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Colleen M. Handel Title: Research Wildlife Biologist Address: 4210 University Dr., Anchorage, AK 99508-4626 Phone: (907) 786-7181 Fax: (907) 786-7021 Email: cmhandel@usgs.gov

Education and/or Training

Ph.D.	2002	University of California Davis, Davis, CA	Ecology
M.S.	1982	University of California Davis, Davis, CA	Ecology
B.A.	1974	Harvard University, Cambridge, MA	Biological Sciences

Areas of Specialization and/or Research Interests

Population ecology of passerines and shorebirds, behavioral ecology, population monitoring, and sampling design.

Professional Experience

1996 - Present	Research Wildlife Biologist, USGS, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska
1993 - 1996	Research Wildlife Biologist, NBS, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska
1978 - 1993	Research Wildlife Biologist, USFWS, Alaska Fish and Wildlife Research Center, Anchorage, Alaska
1977 - 1978	Research/ Teaching Assistant, University of California Davis, Davis, California
1975 - 1978	Biological Science Technician, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Anchorage, Alaska
1975 - 1975	Biological Science Aide, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Kenai, Alaska
1974 - 1974	Botany and Ornithology Instructor, Murray Rhode School, Newton Public High Schools, Newton, Massachusetts
1972 - 1972	Assistant Curator, Farlow Herbarium, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
1972 - 1972	Research Assistant, Concord Field Station, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Professional Activities and/or Memberships

American Ornithologists' Union (Elected Member, Associate Editor)
Association of Field Ornithologists
Colonial Waterbird Group
Cooper Ornithological Society
Ecological Society of America
Pacific Seabird Group
Society for Conservation Biology
Wader Study Group
Wildlife Society
Wilson Ornithological Society

Significant Recent Publications

Van Hemert, C., A. G., Armien, J. E. Blake, C. M. Handel, and T. M. O’Hara. 2013. Macroscopic, histologic, and ultrastructural lesions associated with Avian Keratin Disorder in Black-Capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus). Veterinary Pathology, In Press.

Gill, R. G., C. M. Handel, and D. R. Ruthrauff. 2013. Intercontinental migratory connectivity and population structuring in Dunlins (Calidris alpina) from Western Alaska. Condor, In Press.

Van Hemert, C., C. M. Handel, and D. M. O’Brien. 2012. Stable isotopes identify dietary changes associated with beak deformities in Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus). The Auk 129:460-466. doi: 10.1525/auk.2012.12037

Van Hemert, C., C. M. Handel, T. M. O’Hara. 2012. Evidence of accelerated beak growth associated with avian keratin disorder in Black-capped Chickadees Poecile atricapillus. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 48(3):686-694.

Ruthrauff, D. R., T. L. Tibbitts, R. E Gill, Jr., M. N. Dementyev, and C. M. Handel. 2012. Small population size of Pribilof Rock Sandpipers confirmed through distance-sampling surveys in Alaska. Condor 114:544-551.

D'Alba, L., C. Van Hemert, C. M. Handel, M. D. Shawkey. 2011. A natural experiment on the condition-dependence of achromatic plumage reflectance in Black-capped Chickadees. PLoS ONE 6(10):e25877.

Handel, C. M., and R. E. Gill.  2010.  Wayward youth: Trans-Beringian movement and differential southward migration by juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. Arctic, 63(3):273-288. [pdf file 1.9 mb]

Handel, C. M., L. M. Pajot, S. M. Matsuoka, C. Van Hemert, J. Terenzi, S. L. Talbot, D. M. Mulcahy, C. U. Meteyer, and K. A. Trust. 2010. Epizootic of beak deformities among wild birds in Alaska: An emerging disease in North America? Auk 127(4):882-898. (11.9mb PDF high resolution) or (719kb PDF lower resolution)

Van Hemert, C., and C. M. Handel. 2010. Beak deformities in Northwestern Crows: Evidence of a multispecies epizootic. Auk 127(4):746-751. (976kb PDF) Online Supplement. (134kb PDF)

Gill, R. E., Jr., T. L. Tibbitts, D. C. Douglas, C. M. Handel, D. M. Mulcahy, J. C. Gottschalck, N. Warnock, B. J. McCaffery, P. F. Battley, and T. Piersma. 2009. Extreme endurance flights by landbirds crossing the Pacific Ocean: Ecological corridor rather than barrier? Proc. R. Soc. B 276:447-457.

Matsuoka, S.M. and C.M. Handel. 2007. Nesting ecology of boreal forest birds following a massive outbreak of spruce beetles. Journal of Wildlife Management 71(1):51-63.

McCaffery, B.J. C. M. Handel, R. E. Gill, Jr, and D. Ruthrauff. 2007. The blind men and the elephant: concerns about the use of juvenile proportion data. Stilt 50:194-204.

Handel, C. M., L. M. Pajot, S. L. Talbot, and G. K. Sage. 2006. Use of buccal swabs for sampling DNA from nestling and adult birds. Wildlife Society Bulletin 34(4):1094-1100.

Ralph, C. J., E. H. Dunn, W. J. Peach, and C. M. Handel. 2004. Recommendations for the use of mist nets for inventory and monitoring of bird populations. Studies in Avian Biology 29:187-196.

