Matthew Johnson
CPRS Director/Ecologist
Matthew has 21 years of experience studying avian populations and behavior. He has conducted numerous research projects throughout the western United States, Mexico, and Central America, as well as in Africa. A considerable proportion of this research has involved studying population demographics and behavior of Southwestern Willow Flycatchers, Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Common Black-Hawks, Mexican Spotted Owls and Gray Hawks. Most of his work has been with federal land management agencies, including the US Bureau of Reclamation. His recent work has concentrated on studies of bird populations on the Colorado Plateau and the adjacent southwestern US, including riparian bird communities in relation to habitat along the lower Colorado River, Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, San Pedro, Gila and Verde Rivers. This work included studies of yellow-billed cuckoo along the Lower Colorado River in Arizona and California, San Pedro River, AZ, Gila River, AZ, Verde River and its tributaries in Arizona, Salt River, AZ, Tonto River, AZ, the San Juan River, the Green and Colorado Rivers in Utah. He has also conducted studies of riparian bird communities in relation to habitats in Canyonlands National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, and many other parks throughout the southwestern U.S. He has conducted work on broad-scale inventory and monitoring programs for birds in all National Parks throughout the Colorado Plateau. Matt has also been involved in studies of the population status and habitat distribution of the southwestern willow flycatcher, Mexican spotted owl and common black-hawk studies in Arizona and Utah riparian systems and willow flycatcher winter studies in Mexico and Central America.
Most recently, Matthew has continued to conduct research within the lower Colorado River. In 2008-2010, Matthew was the Project Coordinator on the project that created yellow-billed cuckoo habitat models for the entire lower Colorado River including all of its tributaries. Matthew is also examining the effects of the tamarisk leaf beetle on breeding birds and their habitat throughout the Virgin River Watershed, which includes examining the distribution of the tamarisk leaf beetle throughout the lower Colorado River and projected affects on wildlife along the LCR riparian corridor.
Matthew is also currently the Colorado Plateau Research Station Director for Northern Arizona University.