Medhavi is a research scientist with close ties to the Great Lakes region. She grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and completed her B.S. in Biology at Michigan Tech University, where she fell in love birds while taking an Ornithology class. After working as an intern at the Northwoods Wildlife Center in Minocqua and as a seasonal zookeeper at the Menominee Park Zoo in Oshkosh, she went on to do an M.S. in Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. For her master's research, Medhavi studied differences in Eastern Bluebird reproductive success at golf courses and natural sites in Ozaukee County. She then did her Ph.D. at Oklahoma State University, using Eastern Bluebirds to study individual variation and repeatability in hormone levels, relationships among hormone levels, behavior, and reproductive success, and impacts of brood size on physiological stress.
Prior to returning to Wisconsin and joining LMBO in 2025, Medhavi was an associate professor at Fort Hays State University in Kansas, where she mentored students, conducted research on behavior, physiology, and reproductive success in Northern House Wrens, led committees, and taught classes including Ornithology, Animal Behavior, and Endocrinology. She is also involved with the Wilson Ornithological Society, serving in various leadership roles. She is grateful to now be on the LMBO team where she gets to have real-world impacts on local communities while utilizing skills gained from her experiences in education, research, and working with diverse groups of people.
Medhavi lives in Mequon with her husband and their dog, Pippin. In her free time, she enjoys reading (especially fantasy and mysteries), training her dog, running, and being out in nature.
Jenny is a conservation biologist who has dedicated her career to protecting the natural resources of Wisconsin. She joined LMBO in March 2023 after developing her native plant propagation and on-site restoration knowledge as part of Prairie Future Seed Company.
Originally from Michigan, Jenny grew up romping through fields and wetlands, chasing snakes and frogs which led her to Madison to pursue her Master’s in Water Resource Management with a focus on wetland ecology. Jenny was with the Wisconsin DNR’s Natural Heritage Conservation program serving in multiple roles including the Karner Blue butterfly Habitat Conservation Plan program. Her work at the Wisconsin DNR also allowed her to foster relationships with the public and diverse groups of stakeholders.
With her passion for Lake Michigan and biodiversity, she is excited to expand her knowledge of birds and apply her knowledge and skills to inspire change in our community. Jenny enjoys spending time with her husband, two teenage children, friends, and family as well as hiking, growing native plants in her backyard, listening to live music, and exploring Milwaukee.
Kelsey is a biologist with a deep-rooted passion for bird conservation and community engagement. Originally from Manitoba, she recently made the move to Wisconsin, bringing with her a wide range of experience from work across The Northern Great Plains. Kelsey spent several summers in North Dakota and Montana, monitoring bird populations and studying their relationships with the prairie ecosystem. Those experiences led her to pursue a Master of Science in Biology at the University of Regina, Saskatchewan, where she focused on how land management practices affect declining grassland birds.
Over the years, Kelsey has taken on a variety of roles in bird monitoring, habitat management, and migratory connectivity research, which have given her a well-rounded perspective on conservation challenges in different landscapes. As Bander in Charge at Delta Marsh Bird Observatory, she paired her love of fieldwork with a passion for education, leading programs that brought people closer to the world of birds and their conservation.
When she’s not out birding or tending to her backyard feeders, Kelsey is often on the water—or the ice—pursuing her other passion: fishing. She has a particular fondness for fly fishing but enjoys all types, always eager to try something new if it means spending time on the water. Beyond her own adventures, Kelsey is passionate about sharing her skills, volunteering her time to teach women and youth outdoor activities, like birding and fishing. She finds immense joy in helping others connect with nature.
Joanna Demas is a dedicated naturalist with a strong focus on partnerships, environmental education, land restoration, and stewardship. She joined LMBO in September 2023. She previously worked as the Land Trust and Community Impact Director at the River Revitalization Foundation in Milwaukee. While there she led initiatives to restore and protect natural areas along the Milwaukee River, while engaging nearby diverse communities. With expertise in ecology and habitat restoration Joanna actively oversaw projects and supervises teams of volunteers, interns, and national and local conservation corps members.
Beyond her career, Joanna selflessly donates her time and expertise to programs such as USGS Bird Box Monitoring and the Invasive Plant Association of Wisconsin (IPAW). Through these experiences, Joanna demonstrates her commitment to making a positive impact on the environment and to fostering community involvement.
With a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and ongoing education in the field, Joanna brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to her work. Her academic background, coupled with her hands-on experience, enables her to approach land restoration and conservation partnership building with a well-rounded perspective. Joanna's ability to effectively lead and engage community volunteers has been instrumental in the success of numerous projects at the River Revitalization Foundation. She values sharing her knowledge to get others energized to explore, build their own relationship with nature, and inspire others to take sustainable action to protect habitats from the negative impacts of invasive species in natural areas and our own backyards.
Joanna lives in Milwaukee with her husband and their two dogs, Rue and Morel. She spends her free time with family and friends, enjoying adventures that involve hiking, biking, or paddling. She is an audiobook junkie, especially while creating fiber arts projects that include knitting and macramé.
Mabel is a biologist with a passion for bird conservation, outreach, and education.
Prior to her role at the Observatory, Mabel earned her bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. For the past 3 years she’s spent her summers surveying birds and anurans along the coastal wetlands of Lake Michigan and Huron, as well as conducting forest breeding bird surveys at Toft Point State Natural Area located in Door County, WI.
Mabel lives in Plymouth with her partner and their cat Eloise. When she isn’t birding, Mabel enjoys coaching track and field and volleyball, reading, listening to live music, traveling, and being outdoors.
Sarah Stoll joined the Observatory in February, 2020. She provides engaging content for our Facebook and Instagram pages. She lives in Fredonia with her husband, son, and dog and spends her free time riding her horse. Sarah is excited to join the Observatory because she wants to contribute to our conservancy and education mission. As a life-long Wisconsin resident, protecting our local resources is a cause near to her heart.
Jacob Woulf is a passionate ecologist with a love for all wildlife. He joined the Observatory in January 2023.
Prior to his role at the observatory, Jacob earned a Master's degree from the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay in Environmental Science and Policy. His thesis work primarily examined spatial ecology of the Double-crested Cormorants that nested in lower Green Bay. His prior role tied nicely into his current role as Motus Coordinator as he already had a background in different telemetry methods.
In his free time, Jacob enjoys wildlife photography, trail camera monitoring, and basically any other outdoor activity.
