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Douglas C. Backlund

PO Box 1057

Pierre, SD  57501

Email   Dougback@wildphotosphotography.com

EDUCATION 

Black Hills State University, B.S., 1991

Major: Biology

Minor: Chemistry

Upper level biology coursework: Microbiology, Field Zoology, Genetics, Paleobotany, Cell Biology, Plant Taxonomy, Mycology, Plant Anatomy, Agrostology, Ecology, Biology Seminar, Special Problems in Biology

Upper level chemistry coursework: Analytical Chemistry I, Organic Chemistry I & II

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Wenck Associates, Inc
Wildlife Biologist
Mandan, ND
February 2011-present
Whooping Crane Monitor for wind power projects. 
 

Western Plains Consulting, Inc.
Bismarck, ND
Senior Wildlife Biologist
March 2010-February 2011
Whooping Crane Monitor for wind power projects.

South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks
Pierre, SD
Wildlife Biologist, SD Natural Heritage Program
Database manager and field biologist
August 1991-March 2010 (retired)
Maintenance of Natural Heritage Program database (Biotics).  Conduct breeding bird surveys, mist netting and banding of migratory birds, small mammal surveys, prairie grouse lek counts, reptile and amphibian surveys, freshwater mussel surveys, endangered species surveys including American burying beetle and black-footed ferret. Write environmental reviews and reports, review EA's and EIS's, and give educational presentations on request. Supervise interns working under grants from The Nature Conservancy. Write grant proposals for biological surveys and coordinate surveys. I developed and coordinate the Wildlife Diversity Small Grants Program. Regular contributions to South Dakota Conservation Digest.  Statewide falconry permit program coordinator and scientific collectors permits coordinator.

Black Hills State University
Spearfish, SD
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Paleobotany research
Summers of 1990 and 1991
Collected plant fossils from Tertiary sediments, analyzed and interpreted stable carbon isotope ratios as functions of climate. Assisted with taphonomy research, worked with SEM, X-ray diffraction, atomic absorption, and isotope mass spectrometer.

 
U.S. Forest Service, Spearfish Ranger District
Spearfish, SD
TSI crewmember, crewleader
Summers 1987, 1988, 1989
Crewmember and crew leader on Forest Service saw crew, primary work: timber thinning and wildlife management clearcuts. Also timber stand inventory, fire fighting, regeneration surveys, and training of crewmembers.

OTHER EXPERIENCE

Volunteer work with the South Dakota Natural Heritage Program from 1989-1991 locating rare plant species in the Black Hills. Contract work for Hildebrand Contracting, Sturgis, SD for sensitive plant surveys on Black Hills National Forest, 1996. Contract work for Biological Services, Chamberlain, SD for small mammal inventory on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation, 1996. Contract work for Biological Services for bird surveys on Standing Rock Indian Reservation along the Missouri River, 1997. Contract work for Biological Services for bird surveys on Cheyenne River Indian Reservation in 1998. Contract work for Biological Services for a colonial bird survey of the Standing Rock Indian Reservation along the Missouri River, 1999. Field assistant for Dr. Mark Gabel (Black Hills State University) to collect plant fossils in Argentina in 1999 and 2001 (funded by National Geographic Society). I have a personal interest in Cicindelids (tiger beetles) and have donated a large collection of all species found in South Dakota the Severin-McDaniel Insect Research Collection at South Dakota State University. Wildlife photography is a major hobby of mine: www.wildphotosphotography.com

HONORS AND AWARDS

Graduated from Black Hills State University, Summa Cum Laude, 1991

Honors Service Award for Academic Tutoring, Black Hills State University Academic Skills Center, 1991

Academic Excellence Award, Black Hills State University, 1991

Department of Biology and Biokinetics Scholarship, Black Hills State University, 1990

Who's Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges, 1989-90

Highest Ranking Sophomore, Black Hills State University, 1989

ORGANIZATIONS AND AFFILIATIONS

Member, South Dakota Ornithologists' Union, past member of board of directors

Christmas Bird Count Coordinator 1996- , Missouri Breaks Audubon, Pierre, South Dakota

Board of Directors 1998-2000, Missouri Breaks Audubon, Pierre, South Dakota

Treasurer, 1999-2001, Missouri Breaks Audubon, Pierre, South Dakota

President, 2001-2003, Missouri Breaks Audubon, Pierre, South Dakota

Vice-President, 2003-2007, Missouri Breaks Audubon, Pierre, South Dakota

Affilliated Researcher with Severin-McDaniel Insect Research Collection, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota.

PUBLICATIONS AND ARTICLES
*indicates peer reviewed publication

Backlund, Doug. 2015. New Longevity Record for American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus).  South Dakota Bird Notes 67(1): 8. March 2015.

