PROFILE
Travis Cooper – Principal
Travis Cooper graduated from California Polytechnic University SLO in 2003 with a B.A. in Ecology and Systematic Biology. Through a multi-disciplinary educational background he received extensive experience in botany and mammalogy, however his primary interest and knowledge base lies in all aspects of ornithology.
Mr. Cooper has had a lifelong interest in ecology and applied field biology and has been an avid birder for more than 20 years. Through his work as a field biologist which has taken him from Alaska to Mexico, he has spent thousands of hours in the field conducting a wide verity of biological surveys, handling birds, small mammals and identifying plants. In addition to terrestrial species he has accumulated hundreds of hours capturing, handling, banding, bleeding, and taking fat biopsies of hundreds of seabirds.
Currently his primary work related activities include focused surveys for threatened and endangered bird species including California Coastal Gnatcatcher, Least Bell’s Vireo, Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, as well as focused surveys for Quino Checkerspot Butterfly and various mammal and reptile surveys. As a Southern California native, he possesses a well rounded background in California natural history as well as an understanding of wildlife distribution and identification of local flora and fauna.
Permits
Federal Endangered Species Act 10(a)1(A) Permit
Survey and nest monitor
– Southwestern Willow Flycatcher
– Least Bell’s Vireo
– Coastal California Gnatcatcher
– Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Survey
– Quino Checkerspot Butterfly
California Department of Fish and Game Scientific Collecting Permit and M.O.U.
Survey and nest monitor
– Willow Flycatcher (all subspecies)
– Least Bell’s Vireo
– Arizona Bell’s Vireo
– Coastal California Gnatcatcher
– Gray Vireo
– San Diego Cactus Wren
Survey
– Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo
– California Spotted Owl
– Elf Owl
Presence/absence surveys utilizing live traps, marking
– Yuma Hispid Cotton Rat (Sigmodon hispidus erimicus)
– Colorado River Cotton Rat (Sigmodon arizonae plenus)
– Palm Springs Pocket Mouse (Perognathus longimembris bangsi)
Survey, capture and handle
– Flat-tailed horned lizard
Additional Survey Proficiencies
– Hermes Copper Butterfly
– Arroyo Toad
– Red-legged Frog