Lauren is from Central Oregon, where she originally found her passion for wildlife and exploring the outdoors. She developed a love for ornithology and avian research during her undergraduate studies at McGill University, and has continued to work with birds ever since. Her master’s thesis work is focused on investigating the effects of barn owl personality on fine-scale hunting behavior and rodent removal ecosystem services in vineyards of California’s Central Valley. Outside of work, Lauren enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, kayaking, camping, birding, or relaxing with a good book.