Avian Field Technician - Point Counts - Multiple Locations (Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wyoming)

Location: Traveling through AZ, CO, KS, ND, NE, NM, OK, SD, TX, UT, WY

Do you love birds? Are you seeking a unique and rewarding field experience involving adventure, travel, sunrises, solitude, many gas station burritos, big open skies, a rad crew of like-minded folks, and of course - getting paid to count birds?

Bird Conservancy of the Rockies is seeking 30+ field technicians with excellent avian identification skills to conduct point counts throughout the central plains and Rocky Mountains for the Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions (IMBCR) program. Techs will work within the geography of their crew (listed below) and will travel extensively throughout the season. Work will involve hiking off-trail before dawn, navigating rugged terrain, and primitive camping. Techs will have the opportunity to observe an impressive variety of bird species across many habitats, while experiencing spectacular scenery on public and private land.

Locations and start dates vary regionally as follows:

• Southern Great Plains (TX, OK, KS, NE) ------------- starts 4/15 thru end of June
• Southwest (AZ, NM) ---------------------------------------- starts 4/22 thru early July
• Utah  ----------------------------------------------------------- starts 5/5 thru early July
• Colorado  ------------------------------------------------------ starts 5/6 thru mid July
• Northern Great Plains  (NE, SD, ND)  ------------------ starts 5/13 thru mid July
• Wyoming —--------------------------------------------------- starts 5/13 thru late July

Pay: $17.50-20.60 hourly + overtime, depending on experience. Reimbursement for project-related travel and camping/lodging will also be provided.

Training: The first week of the field season will be an intensive group training session covering bird identification, point count & vegetation data protocols, GPS navigation, and data entry. You must pass a bird identification quiz at the end of training. After training, you’ll work and travel solo for the duration of the season (with opportunities to meet up with the crew every few weeks)

Responsibilities: 

• Conduct point counts each morning, then drive to a new survey location each afternoon
• Work a variable schedule including long days in the field
• Hike long distances off trail in steep rugged terrain on a regular basis
• Car camp daily, often without cell service or facilities
• Occasional one-night backpacking camping in remote roadless/wilderness areas
• Conduct surveys with another technician while working in areas with grizzly bears
• Give a courtesy call to landowners prior to surveying on private property
• Enter data, update timesheets and worklogs, and research how you’ll access survey locations
• Check in frequently with your Crew Leader and be available by email/phone

Schedule: 

• Work ~ 40-45 hrs per week (overtime pay after 40 hrs)
• 10 days on/4 days off with some flexibility to adjust schedule to accommodate weather and personal needs
• Most field days will begin before dawn and end in the early afternoon

Equipment: You’ll need to provide your own binoculars, laptop computer (with working battery), and camping/backpacking gear. You may drive your own 4WD/AWD vehicle (and receive mileage reimbursement) or we’ll provide a rental vehicle (with cost of gas reimbursement)

Required qualifications:

• Ability to identify all bird species by sight/sound that regularly breed in your study area
• You’re enthusiastic, physically fit, enjoy travel, and can work long hours in the field
• Willing to wake up before dawn, face hot/cold/rainy/windy weather, and encounter hazardous wildlife such as rattlesnakes, black widow spiders, black bears, grizzly bears, moose, and mountain lions (wildlife varies depending on crew!)
• Ability to hike off trail in steep rugged terrain
• You don’t mind solitude and are independent, organized, responsible, and trustworthy
• You have a driver’s license, proof of insurance, and experience driving 4WD vehicles
• Must pass a background check and DMV screening

Desired additional experience:

• Experience solo backpacking, long distance hiking, and navigating off-trail
• Prior field work experience, especially conducting avian point counts
• Experience using a GPS and navigation apps (such as Avenza, GAIA, onX, or Caltopo)
• A 4WD/AWD personal vehicle is highly desirable but not strictly required

More Info:

Visit the IMBCR Webpage (birdconservancy.org/imbcr) or check out these blog posts from previous technicians:

birdconservancy.org/off-the-beaten-track

birdconservancy.org/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-field-technician/

birdconservancy.org/six-seasons-of-birds-prairies/

birdconservancy.org/the-brand-of-birdsong/