Senior Wildlife Biologist

Chris removes a Merlin from a mist net.

Chris Persico, B.S.

Senior Wildlife Biologist
chris.persico@briwildlife.org
207-839-7600 x173

Chris began working for BRI as a seasonal field biologist assisting with Bald Eagle nestling sampling in Maine. He was hired full-time in 2013 and is now one of BRI’s senior level field biologists.

Chris is highly skilled in wildlife capture, including: Common Loons, Bald Eagles, breeding Peregrine Falcons, bats, and migrating raptors (e.g., using bal-chatri, dho-gazza, and mist nets). With this expertise, Chris trains internal staff on capture, sampling, surveying, and banding techniques. He oversees field projects that specialize in short and long-term tracking, including the use of satellite and GPS technology. With his back-country medical and rescue skills, he is the lead field biologist overseeing operations for BRI’s western loon demographic and contaminant monitoring.

Education & Certifications

  • B.S., Wildlife Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, 2008

Research Interests & Expertise

Research Interests

  • Tracking wildlife using satellite transmitters
  • Identifying potential toxicological threats to wildlife
  • Raptor conservation

Expertise and Experience

  • Capturing nestling Bald Eagles – tree climbing
  • Capturing migrating raptors
  • Capturing Common Loons using night-lighting techniques
  • Banding and sampling raptors and loons

Research Reports

DeSorbo, C. R., N. M. Burgess, P. E. Nye, J. J. Loukmas, H. A. Brant, M. E. H. Burton, C. P. Persico, & D. C. Evers. 2020. Bald Eagle mercury exposure varies with region and site elevation in New York, USA. Ecotoxicology 29: 1862-1876. Available at http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10646-019-02153-8.
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DeSorbo, C. R., N. M. Burgess, C. S. Todd, D. C. Evers, R. A. Bodaly, B. H. Massey, S. E. Mierzykowski, C. P. Persico, R. B. Gray, W. E. Hanson, D. E. Meattey, & K. J. Regan. 2018. Mercury concentrations in Bald Eagles across an impacted watershed in Maine, USA. Science of the Total Environment 627: 1515-1527. Available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.01.023.
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