Carleton Eyster

Avian Ecologist

Aside from two sabbaticals, one to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to study migratory shorebirds and one to the coniferous forests of Maine to study breeding songbirds, my career has been squarely centered on the breeding ecology and conservation of Western Snowy Plovers in California. I am primarily interested in the adaptive management actions that help enable this resilient species to continue to thrive, as well as the outreach and education required to help people understand the ecological value of our coastal beaches and wetlands.

Introduced to the wonders of birds and art by my grandmother, I began watching and drawing birds when I was ten years old, eventually getting a B.A. in Environmental Studies and a Certificate in Science Illustration at UC Santa Cruz. As an intern at the Palomarin Field Station, I experienced the powerful intersection of scientific inquiry and community outreach. After a long tenure working with a dedicated team of partners on Monterey Bay, I moved to Marin County in 2022, where I am now excited to be engaged with several different projects implementing similar conservation measures protecting Snowy Plovers, primarily at Point Reyes National Seashore and Novato Baylands.

I enjoy hiking in the high Sierra, and I play traditional Irish music on the wooden flute, both as often as possible. But when I’m not in the mountains or a pub, I can most often be found wherever the plovers are.

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