Curlew Conservation Monitoring Officer – Natur am Byth (Cefni Valley, Anglesey)

Curlew Conservation Monitoring Officer – Natur am Byth (Cefni Valley,
Anglesey)

Would you be interested in joining a team to help conserve a Red-listed bird in north-west
Wales?

The Welsh breeding population of curlew is declining at approximately 6% per year and in many
areas, they are on the verge of local extinction.

We are seeking an enthusiastic individual with a passion for nature conservation to work with
fellow project officers, local farmers and our RSPB Reserve team to help protect nesting curlew
in the Cefni Valley on Anglesey.

What’s the role about?

Natur am Byth unites nine environmental charities and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to deliver
the country’s largest natural heritage and people engagement programme to save species from
extinction and connect people to nature. Please click
this link for more information.

Urgent action is required to save the last breeding populations of curlew in the UK, and Natur
am Byth is supporting vital conservation efforts for this wader species in the Cefni Valley,
one of 12 Important Curlew Areas in Wales. The Conservation Monitoring Officer will be
responsible for identifying curlew breeding territories, locating nests and coordinating the
installation of temporary electric fencing. You will also monitor the activities of curlew
chicks providing an estimate of overall breeding success.

The Conservation Monitoring Officer will support colleagues in liaising with private landowners
and farmers to raise the profile of curlew, galvanise support for the project and secure
permissions for monitoring and nest protection. Keeping land managers informed will be crucial
to increasing the likelihood of curlew breeding success.

You will also be involved in surveying lapwing on RSPB Reserves with an emphasis on nest
finding, predator watching and monitoring chick survival. Applications from ringing permit
holders is encouraged as there will be an opportunity to take part in lapwing chick ringing and
radio tracking.

What we need from you

Essential skills, knowledge and experience

• Knowledge of curlew and lapwing ecology, habitat requirements and identification.
• Experience of surveying nesting birds, including waders.
• Good organisational skills.
• Ability to work in extreme conditions, sometimes for prolonged periods in the field.
• Data collection and report writing.
• Verbal communication skills to develop and maintain good relations with landowners and
  members of the public.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience

• Knowledge of delivery mechanisms for conserving curlew and lapwing.
• Ringing permit including endorsement for wader pulli.
• Written and spoken Welsh.

Please note that the successful candidate will live within a reasonable travelling
distance of the Cefni Valley. It is an essential requirement that you can travel independently
to sites where public transport may not be available. Expenses will be paid for costs in excess
of normal travel.

*Please see the Welsh version of the advert attached.

This is a full-time role at 37.5 hours per week on a fixed-term contract for 4 months.
The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further
advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position on Thursday 22nd February. For further
information, please contact [email protected].

As part of this application process, you will be asked to complete an application form
including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone
feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a
world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People
of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate,
sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled,
we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any
additional support you may need to complete your application.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of
Offenders Act 1974.

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship – the successful applicant will need to have
a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.