Field Ornithology Instructors

Eugene A. Cardiff, B.A., Retired Curator of Natural History, San Bernardino County Museum, Redlands. Cardiff is Extension's longest- standing instructor. He has taught over 100 ornithology classes since 1968.

James W. Cornett, M.S., Curator of Natural Science, Palm Springs Desert Museum. One of Southern California's best known naturalists, Cornett is the author of 12 books, numerous scientific and popular articles, and a weekly newspaper column. He is currently conducting research on the ecology of the Joshua tree, the desert fan palm and the Greater Roadrunner.

Kurt Leuschner, M.S., Wildlife Ecology, Assistant Professor of Natural Resources, College of the Desert. Leuschner's specialties include ornithology, entomology, and desert ecology. He has led hundreds of field trips both locally and as far afield as Africa. He teaches natural history courses for California State University, the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, and other conservation organizations.

Chet McGaugh, B.A., Wildlife Biologist/Ornithologist, AMEC Earth and Environmental, Riverside. McGaugh has been a wildlife biologist specializing in ornithological studies since 1990. He leads field trips throughout Southern California and conducts research on the status and distribution of birds in Riverside County. He has traveled around the world in search of birds.

Stephen J. Myers, Wildlife Biologist/Ornithologist, AMEC Earth and Environmental, Riverside. Myers has been studying the birds of Southern California for 21 years and has worked since 1987 as a consulting wildlife biologist, specializing in studies of endangered species such as the Least Bell's Vireo, Southwestern Willow Flycatcher and California Gnatcatcher, along with Lark Sparrows, Cactus Wrens, Le Conte's Thrashers and Neotropical migrant landbirds. He also teaches a class in field ornithology at Victor Valley College in Victorville. He has authored or co-authored papers on several aspects of natural history in Southern California, including bird distribution and habitat use, reptile and amphibian distribution and small mammal distribution and ecology.

Field Assistants

Dori Myers has been conducting field biology research on Willow Flycatchers, Hawks and Owls for the San Bernardino County Museum since 1992. Myers serves on the San Bernardino Valley Audubon Board and is a former officer of the Western Field Ornithologists.

Brian Prescott began photographing birds in 1967. As of 2002, Prescott has photographed over 1,000 species from South Africa, Australia, Venezuela, Trinidad, Costa Rica, Belize, Iceland and much of North America. He has seen over 1,500 different species. He has led many ornithology field trips for the Audubon society and UCR Extension.