Rebecca Fitzmaurice

Rebecca is a wildlife biologist with training, experience, and lifelong interest in endangered species management and conservation.

She has worked with the International Crane Foundation (ICF) to help maintain captive breeding pairs of all crane species (most crane species are very rare), to bolster wild crane populations, and to use communications and education to help address the issues that negatively affect cranes throughout the world.

Rebecca also was part of the Kirtland's warbler success story. The Kirtland's warbler was highly endangered for many decades, but with the help of a unique conservation plan and professional communications efforts, this songbird was removed from the Endangered Species List in 2019 – one of the few species to make it off the list. She assisted with recovery both in the field (bird tagging, singing male census, habitat checks, and maintenance) and in the office (working on the communications plan and public relations efforts that were critical to the warbler’s de-listing).

During her master’s degree project in Nebraska, Rebecca was a member of the Agroforestry Research Team established to work towards more sustainable agricultural systems. Working on an interdisciplinary team to address questions and outreach in sustainable systems was a valuable experience that convinced Rebecca of the importance of a team approach and the critical role that communications plays in conservation and in resolving issues.

Rebecca holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Evansville and a master’s degree in wildlife ecology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She is a certified wildlife biologist with The Wildlife Society and enjoys time outdoors and birding in her free time.