*Robert W. Klaver, Douglas Backlund, Paul E. Bartelt, Michael G. Erickson, Craig J. Knowles, Pamela R. Knowles, and Michael C. Wimberly. 2012. Spatial Analysis of Northern Goshawk Territories in the Black Hills, South Dakota. The Condor 114(3):532–543.

Spomer, Stephen M, Mathew L. Brust, Douglas C. Backlund, and Scott Weins.  2008. The Tiger Beetles of South Dakota and Nebraska. Dept. of Entomology, Univ. of Nebraska. 60 pp.

Backlund, Doug. 2010. First Minnesota Record of Acorn Woodpecker. The Loon 82(2): 51

*Backlund, Douglas C., Gary M. Marrone, Christopher K. Williams, and Kelley Tilmon. 2008. Population Estimate of the Endangered American Burying Beetle, Nicrophorus americanus Olivier (Coleoptera: Silphadae) in South Dakota. The Coleopterists Bulletin 62(1): 9-15.

Backlund, Doug. 2007. Prey of the Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) in Central South Dakota. South Dakota Bird Notes 58(4): 58-60.

Backlund, Doug. 2006. Northern Saw-whet Owl Banding in Central South Dakota 2002-2005. South Dakota Bird Notes 58(4): 65-67.

*Backlund, Douglas C. 2002. The Expanding Distribution of the Least Shrew, Cryptotis parva, in South Dakota. Proceedings of the South Dakota Academy of Science 81:153-159.

Backlund, Doug, Eileen Dowd-Stukel, and Ricky Olson. 2002. Bird Banding on Farm Island, Hughes County: Birds Banded from 1993-2002. South Dakota Bird Notes 54(4):88-94.

Backlund, Doug. 2002. Observations and Notes from a Snowy Owl Invasion of Central South Dakota during the Winter of 2001-2002. South Dakota Bird Notes 54(3):67-68.

*Backlund, Douglas C. 2000. Summary of Current Known Distribution and Status of Freshwater Mussels (Unionoida) in South Dakota. In: Freshwater Mussels in the Great Plains: Ecology and Prehistoric Utilization. Central Plains Archeology 8(1):69-77.

Backlund, Doug. 2000. A Significant Range Extension of the Chuck-will’s-widow: A First Confirmed Breeding Record for South Dakota. South Dakota Bird Notes 52(4):80-82.

Backlund, Doug, Kenny Miller and Ricky Olson. 2000. Use of the Arikara Wetland Project (Hughes County, South Dakota) by Migrant Fall Shorebirds and Other Wetland Dependent Birds. South Dakota Bird Notes 52(4):82-83.

Backlund, Doug and Ricky D. Olson. 2000. Northern Saw-whet Owl Winters on Farm Island. South Dakota Bird Notes 52(3):56-57.

*Backlund, Douglas C., Nick Backlund, Gary L. Marrone, and Scott Weins. 2000. New Distribution Records of Tiger Beetles (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) from South Dakota, U.S.A. Cicindela 32(1-2): 9-12.

Perkins, Keith III and Douglas C. Backlund. 2000. Freshwater Mussels of the Missouri National Recreational River Below Gavins Point Dam, South Dakota and Nebraska. SD GFP Report 2000-1.

Higgins, Kenneth F., Eileen Dowd Stukel, Judyann M. Goulet, and Douglas C. Backlund. 2000. Wild Mammals of South Dakota. S.D. Dept. of Game Fish and Parks. 278 pp.

Ode, David J. and Doug Backlund. 1999. Biological Survey of the Badlands Bombing Range, Shannon County, South Dakota. Report to Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota.

Fisher, Tate D., Douglas C. Backlund, Kenneth F. Higgins, and David E. Naugle. 1999. Field Guide to South Dakota Amphibians. SDAES Bulletin 733. Brookings, South Dakota State University. 52 pp.

Backlund, Doug and Ricky D. Olson, 1999. Prey Species of Long-eared Owls and Remarks on the Status of Long-eared Owls in South Dakota. South Dakota Bird Notes 51(3):54-60.

*Dowd Stukel, Eileen and Douglas C. Backlund, 1998. Animal Species Monitored by the South Dakota Natural Heritage Program. The Prairie Naturalist 29(3): 179-213.

*Gabel, Mark L., Douglas C. Backlund, and Jacob Haffner, 1998. The Miocene Macroflora of the Northern Ogallala Group, Northern Nebraska and Southern South Dakota. J. Paleontology 72(2): 388-397.

*Backlund, Douglas C. and Gary M. Marrone, 1997. New Records of the Endangered American Burying Beetle, Nicrophorus americanus Olivier, (Coloeptera: Silphidae) in South Dakota. The Coleopterists Bulletin 51(1): 53-58.

