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ROBERT W. HEWITT
Principal Wildlife Biologist and Director
LBJ Enterprises, 1707 E Street, Eureka 95501 (707) 442-0339
SUMMARY
Mr. Hewitt established himself as an independent biological consultant in 1996 after five years as Associate Wildlife Biologist at Natural Resources Management Corporation, Eureka. He is principal biologist of his company LBJ Enterprises (Little Bird Jobs). He is responsible for biological assessments and input on wildlife issues for various natural resources industries, research entities and government agencies. Work completed includes: endangered species assessment, timber harvest plans, gravel extraction monitoring and bird censusing. He is an experienced surveyor for the Northern Spotted Owl (NSO) and Marbled Murrelet. He conducts surveys for numerous other wildlife species of concern. Mr. Hewitt is approved as a Private Consulting Biologist (PCB) by the California Department of Fish and Game, authorized to act as a CDF&G designee for timber harvest analysis related Northern Spotted Owl concerns. He is an approved murrelet evaluator and trainer with the State/Pacific Seabird Group approved program for the past ten years. His education, training, and particular area of expertise is avian biology. Mr. Hewitt is an active ornithologist in the local community, recently compiling a local birding guide, teaching classes and leading regular field trips. He is a former President of the Redwood Region Audubon Society and started the society's efforts to produce a Breeding Bird Atlas of Humboldt County (1995-1999).
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Wildlife Biologist and Owner, LBJ Enterprises (1996-present).
Associate Wildlife Biologist, Natural Resources Management Corporation, Eureka, California (1991-6).
Teaching Assistant, Biology Department, Humboldt State University (HSU), California (1990-1991).
Biology Instructor, Veterans Upward Bound, HSU California (1991).
Graduate Intern, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, California (1990).
Field Officer, London Wildlife Trust, London, England (1987-1988).
EDUCATION
BSc (1985). Biological Sciences, Essex University, England.
PROJECT EXPERIENCE
Point Count and Vegetation Surveys:
· Implemented biological monitoring on gravel bars prior to gravel extraction. Completed an annual report of avian activity for 18 gravel bars on the Mad and Eel Rivers that documents 150 point counts, 14 area searches and two MAPS banding stations. Worked with Army Corps of Engineers, wildlife agencies and gravel operators to develop a 5-year monitoring plan, (1995-present).
· Organized a five-person bird and vegetation survey crew, Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon (1997).
· Supervised botanical review with Staff Botanist on three watershed compartments. Endangered species and habitat typing was completed for the Hoopa Tribal Council, California (1997 and 1998).
· National Biological Survey, Patuxent, MD. Breeding Bird Survey Routes, long term avian monitoring routes: Lonesome Ridge, Orleans, Martin's Ferry, (1993-present).
· Redwood Sciences Lab high elevation and riparian point counts during May and June (1996 – present). Long term monitoring conducted on five established road routes in the Orleans RD.
· Completed multi-species bird plots, for the Pacific Lumber Company, California (1996-7). Contact Sal Chinnici, Wildlife Biologist, SCOPAC.
Marbled Murrelets:
· LBJ Enterprises successfully completed two years on the Six Rivers National Forest Marbled Murrelet range and distribution Study for a total of 696 surveys, including remote wilderness locations.
· LBJ Enterprises successfully completed a Marbled Murrelet survey for the Smith River NRA, Six Rivers National Forest. Located murrelets in low activity sites along Rowdy Creek (1997).
· Completed and supervised murrelet crew surveys for SCOPAC and Simpson Timber Companies (1997-present).
· Contracted as the supervising biologist on a 12-member crew for the southern portion of the range and distribution study on the Six Rivers National Forest, CA. Collected data for 768 surveys (1995), including murrelets, bird point counts, and vegetation surveys.
· State approved Marbled Murrelet evaluator, testing over 150 field surveyors, including LBJ field crews, and providing continued input on murrelet survey protocol (1993-Present).
· Successfully completed the California Department of Fish and Game Marbled Murrelet certification course and surveyed for this species using the intensive method on public and private forestlands in northwestern California (1991-present).
· Established survey locations, supervised survey crew, performed surveys, and coordinated with the U.S. Forest Service district biologist for Marbled Murrelets in the Upper Goose Creek drainage basin on the Gasquet Ranger District, CA (1992-1993).
· Supervised and implemented surveys for the Marbled Murrelet at over 100 stations located in coastal redwood stands for various private landowners (1991-1992).
· Prepared documentation and delineated suitable habitat for Marbled Murrelets to address concerns in relation to proposed land management on private timberlands in NW California (1992-present).
Other Threatened and Endangered Species:
· Surveyed for nesting Western Snowy Plovers along the Eel River, located nests and monitored fledgling activity (1996-present).
· Performs consultations on an on-going basis for, Northern Spotted Owl and other species of concern with regulatory agencies (1992-present).
· Prepared more than 100 Northern Spotted Owl consultations and data verification for CDF&G and USFWS; drafted functional spotted owl habitat maps using aerial photo interpretation, conducted site inspections and proposed suitable mitigation for possible impacts to endangered species with state, federal and private agencies (1991-Present).
