Scientific contributors
Peter H. Bloom, Ph.D.
Zoologist
Founder Peter H. Bloom, Ph.D. is an internationally acclaimed raptor biologist, having spent more than four decades studying, banding, and tracking hawks, eagles, kites, condors, and owls, and working with landowners and the regulatory agencies in conserving their habitats. He directed the effort to capture all wild free-flying California Condors for transmitter placement or captive breeding; the endeavors of this then-controversial program ultimately culminated in the survival of this species, which had dwindled to only 22 individuals in 1980. Dr. Bloom has published on the biology of raptors in more than 45 peer-reviewed scientific papers and technical reports and has spent over 950 hours conducting helicopter and fixed-wing nest survey work and aerial radio-tracking of raptors.
He and colleagues have captured nearly 850 Golden Eagles and more than 54,000 other birds, mostly raptor nestlings, in a quest to learn more about the importance of natal dispersal, philopatry, movements, and unusual migration patterns as they relate to conservation biology.
He has worked extensively with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, the Department of Defense, California State Parks, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and various non-profit conservation groups, providing valuable research and advice primarily on raptor ecology and conservation. He has conducted avian and herpetological research in the western United States, Alaska, Peru, Ecuador, and India and has been responsible for a wide variety of biological, ecological, and conservation studies ranging from local biological assessments to regional conservation planning.
Education
Ph.D., Natural Resources, College of Natural Resources, University of Idaho, Moscow
M.S., Biology, California State University, Long Beach
B.S., Zoology, California State University, Long Beach
Awards
The Wildlife Society Western Section: Professional of the Year, 2005
Association of Field Ornithologists: Bergstrom Award, 1981
The Nature Conservancy: $27,000 for satellite transmitters, 2004 and 2006
Memberships
Lifetime member: The Wildlife Society, Association of Field Ornithologists, Raptor Research Foundation, Cooper Society, Society for Conservation Biology, California Native Plant Society.
Peter is also a member of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the American Ornithologists Union.
Michael Kuehn. Ph.D.
Senior biologist/ Statistician/ Vice-President
Dr. Michael Kuehn is an avian ecologist with experience conducting field research throughout the Americas from Ecuador to Alaska. He also has a solid working knowledge of the other terrestrial vertebrate groups (amphibians, reptiles, and mammals), and has taught courses about their ecology and identification at UC-Santa Barbara. He is familiar with the fauna and flora of coastal California and the Mojave/Sonoran Desert regions. Dr. Kuehn has studied nesting birds for over 15 years, principally in California, Nevada, Arizona, Montana, Idaho and Alaska, but also in Ecuador.
Dr. Kuehn has been responsible for a wide variety of biological, ecological, and conservation studies ranging from local biological assessments to studies aimed at understanding specific stressors on regional avian communities. He has designed and conducted numerous avian field studies, and supervised field crews during the implementation of these studies in addition to performing statistical analysis and interpretation of data for report preparation.
Permits and Certifications
USFWS Sci. Collector’s Permit (MB085567-0)
USGS Bird Banding Subpermitee (22905-F)
Education
Ph.D., University of California, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, Santa Barbara
B.S., Fisheries and Wildlife Management, Lake Superior State University, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Awards
Worster Award for Graduate/Undergraduate Collaborative Research, Department Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara ($6000). 2007
Frank M. Chapman Memorial Grant, American Museum of Natural History ($2500). 2007
Student Research Award, Animal Behavior Society ($1000). 2007
Exploration Fund Award, Explorer’s Club ($1200). 2007
Paul A. Stewart Research Award, Wilson Ornithological Society ($500). 2007
Ralph Schreiber Ornithology Research Award, Los Angeles Audubon Society ($2500). 2006
Student Research Award, American Ornithologist’s Union ($1800). 2003
Non-Scientfic Contributors
REBECCA MORALES, VICE PRESIDENT
Married since 1997, Ms. Morales and Dr. Bloom have worked together to develop BBI (Bloom Biological Inc.), a for-profit company, into what it is today. Now they are also excited to focus on BRI, the non-profit company set up to provide structure and support necessary for biologists and their field work. In conjunction, Rebecca began the Consilience; Artist Presentation Initiative as a way to open up the dialogue between the arts and sciences and present biologists and scientists an alternative way to see how their work has an impact in how we see the world.
Nicollet Overby
Nicollet is a volunteer at BRI, managing the organization and reporting of all Dr. Bloom’s
banding data, which goes back to the 1970’s. She also updates BRI’s website content and social media.
