped chickadee with a normal beak captured at an Anchorage banding station.
A Black-capped Chickadee with an upper beak slightly longer than the lower beak. Avian keratin disorder (AKD) is a disease characterized by debilitating beak overgrowth and other abnormalities of keratinized tissues. Affected birds have difficulty feeding and preening and may suffer high rates of mortality.
A Black-capped Chickadee with an upper beak slightly longer than the lower beak. Avian keratin disorder (AKD) is a disease characterized by debilitating beak overgrowth and other abnormalities of keratinized tissues. Affected birds have difficulty feeding and preening and may suffer high rates of mortality.
A Slate-colored Junco on Middleton Island, Alaska.
A Slate-colored Junco on Middleton Island, Alaska.
A close up of the head of a Wilson’s Snipe.
Juvenile Northern Shrike. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
Juvenile Northern Shrike. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
Whimbrel on the tundra on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska.
Whimbrel on the tundra on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska.
Savannah Sparrow nest with egg. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
Savannah Sparrow nest with egg. This photo was taken on the Seward Peninsula as part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
A Black-capped Chickadee with a beak that has grown long and curved down. Avian keratin disorder (AKD) is a disease characterized by debilitating beak overgrowth and other abnormalities of keratinized tissues. Affected birds have difficulty feeding and preening and may suffer high rates of mortality.
A Black-capped Chickadee with a beak that has grown long and curved down. Avian keratin disorder (AKD) is a disease characterized by debilitating beak overgrowth and other abnormalities of keratinized tissues. Affected birds have difficulty feeding and preening and may suffer high rates of mortality.
A young Northern Shrike captured at a banding station on the Seward Peninsula. This photo was taken as part Phase 1 of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
A young Northern Shrike captured at a banding station on the Seward Peninsula. This photo was taken as part Phase 1 of the Changing Arctic Ecosystem Boreal-Arctic Transition Zone program.
Scientist holding an Yellow Warbler on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. This photo is part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystems Boreal-Arctic Transition program.
Scientist holding an Yellow Warbler on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. This photo is part of the Changing Arctic Ecosystems Boreal-Arctic Transition program.
USGS scientists holding a Varied Thrush recenly banded on the Seward Peninsula in Alaska.
USGS scientists holding a Varied Thrush recenly banded on the Seward Peninsula in Alaska.
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government