Matsuoka, S. M., C. M. Handel, and D. R. Ruthrauff. 2001. Densities of breeding birds and changes in vegetation in an Alaskan boreal forest following a massive disturbance by spruce beetles. Can. J. Zool. 79(9):1678-1690.

Handel, C. M. and R. E. Gill, Jr. 2001. Black Turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala). The Birds of North America, No. 593, In A. Poole and F. Gill, (eds). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

Handel, C. M. and R. E. Gill, Jr. 2000. Mate fidelity and breeding site tenacity in a monogamous sandpiper, the Black Turnstone. Anim. Behav. 58:471-481.

Matsuoka, S. M., C. M. Handel, D. D. Roby, and D. L. Thomas. 1997. The relative importance of nesting and foraging sites in selection of breeding territories by Townsend's Warblers. Auk 114:657-667.

Matsuoka, S. M., C. M. Handel, and D. D. Roby. 1997. Nesting ecology of Townsend's Warblers in relation to habitat characteristics in a mature boreal forest. Condor 99:271-281.

Gill, R. E., Jr., C. A. Babock, C. M. Handel, W. R. Bulter, Jr., and D. G. Raveling. 1996. Migration, fidelity, and use of autumn staging grounds in Alaska by Cackling Canada Geese (Branta canadensis minima). Wildfowl 47:42-61.

Gill, R. E., Jr., C. M. Handel, and G. W. Page. 1995. Western North American shorebirds. Pp. 60-65 in E. T. LaRoe, G. S. Farris, C. E. Puckett, P. D. Doran, and M. J. Mac, (eds.). Our living resources: a report to the nation on the distribution, abundance, and health of U.S. plants, animals, and ecosystems. U.S. Dept. of Interior, National Biological Service, Washington, DC. 530pp.

Handel, C. M. 1995. Boreal Partners in Flight: Working together to build a regional research and monitoring program. in R. Bonney, D. Pashley, L. Niles, and R. Cooper, eds. Strategies for Bird Conservation: The Partners in Flight Planning Process. Proceedings of the 1995 Partners in Flight International Workshop, October 1-5, 1995, Cape May, NJ.

Lanctot, R. B., R. E. Gill, Jr., T. L. Tibbitts, and C. M. Handel. 1995. Brood amalgamation in the Bristle-thighed Curlew (Numenius tahitiensis): Process and function. Ibis 137:559-569.

Gill, R. E., Jr., R. W. Butler, P. S. Tomkovich, T. Mundkur, and C. M. Handel. 1994. Conservation of North Pacific shorebirds. Trans. No. Am. Wildl. & Natur. Resour. Conf. 59:63-78.

Handel, C. M., and R. E. Gill, Jr. 1992. Breeding distribution of the Black Turnstone. Wilson Bull. 104:122-135.

Handel, C. M., and R. E. Gill, Jr. 1992. Roosting behavior of premigratory Dunlins (Calidris alpina). Auk 109:57-72.

Gill, R. E., Jr., R. B. Lanctot, J. D. Mason, and C. M. Handel. 1991. Observations on habitat use, breeding chronology and parental care in Bristle-thighed Curlews on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. Wader Study Group Bull. 61:28-36.

Gill, R. E., Jr., and C. M. Handel. 1990. The importance of subarctic intertidal habitats to shorebirds: a study of the central Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska. Condor 92:709-725.

Vacca, M. and C. Handel. 1988. Factors Influencing Predation Associated with Visits to Artificial Goose Nests. J. Field Ornithol., 59(3):215-223.

Handel, C. M., and C. P. Dau. 1988. Seasonal occurrence of migrant whimbrels and bristle-thighed curlews on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska. Condor 90:782-790.

Vacca, M. M., and C. M. Handel. 1988. Factors influencing predation associated with visits to artificial goose nests. J. Field Ornith. 59:215-223.

Gill, R. E., Jr., C. M. Handel, and L. A. Shelton. 1983. Memorial to a Black Turnstone: An exemplar of breeding and wintering site fidelity. North Am. Bird Bander 8:98-101.

Handel, C. M., and R. E. Gill, Jr. 1983. Yellow birds stand out in a crowd. North Am. Bird Bander 8:6-9.

Gill, R. E., Jr., and C. M. Handel. 1981. Shorebirds of the eastern Bering Sea. Pp. 719-738 in D. W. Hood and J. A. Calder (eds.), The eastern Bering Sea shelf: oceanography and resources. Vol. 2, Univ. Washington Press, Seattle, WA.

Handel, C. M., M. R. Petersen, R. E. Gill, Jr., and C. J. Lensink. 1981. An annotated bibliography of literature on Alaskan water birds. U.S. Dept. Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Biological Services Program, Washington, D.C. FWS/OBS-81/12. 515 pp.

Gill, R. E., Jr., and C. M. Handel. 1980. First record of the Common Cuckoo from mainland North America. Condor 82:472.

Websites of Interest

Shorebird Research at the Alaska Science Center
Beak Deformities
Alaska Landbird Resource Information System/ Boreal Partners in Flight