Kim Stevens
she/her
PhD Candidate, Field Biologist
University of Cape Town, South Africa
Discipline
Conservation, Population Dynamics, Public/Community Engagement, Migration & Movement Ecology
Regional Focus
Subantarctic; South Atlantic; Antarctica; Alaska
Years Active
11-15 years
Species Focus
Albatrosses (Diomedeidae), Petrels and Shearwaters (Procellariidae), Penguins (Spheniscidae), Skuas and Jaegers (Stercorariidae)
Tell us about your work with seabirds.
My PhD focuses specifically on the population dynamics and foraging ecology of Grey-headed Albatrosses at Subantarctic Marion Island and is rooted in statistical ecology, but my broad interest is the conservation of seabirds, including island restoration ecology. I have worked as a field biologist on four expedition teams at Marion and Gough Islands where I mostly collected long-term population monitoring data and deployed tracking devices on seabirds, and worked on the Gough Island Restoration Programme. Recently I became a lecturer and guide on cruise ships in Antarctica and Alaska to educate and enlighten guests about the intricate lives of seabirds.
What advice would you offer to individuals aspiring to pursue a career as seabird scientists?
Seabird science is as diverse as the group of birds themselves and understanding seabirds requires scientists from an array of different backgrounds. Biologists, statisticians, geneticists, data scientists, engineers, educators, etc., can all contribute to seabird research and conservation, and so you could fit in as a seabird scientist anywhere along this spectrum. Whatever your background might be, look for opportunities that align with your skills and interests, and contact the scientists working on these projects both locally and globally to see how you can get involved. Ultimately it is a rewarding career path for both you and the birds!
Kim Stevens standing on Edinburgh peak on Gough Island in the South Atlantic during a fieldwork trip to monitor bird populations. Kim spent two years here working as Senior Field Assistant for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).
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@kim_leigh_stevens