Tara sees wildlife from a bird’s-eye view. An experienced drone pilot, she uses aerial surveys to count seabirds and seals, monitor breeding colonies, and map habitats. This work has taken her from the Channel Islands all the way to Antarctica, where she helps Penguin Watch monitor seabird colonies.
Her interest in drones began early. While still a student, she worked with the Oceans Research Institute to test whether they could be used to monitor wildlife. She went on to complete a PhD in behavioral ecology at the University of Leeds, studying the Seychelles warbler, once one of the rarest birds in the world. Her research explored how individual birds’ personalities shape their lives, including how far they travel from home, how long they survive, and how many chicks they raise.
Today, Tara is a senior ecologist with the Alderney Wildlife Trust, a conservation charity in the Channel Islands. As well as running wildlife monitoring programs, she helps coordinate the Alderney State of Nature project, which brings together the best available evidence to show how the island’s wildlife is faring and when action is needed to protect it. This season, Tara leads the Penguin Watch team on board, and she can’t wait to share the science with you.
