Bird Banding Intern

Klamath Bird Observatory (KBO) is seeking interns for our Bird Banding Program. Interns will support KBO’s long-term landbird monitoring efforts and gain hands-on experience in avian field biology. These positions require strong self-motivation, attention to detail, and patience for the challenges of fieldwork. In return, interns will receive exceptional training and the opportunity to develop a wide range of bird monitoring and research skills while working in one of the most beautiful regions of the country.

Our bander training program blends an intensive field internship with coursework designed in accordance with North American Banding Council (NABC) standards to prepare participants for successful careers as field ornithologists. Training and duties will include mist netting and banding of passerines and near passerines; bird surveying; data quality assurance, entry, and management; and participation in public outreach and education. Non-field duties include study and discussion of banding curriculum, equipment maintenance, field station upkeep, and data entry. Accommodation is provided in shared rooms in a rustic cabin on the Upper Klamath Lake, which has potable running water, a full kitchen, limited internet access, a wood stove, electric space heaters, and an external bath house. Hiking and birding opportunities abound nearby, with access to bikes and kayaks. Weekly visits to remote sites will require multi-night camping trips and brief strenuous hiking, carrying heavy banding equipment.

Internship dates options include:

• Six-month internship covering both breeding and fall migration seasons 05/01/2026-11/01/2026)
• Three-month internship (Breeding Season): May 1, 2026 – July 31, 2026
• Three-month internship (Fall Migration): August 1, 2026 – November 1, 2026

Job Status
This is an unpaid internship. Interns will receive housing; as well as a $500 start-up stipend at the beginning of the internship; and a $500 stipend bi-weekly after that for food and expenses.

About KBO: Klamath Bird Observatory advances bird and habitat conservation through science, education, and partnerships. We use birds as indicators of the healthy and resilient ecosystems on which we all depend. Our program areas reflect the highest conservation priorities for reversing the decline of western bird populations and the habitats on which they depend. Our current applied ecology programs focus on improving management and restoration of conifer forests, oak woodlands, riparian habitats, and alpine meadows. Our theoretical research improves our understanding of historic, current, future population trends of birds in those same ecosystems and
studies birds throughout their full annual life cycle to identify the limiting factors that birds face during breeding and non-breeding seasons. We bring our results to bear through science delivery involving partnership driven engagement in conservation planning, informing the critical decisions being made today that will have lasting influences on the health of our natural resources well into the future.

Job Duties

Field Duties:

• Conduct mist netting and banding of passerines and near-passerines.
• Perform bird surveying.
• Ensure data quality through quality assurance, data entry, and management.
• Participate in public outreach and education activities.
• Maintenance and upkeep of banding stations and living facilities.

Non-Field Duties:

• Study and discuss the banding curriculum.
• Maintain equipment and field stations.
• Perform data entry tasks and office work.

Fieldwork and Logistics:

• Participate in weekly visits to remote sites requiring multi-night camping trips.
• Undertake brief, strenuous hikes while carrying heavy banding equipment.
  Additional Opportunities and Accommodation:
• Stay in shared rooms in a rustic cabin on Upper Klamath Lake with amenities:
  o Potable running water.
  o A full kitchen.
  o Internet access.
  o A wood stove and electric space heaters.
  o An external bathhouse.
• Enjoy recreational activities such as hiking, birding, biking, and kayaking.

Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrate a strong interest in birds and field biology.
• Maintain a positive attitude during long days and occasionally adverse conditions (e.g., heat, cold, mosquitoes, smoke).
• Work cooperatively and constructively toward project objectives.
• Prioritize safety considerations and make common-sense decisions regarding wildlife (e.g., bears, cougars, snakes).
• Work and live harmoniously in close quarters with coworkers.
• Precisely follow protocols to ensure the quality and consistency of long-term datasets.
• Take meticulous care in collecting and recording data.
• Possess excellent communication skills.
• Hold a valid Driver’s License and a clean driving record for using provided field vehicles for project-related travel.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Proficiency in outdoor skills.
• Bird identification skills.
• Experience in bird handling and banding.
• Willingness to work early mornings (pre-dawn), weekends, and flexible schedules based on weather and field conditions.

It is Klamath Bird Observatory policy to provide a work environment free from unlawful discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, age, expunged juvenile record, performance of duty in a uniformed service, physical or mental disability, or any other characteristic protected by local law, regulation, or ordinance.