Grassland Bird Technician - Great Plains

National Audubon Society

3d • $22 - $25

About The Position

Audubon Great Plains is a growing conservation leader in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska, establishing creative programs to protect, conserve, and enhance habitat for a wide variety of bird species. From backyard conservation to vast prairies and prairie wetlands, Audubon Great Plains is on the leading edge of advancing conservation in the Northern Great Plains. We are heavily involved with private and public stakeholders to ensure that the future is bright for birds and the community of the Northern Great Plains, because we believe that “Where birds thrive, people prosper”. The Seasonal Grassland Bird Technician provides key data collection services to support decision making by landowners and land managers enrolled in Audubon Great Plains working lands programs. The Seasonal Grassland Bird Technician will work under the supervision and guidance of the Audubon Great Plains working lands team to perform a variety of duties related to monitoring rangeland community conditions and pollinator and avian community response to applied land management. The grassland bird technician will be responsible for primary data collection, documentation, and data entry/analysis. Other duties as assigned. This position also participates in learning, mentorship and professional development opportunities. The work is performed outdoors, possibly in rugged terrain and variable weather at remote locations. The technician will work alone and in team environments, and during early morning or late evening hours as needed. The first half of the season is focused on avian monitoring through both point and transect counts; the second half on pollinator monitoring, vegetation monitoring, professional development, and data entry. Extensive travel may be required. Technicians will maintain high quality communication with landowners and Audubon staff to ensure monitoring is accurately and quickly completed. This is a 16 week seasonal position, to start in early to mid-May and end in late August. This position will require significant travel across the Dakotas and Nebraska; overnight travel will constitute up to 50% of position time. Housing is provided near Jamestown, North Dakota or the candidate may provide their own housing in one of the Dakotas.

Requirements

• Have or pursuing a Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree in range management, ecology, wildlife and fisheries sciences, natural resource management, or related field or equivalent experience.
• Grassland bird and plant identification skills (training also provided).
• Must be comfortable with extensive day travel and regular overnight travel during monitoring season.
• Tolerant of heat, biting/stinging insects, and other common field-related conditions.
• Ability to traverse long distances (up to 10 miles) on variable terrain.
• Enthusiastic learner willing to take on tasks with a positive attitude.
• Must have a valid driver’s license to drive to avian survey locations in remote areas. Mileage will be reimbursed if technician uses their own vehicle, or a vehicle may be provided.
• Must be able to effectively communicate with landowners to confirm access for surveys.
• Working knowledge of ArcGIS and GIS technology.
• Experience with or ability to learn data entry and analysis skills.
• Commitment to Audubon’s organizational values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation.
• Demonstrated personal and professional commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace.

Responsibilities

• Complete grassland bird, pollinator habitat, and vegetation monitoring using established protocols on project lands enrolled in the Audubon Great Plains working lands programs: Audubon Conservation Ranching Program, Prairie Management Toolbox, and Conservation Forage Program.
• Organize collected data and enter monitoring data into computer and online databases accurately.
• Effectively communicate monitoring results with range ecologists and program manager to inform habitat organization plans and program compliance.
• Maintain professional communication with enrolled landowners.
• Camp at remote locations alone in preparation for early morning surveys.
• Attend avian survey training mid-May
• Comfortable to begin surveys before dawn.
• Utilize ArcCollector and Field Maps on tablet or smartphone to navigate to sites and field points and collect data.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level