STAFF
Lindsay Wood
Executive Director
Lindsay Wood is a proud new resident of Plumas County, recently moving to Meadow Valley where she is currently building her own home. With six years of biological consulting experience, she is excited to have her dream job become a reality by becoming Plumas Audubon Society's new Executive Director. She is a wildlife biologist and has conducted fisheries, avian, and herptile research throughout the Sacramento River Watershed.
An alumnus of the California State University, Chico Biological Science program, Lindsay spent her undergraduate career leading the Hands on Science Lab, surveying Western Pond Turtle populations, and studying resident and migratory avifauna at the Universidad de Costa Rica Manuel Brenes Reserve. Lindsay spent a field season tracking the Greater Sage Grouse and two years working on a fish screen improvement project which aims to reduce impacts to endangered salmonid populations within the Sacramento River. Lindsay has worked with the Altacal Audubon Society, studying Aechmophorus grebe populations on the Thermalito Afterbay and leading field trips for the annual Snow Goose Festival. Lindsay leads ecotours at Eagle Creek Ranch and Peace Valley in the Sutter Buttes as a guide for with Sacramento River Ecotours. She has worked with consulting firms throughout the Sacramento River watershed, surveying for migratory birds and listed species, monitoring construction, and ensuring environmental compliance.
An alumnus of the California State University, Chico Biological Science program, Lindsay spent her undergraduate career leading the Hands on Science Lab, surveying Western Pond Turtle populations, and studying resident and migratory avifauna at the Universidad de Costa Rica Manuel Brenes Reserve. Lindsay spent a field season tracking the Greater Sage Grouse and two years working on a fish screen improvement project which aims to reduce impacts to endangered salmonid populations within the Sacramento River. Lindsay has worked with the Altacal Audubon Society, studying Aechmophorus grebe populations on the Thermalito Afterbay and leading field trips for the annual Snow Goose Festival. Lindsay leads ecotours at Eagle Creek Ranch and Peace Valley in the Sutter Buttes as a guide for with Sacramento River Ecotours. She has worked with consulting firms throughout the Sacramento River watershed, surveying for migratory birds and listed species, monitoring construction, and ensuring environmental compliance.
Email Lindsay: lindsay@plumasaudubon.org
Ryan Thoni
Project Manager
Ryan Thoni is a biologist and educator. He completed his PhD in evolutionary biology and ecology from Saint Louis University in 2017, where he studied the biodiversity and evolution of Himalayan fish fauna. He has since returned to Plumas County to continue his passion for natural sciences and teaching. He is an associate faculty of the department of Environmental Studies at Feather River College, where he teaches classes wildlife diversity, biological field techniques, and environmental science. Additionally, Thoni still maintains active research projects in the mountains of Asia from Tajikistan to Bhutan. Despite his specialty in ichthyology, Thoni has worked on numerous projects spanning multiple fields of biology including fire ecology, botanical surveys, bird banding, carnivore trapping, various migratory waterfowl projects, freshwater mussel surveys and more. He Joined Plumas Audubon in the Spring of 2020.
In his free time, he enjoys mushroom foraging, fishing, juggling, and hunting.
In his free time, he enjoys mushroom foraging, fishing, juggling, and hunting.
Email Ryan: ryan@plumasaudubon.org
Elizabeth Hauner
Field Coordinator
Email Elizabeth: elizabeth.hauner@plumasaudubon.org
Elizabeth Ramsey
Administrative Assistant & Biological Field Technician
Elizabeth Ramsey moved to Plumas County from Southwestern Michigan in the Fall of 2017 to begin her education at Feather River College, where in 2019 she obtained her Associate degree in Environmental Studies and a Biological Field Technician Certification. While studying at FRC, she learned about an expansive array of topics pertaining to the environment and became fascinated by the Earth’s
biodiversity and interconnectedness. She is the president of the Student Environmental Association at FRC and represents the student body on the Sustainability Action Team and Associated Students of FRC. In Fall of 2020, she will attend Humboldt State University to complete her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies, emphasizing in Ecology & Conservation Science and Media Production. There, she also hopes to continue studying Spanish and study wildlife abroad in Central America.
Alongside the environmental humanities, Elizabeth also studies sustainable agriculture and photography. She enjoys birding, hiking, reading, cooking, and gardening in her free time. One unique thing about Elizabeth is her participation in the local non-profit circus collective, Quircus, where she performs with a fire and LED hula-hoop and teaches classes.
biodiversity and interconnectedness. She is the president of the Student Environmental Association at FRC and represents the student body on the Sustainability Action Team and Associated Students of FRC. In Fall of 2020, she will attend Humboldt State University to complete her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies, emphasizing in Ecology & Conservation Science and Media Production. There, she also hopes to continue studying Spanish and study wildlife abroad in Central America.
Alongside the environmental humanities, Elizabeth also studies sustainable agriculture and photography. She enjoys birding, hiking, reading, cooking, and gardening in her free time. One unique thing about Elizabeth is her participation in the local non-profit circus collective, Quircus, where she performs with a fire and LED hula-hoop and teaches classes.
Email Elizabeth: elizabeth@plumasaudubon.org
Julia Nehl
Herpetological Field Technician
Julia Nehl grew up in the Sacramento area, moving to Plumas County in 2018 to begin school at Feather River College. She is pursuing degrees in Environmental Studies and Ecology, with hopes of transferring to Humboldt State University to continue her education. Julia is passionate about everything in the natural world but has a special focus in herpetology and entomology, and wishes to teach about and advocate for the lives of creatures which are often overlooked. She is also particularly fascinated by micro-habitats and can examine the lifeforms and their interactions under a single log for hours. She is currently working in partnership with the US Forest Service through Plumas Audubon on a Western pond turtle tracking project.
When Julia isn’t working, she is often creating art, whether that be drawing, painting, or nature photography. She is very interested in scientific illustration and is always looking to improve her skills to create more accurate depictions of species she encounters, but also enjoys art as a completely creative outlet where accuracy is not of concern. While she hikes quite a bit for work itself, she can often be found exploring new areas in her free time as well.
When Julia isn’t working, she is often creating art, whether that be drawing, painting, or nature photography. She is very interested in scientific illustration and is always looking to improve her skills to create more accurate depictions of species she encounters, but also enjoys art as a completely creative outlet where accuracy is not of concern. While she hikes quite a bit for work itself, she can often be found exploring new areas in her free time as well.
Email Julia: julia@plumasaudubon.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Piers Strailey, President
Suzanne McDonald, Secretary
Kelby Gardiner, Programs
Janet Swirhun, Outings
Jill Slocum, HR
Faith Strailey
Patty Llamas
The mission of Plumas Audubon is to promote understanding, appreciation, and protection of the biodiversity of the Feather River Region, especially birds, through education, research, and the restoration and conservation of natural ecosystems.
Photo Credits: Plumas Audubon Society and Willi Hall
© COPYRIGHT 2017. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
© COPYRIGHT 2017. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.