Tyler Christensen, an ambitious yet somewhat rudderless 22-year-old, is still discovering his life path. Brushing aside his lack of a college degree or scientific credentials, Tyler travels to Costa Rica to undertake his own conservation-oriented research on tropical birds. From the cloud forests of Monteverde to the mangrove swamps of the Nicoya Peninsula, Tyler treks and hatches a plan to save the highly endangered mangrove hummingbird. Field Biologist presents the challenges facing biodiversity, including climate change and habitat destruction.