Perkins, Keith III, Dennis Skadsen, and Doug Backlund. 1997. A Survey for Unionid Mussels in Day, Deuel, Grant, and Roberts Counties, South Dakota. Final report to SD Dept. of Game, Fish and Parks, The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Backlund, Doug and Gary Marrone, 1995. Surveys for the Endangered American Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) in Gregory, Tripp, and Todd Counties, SD, August 1995. Final Report to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Backlund, Doug and Nick Backlund, 1995. Long-eared Owls in the Antelope Creek Area of Stanley County: Notes on Nesting and Prey Species. South Dakota Bird Notes 47(3): 62-63

Backlund, Doug, 1995. Northern Saw-whet Owl on Farm Island. South Dakota Bird Notes 47(3): 63

*Backlund, Douglas C., 1995. New Records for the Dwarf Shrew, Pygmy Shrew, and Least Shrew in South Dakota. Prairie Naturalist 27(1): 63-64.

Backlund, Doug, 1994. Surveys for the Endangered American Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) on and near the Lacreek, Lake Andes, and Karl E. Mundt National Wildlife Refuges, South Dakota. Final Report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-GFP Report 94-05.

Backlund, Doug, 1994. Nest Sites of the American Dipper in the Black Hills. South Dakota Bird Notes 46(1): 6-9.

*Backlund, Douglas C., Mark L. Gabel, and Larry L. Tieszen, 1992. Stable Carbon Isotope Ratios in Extant Celtis (Ulmaceae) in the Great Plains with a Comparison to Fossil Celtis. Proc. S.D. Acad. Sci. 71: 77-83.

*Gabel, Mark L., Douglas C. Backlund, and Jacob Haffner, 1992. Sedge (Cyperaceae) Achenes from the Late Barstovian of Nebraska. J. Paleontology 66(3): 525-529

*Backlund, Douglas C., Mark L. Gabel, and Larry L. Tieszen, 1991. An Environmental Gradient in the Tertiary Great Plains as Indicated by Stable Carbon Isotopes from Organic Carbon in Plant Fossils. Proc. S.D. Acad. Sci. 70: 99-108.

Backlund, Doug, 1990. Common Poor-will Nest in Tripp County. South Dakota Bird Notes 42(3): 61.

South Dakota Conservation Digest articles (SDCD), a publication of the South Dakota Dept. of Game, Fish and Parks:

South Dakota Natural Heritage Program and Your Natural Heritage. SDCD 59(4): 12-16.

Dakota Natural Heritage: The Plains Spotted Skunk. SDCD 59(4): 18-19.

Dakota Natural Heritage: The American Dipper. SDCD 60(May-June): 18-19.

Dakota Natural Heritage: The Bald Eagle. SDCD 60(Jan-Feb): 18-19.

Dakota Natural Heritage: Blanding's Turtle. SDCD 61(May-June): 18-19.

Dakota Natural Heritage: The Regal Fritillary. SDCD 61(Sept-Oct): 20-21.

Dakota Natural Heritage: The Wood Frog. SDCD 61(Jan-Feb): 20-21.

Dakota Natural Heritage: The Blacknose Shiner. SDCD 62(May-June): 20-21.

Dakota Natural Heritage: The Dakota Skipper.SDCD 62(4): 20-21.

Dakota Natural Heritage: The Lake Chub. SDCD 63(3): 18-19.

Dakota Natural Heritage: Gray Tree Frog. SDCD 63(4): 18-19.

Dakota Natural Heritage: The American Burying Beetle. SDCD 64(2): 18-19.         

Dakota Natural Heritage: The American Eel. SDCD 64(4): 20-21.

Dakota Natural Heritage: The Eastern Short-horned Lizard. SDCD 65(1): 20-21.

Dakota Natural Heritage: Ornate Box Turtle. SDCD 65(4): 22-23.

Dakota Natural Heritage: The Six-lined Racerunner. SDCD 66(2): 24-25.

Dakota Natural Heritage: The Common Poorwill SDCD 66(4): 22-23.

Dakota Natural Heritage: Smooth Green Snake SDCD 67(1): 22-23.

Dakota Natural Heritage: Sand Lizards: The Northern Prairie Lizard SDCD 67(3): 22-23.

Dakota Natural Heritage: The Lined Snake SDCD 67(5):22-23.

Dakota Natural Heritage: The Long-eared Owl SDCD 68(2):24-25.

Dakota Natural Heritage: The Northern Cricket Frog. SDCD 69(1):26-27.

Dakota Natural Heritage: The Veery. SDCD 69(2):26-27.

Dakota Natural Heritage: The Golden Eagle SDCD 70(2):22-23.

Dakota Natural Heritage: The Black Hills Redbelly Snake SDCD 71(1): 22-23.

Dakota Natural Heritage: The Chuck-will’s-widow. SDCD 71(5): 22-23.

Dakota Natural Heritage: The Least Bittern SDCD 72(4): 24-25.

Dakota Natural Heritage: Sprague’s Pipit. SDCD 73(3): 24-25.

Dakota Natural Heritage: Lewis’s Woodpecker. SDCD 75(1): 26-27.

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