Our Staff

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Greg serves as the Senior Park Naturalist with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission at Patuxent River Park in Prince George’s County, Maryland, where he has dedicated more than 40 years of service. He is widely recognized for his expertise in Chesapeake Bay wetland ecology, with particular distinction in his work with Osprey and Sora rail. Greg holds a federal Master Bander license, which he has maintained for 16 years following 26 years as a sub-permittee, as well as a master permit for bird salvage and specimen collection.

Since 1983, Greg has banded more than 5,000 adult and juvenile Osprey along the Patuxent River and has led Osprey banding operations on Poplar Island in collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the past 15 years. His fieldwork includes the use of specialized floating noose carpet traps designed to safely capture adult Osprey at their nests, and he has fitted more than 400 radio transmitters to rails and waterfowl using both leg-loop and backpack attachment methods.

Dr. Paul Spitzer is a leading expert on osprey ecology whose research has been instrumental in understanding and conserving this iconic raptor. Beginning his work in 1968 under the guidance of Roger Tory Peterson, Dr. Spitzer documented the severe population declines of ospreys along the U.S. East Coast caused by DDT contamination and eggshell thinning.

Following the U.S. ban on DDT in 1972, he conducted long-term studies tracking osprey recovery through nest monitoring, chick banding, and the promotion of artificial nesting platforms. His work has also examined migration routes and wintering habitats across the Caribbean and South America, highlighting the osprey as an important indicator of aquatic ecosystem health.

Miranda is passionate about wildlife conservation and community engagement. As the Operations and Outreach Coordinator at Operation Osprey, she supports the organization’s day-to-day efforts while helping to share the story of Osprey research and conservation. Miranda enjoys connecting people with the mission and work of Operation Osprey to inspire greater awareness and action for these remarkable birds. Miranda has a Bachelor of Science in Organismal and Environmental Biology degree from Christopher Newport University.

Alex is a wildlife biologist and data manager specializing in avian ecology with extensive field experience. He has worked on a range of projects across Maryland, including studies of ospreys, Barn Owls, Short-eared Owls, and Soras. At Operation Osprey, Alex oversees data management efforts, ensuring the integrity and accessibility of our data to support science-based conservation. Outside of work, he’s an avid birder who enjoys exploring new habitats and keeping an eye out for the unexpected.

Heber serves as Operation Osprey’s dedicated carpenter and camera technician, playing a critical role in maintaining and improving nest boxes throughout the Severn River watershed. By land and by sea, he leads the installation of new nest platforms and the replacement of aging or damaged structures, often transporting ladders and equipment by boat to remote nesting sites. Working high above the water, he and his assistants carefully remove deteriorated nest boxes and replace them with sturdy new homes in preparation for each nesting season.

In addition to his fieldwork, Heber is responsible for maintaining and installing nest cameras, ensuring they remain operational.

Captain Josh, founder of Good Fish Outdoors, is a licensed U.S. Coast Guard Captain and accomplished Chesapeake Bay angler with a strong passion for conservation. Operation Osprey relies on Josh and his vessel to assist with monitoring activities in the upper Severn River watershed, where his knowledge of local waterways is an incredible asset.

When he is not guiding anglers on the Bay, Josh dedicates significant time to supporting environmental stewardship efforts throughout the region. He is an active volunteer with both the Severn River Association and the Annapolis chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association.

 Tessa Beaver is the Water Quality Data Manager for Operation Osprey, with expertise in water quality monitoring, data management and statistical analysis. Her background includes water quality research in the Lake Whatcom Watershed, the drinking water source for the City of Bellingham, Washington, as well as graduate research at Shannon Point Marine Center focused on deep-sea mussels and bacteria. Most recently, she worked as a biological technician studying the survival and reproduction of invasive mussels and barnacles under varying environmental conditions.

Michael is a Fish Ecologist hailing from Hawaii where he grew up spending time on the waters with family, learning to fish and gaining an early understanding of fish behavior and ecology. He studied fisheries biology at Humbolt State University and earned his master’s at William & Mary with the Center for Conservation Biology.

His research has been recognized nationally for combining science, citizen engagement, and presentations—involving ospreys and the depletion of Atlantic menhaden in the Lower Chesapeake Bay.

He is also Adjunct Faculty for Biology at the Virginia Peninsula Community College and the Assistant Manager and Tournament Director of the McCormack-Nagelsen Tennis Center at William and Mary.