· Completed Spotted Owl Management Plan (SOMP) for local forestry consulting firm, enabled long-term flexible timber management for that companies' landholders.
Oil Spill Monitoring:
· STUYVESANT 1999 spill, Humboldt Bay. Led two reconnaissance units for damage assessment and oiled wildlife recovery Sept 7th-28th. Daily surveys with strict legal guidelines for data gathering, regular liaison with CDF&G, Oil Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) and other wildlife care units.
· KURE Oil Spill damage assessment surveyor efficiency study for CDF&G (OSPR) with Glen Ford Consulting, OR (February 1999).
· KURE Oil Spill scavenging study for OPSR (November 1998).
· KURE Oil Spill led reconnaissance field crew on 10 day wildlife response to monitor and recover oiled birds for CDF&G (OSPR) on the KURE spill November, (1997).
Other Wildlife Species:
· Performed Shorebird Surveys around Humboldt Bay as part of Pacific Flyway study, under the supervision of Dr. Mark Colwell (HSU) in association with Point Reyes Bird Observatory.
· Acted as an expert witness in a Great Blue Heron Rookery case for the Humboldt County Public Defenders Office (1998).
· Assessed potential biological concerns for a proposed 500-acre ranch subdivision in Sonoma County, CA (1995).
· Performed multiple general biological surveys for forest associated Protected, Endangered, Threatened or species of Special Concern (PETS) inside timber harvest planning (THP) areas; and works with foresters to generate mitigation and viable alternatives within the biological portions of THPs (1991-Present).
· Performed a general biological inventory for PETS on a 15,000-acre parcel in the central Sierra Nevada (1993).
· Supervised conservation work on urban nature reserves and wrote management plans as a field officer with the London Wildlife Trust (1987-1988).
OTHER RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
· Active participant in several protected species working groups including: Partners in Flight (neotropical migrants), Pacific Seabird Group technical committee (Marbled Murrelets), and the Goshawk Working Group.
· Provided input and editor of Northern Goshawk Management Considerations for Private and State Forest Lands in California (1995).
· Provided input to the development of a forestry/wildlife integrated Geographic Information System (GIS), used to produce computer generated maps and habitat acreage assessments for large watershed assessment areas (10,000 acres plus).
· Festival Coordinator for the City of Arcata bird watching event "Godwit Days". Contact Michael Behney, Arcata Main Street, Arcata (1996-99). Provided valuable input for sister festival "Aleutian Goose Days," Crescent City. Led multiple trips and workshops.
· Bird banding, Humboldt Bay Observatory, Lamphere Dunes, exposure to and assistance with mist netting activities. Pacific Lumber Company bird banding station in Yager Creek, observation and handling of netted birds.
· Established the Avian Resource Center as a local non-profit organization focused on education through research. Operates three banding stations and conducts countywide avian monitoring. Acting Chairman of the Board (1999-present).
· Eco-lodge San Luis, Costa Rica, tour guide, banding and handling of tropical birds.
EXPERIENCE Birdwatching
· 10 years in California and United States, 5 years in Britain, also in Costa Rica (One month cumulative from four visits, Belize, Hawaii and Mexico.
· Competed on the 12th ranked team in the New Jersey Audubon Society's World Series of Birding May 1999. Led team in 2000, finished 18th.
· Champions, Central Coast Birding Challenge, Lompoc Santa Barbara, 1999 and 2000.
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING / COURSE WORK
· Completed over 30 units towards a Masters of Science, Wildlife Management, Humboldt State University, California (1989-1992).
· California Wildlife Habitat Relationships System Training (1994).
· Willow Flycatcher management workshop, TWS/CDF&G (1999).
· Falconiformes of Northern California: Management and Survey techniques Workshop, TWS (2000).
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Ornithological Union
Pacific Seabird Group
Redwood Region Audubon Society (Board member 1993-1998, president 1996)
The Wildlife Society, California North Coast Chapter
(Professional Development Committee chair 1996-9, Chapter Representative 2000-present)
Society for Conservation Biology
Western Field Ornithologists
American Birding Association
CERTIFICATIONS
ACHIEVEMENTS AND OTHER EXPERIENCE
State Approved Marbled Murrelet Trainer and Evaluator
Founded the local working group of professional biologists
Chapter of the Year, 1997 California North Coast Chapter, TWS
Volunteer of the Year 1995 Redwood Region Audubon Society
Initiated the Humboldt County Breeding Bird Atlas
Sub-regional Editor (Humboldt County) Audubon Field Notes (1994)
Field trip leader and coordinator, Redwood region Audubon Society
Dr. Mark Colwell, Wildlife Department Chair, Humboldt State University, Arcata.
(707) 826-3723
Dr. C.J. Ralph, Wildlife Biologist, Redwood Sciences Lab, Arcata. (707) 825-2992
Sal Chinnici, Wildlife Biologist, SCOPAC. (707) 764-4299
Michael Behney, Arcata Main Street. (707) 822-4500
Gary Rynearson, President, Natural Resources Management, Eureka. (707) 442-1735
Paul Kelly, Department of Fish & Game, OSPR, Sacramento. (916) 653-2458