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Deborah Perkins M.S.

Deborah Perkins M.S.

Wildlife Habitat Ecologist

207-312-1503
firstlight4wildlife@gmail.com

A true outdoorswoman, Deborah Perkins has traveled and worked extensively throughout Canada and the United States, returning to her native Maine in 2007 to settle down with her family.

She began her college career at Sterling College in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, a place that would give her a solid grounding in conservation studies and natural resource management. Her hands-on experience at Sterling would become the springboard for a rich career as a wildlife biologist, educator, and conservation professional.

Her fieldwork experience includes studies of coastal brown bears in Alaska, grizzly bears in Yellowstone, shorebirds in the eastern Canadian Arctic, and black bears in New Mexico, Tennessee, and Maine. Other wildlife studies in Maine include her work on New England cottontails, Canada lynx, American Woodcock, harbor seals, and Peregrine Falcons.

Outside of wildlife research, Deb has coordinated regional conservation efforts in Alaska and Maine, worked on rural outreach efforts, and developed communication materials for a variety of needs. As a technical service provider certified by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), she brings a special expertise to landowners who require help in developing habitat plans for their properties.

Education

 
  • M. S., Zoology, University of Maine, 2004
  • B. S., Wildlife Biology, University of Montana, 1997
  • A.A., Natural Resource Management, Sterling College, 1993

Areas of Expertise and Years of Experience

 
  • 19 years experience in wildlife research and natural resource management
  • Skilled in rural outreach, communications, advocacy, team building, and collaborations

Research Interests

 
  • Wildlife ecology
  • Wildlife habitat planning
  • Conservation

Publications and Reports

 
  • The Trust to Conserve Northeast Forestlands (TCNEF). 2012. Logger's Guide: Essentials to Protecting Water Quality. TCNEF Logger’s Guide Series. (Content developed by D.E. Perkins, Biodiversity Research Institute).
  • The Trust to Conserve Northeast Forestlands (TCNEF). 2011. Logger's Guide: Understanding Forest Biodiversity. TCNEF Logger’s Guide Series. (Content developed by D.E. Perkins, First Light CCS).
  • COSEWIC. 2010. Status appraisal summary for the Long-billed Curlew Numenius americanus. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. 11 pp. (Authored by D.E. Perkins and C. L. Gratto-Trevor).
  • Perkins, D.E., P.A. Smith, and H.G. Gilchrist. 2007. The breeding ecology of Ruddy Turnstones (Arenaria interpres) in the eastern Canadian Arctic. Polar Record 43:2:135-142.
  • Perkins, D.E. and R.L. Holberton. 2006. Indicators of body condition, energy demand, and breeding success in the Ruddy Turnstone, Arenaria interpres, species of concern. Waterbirds around the world, Eds. G.C. Boere, C.A. Galbraith & D.A. Stroud. The Stationary Office, Edinburgh, UK. pp. 551-552.
  • Perkins, D.E. 2004. Proximate physiological factors associated with parental investment in an Arctic-breeding shorebird (Arenaria interpres) at Southampton Island, Nunavut, Canada. Frank M. Chapman Memorial Fund report submitted to the American Museum of Natural History. University of Maine, Orono, Maine, USA.
  • Perkins, D.E. 2002. Reproductive success and breeding density of Ruddy Turnstones (Arenaria interpres) at East Bay, Southampton Island, Nunavut, Canada. Grant report to the New Jersey Division of Fish And Wildlife Endangered and Nongame Species Program. University of Maine, Orono, Maine, USA.
  • Perkins, D.E. 2000. Protocol for documenting Canada lynx habitat associations during aerial telemetry monitoring. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, unpublished report, Bangor Maine, USA.
  • Perkins, D.E. 2000. Weskeag River Marsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow point counts and shorebird surveys. Summary report to U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Old Town, Maine, USA.
  • Perkins, D.E., Shanahan, B. French, G. Dicus. 1998. Brown Bear and human activity along the coast of Katmai National Park and Preserve. 1998 Katmai Coastal Bio-technician field season report. National Park Service, King Salmon, Alaska, USA.
  • Allen, R. Bradford and D. E. Perkins. 2000. Effects of hunting on survival and habitat use by American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) during fall on breeding areas. Final report submitted to the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund Board. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Bangor, Maine, USA.
  • Costello, C.M., D. E. Jones, R.M. Inman, J.L. Cashman, D.E. Perkins, S.D. Tomson, T.S. Beall, H.B. Quigley, M.G. Hornocker. 1998. Population characteristics and ecology of New Mexico black bears. Annual Report. Hornocker Wildlife Institute, Moscow, Idaho, USA.

Presentations and Posters

 
  • Perkins, D. E. 2011. Biodiversity: Benefits to Businesses and Communities. Oral Presentation at the Hands On Biodiversity Workshop, Trust to Conserve Northeast Forestlands Logger’s Guide Series. New Gloucester, Maine.
  • Perkins, D.E. 2004. Wind Birds in the Land of the Midnight Sun: How Do Ruddy Turnstones Cope with Severe Time and Energy Constraints? Oral Presentation at the University of Maine Biological Sciences Seminar Series (Thesis Presentation), Orono, Maine.
  • Perkins, D.E. and R.L. Holberton. 2004. Patterns of Hormone Secretion Reflect Shared Parental Effort in a Monogamous Arctic-breeding Shorebird. Oral Presentation at the 122nd Meeting of the American Ornithologists’ Union and Annual Meeting of the Society of Canadian Ornithologists (joint meeting), Université Laval, Quebec, Canada.
  • Perkins, D., D. King, S. Brawley, S. Norton, B. Cole, and R. Yehle. 2004. The Impact of the University of Maine’s NSF GK-12 Program. Oral Presentation at the 2004 National Summer Conference: Integrating Science and Mathematics Education Research into Teaching, University of Maine, Orono, Maine.
  • Perkins, D.E. and R.L. Holberton. 2004. Indicators of Body Condition, Energy Demand, and Breeding Success in Ruddy Turnstones, a Species of Concern. Poster Presentation at the Waterbirds Around the World Conference, Edinburgh, Scotland.
  • Perkins, D.E. and R.L. Holberton. 2004. Proximate Physiological Factors Associated with Parental Investment in an Arctic-breeding Shorebird. Oral Presentation at the Northeast Biological Graduate Student Conference, University of Maine, Orono, Maine.
  • Perkins, D.E. and R.L. Holberton. 2002. Sex Differences in the Adrenocortical Stress Response of Incubating Ruddy Turnstones. Poster Presentation at the Waterbird Society Annual Meeting, La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Grants, Awards and Fellowships

 

Grants and Awards for graduate research and travel (2001 to 2004):

  • Frank M. Chapman Memorial Fund research grant, American Museum of Natural History
  • University of Maine Association of Graduate Students research grant
  • Kathleen S. Anderson Award, Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences
  • Percy A. Taverner Award, Society of Canadian Ornithologists
  • Exploration Fund research grant, Explorer’s Club
  • New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife research grant
  • Waterbird Society Meeting Best Student Poster Presentation Award
  • Marcia Brady Tucker Travel Award, American Ornithologists’ Union
  • Association of Graduate Students travel grant, University of Maine
  • Department of Biological Sciences travel grant, University of Maine
  • Alumni Association travel grant, University of Maine


Fellowships and Scholarships:

  • National Science Foundation Teaching Fellowship, University of Maine, 2002-2003
  • National Science Foundation Teaching Fellowship, University of Maine, 2003-2004
  • James D. Salinas Memorial Scholarship, University of Montana, 1996
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