The research is investigating grassland bird and plant community responses to cattle grazing in CRP grasslands in eastern Colorado.  The successful applicant will do 500-m transect surveys of adult birds by sight and sound, and after morning bird surveys will assist another sampling crew assessing vegetative habitat structure for these birds.  Orientation begins ~15 May 2025; work ends early August 2025.  Bird surveys will occur the first 2-3 hours of each morning through early July, with fulltime vegetation sampling thereafter.  Multiple sites will be sampled per day requiring independent travel by the technician in a vehicle funded by the project.                      

Qualifications:  Academic training in biology / ecology / natural resources.  Must have previous experience with bird identification by sight and sound, will ideally have experience with line transect or point-count surveys, and must be >21 years of age and have a valid driver’s license for driving a rental vehicle.  Experience with vegetation surveys and plant identification is a plus.  Other demonstrated field skills will be considered.  Must be able to work independently, including in fields and driving alone on remote secondary roads with low cell reception, work well with a team, be cordial to landowners, and tolerant of hot weather, hiking, early starts, long hours, 6-day work weeks, living in close quarters with other technicians in rural areas, and be able to transport themselves to/from field station residences in eastern Colorado for start/end of season.  A larger scope of the project also includes sites in Kansas which is where orientation for bird and plant work might begin and would constitute the initial destination before travel to Colorado.