Staff Spotlight, Elizabeth Gold
Elizabeth Gold is the recipient of the 2022 Hank Smith Award for Excellence in Research. The Award for Excellence in Research is given to an individual whose research leads to informed decision-making for natural resource management.
Over the last 20 years, Liz Golden has led vital research in bird migration along the eastern corridor of the United States. The bird banding station at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park has collected data on more than 40,000 birds of dozens of species. The data has underscored the importance of restoring the native hardwood hammock in the park.
Liz also leads the daily sea turtle nesting surveys. She teaches rangers about the importance of the beach for nesting sea turtles and proper methods of beach driving during the season to protect the nests, and she explains the importance of dune plants for sea turtles.
After Hurricane Andrew, the park’s natural areas were restored with native plants. Liz conducts daily surveys of each area of the park and works to remove any nonnative plants.
Liz has specialized knowledge and hands-on experience rebuilding the park, and a passion and dedication that can be found only in someone who loves what they do and the impact they make for the future.
Join the state parks team!
