Grassland Bird Point Count Technician

Title:                    Grassland Bird Point Count Technician

Supervisor:        GIS Coordinator

Location:            Texas and Oklahoma     

Job Type:            Seasonal Position (Mid-May – June; six-week position with flexible start)

Salary:               Monthly salary $3,500; field housing included

Application Deadline: Until Filled

Position Summary:

This is a seasonal position with American Bird Conservancy (ABC). American Bird Conservancy is a fast-growing, results-focused nonprofit seeking employees with an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to make a difference for birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. Inspired by the wonder of birds, ABC achieves lasting results for the bird species most in need while also benefiting human communities, biodiversity, and the planet’s fragile climate.

One Point Count Technician is needed for grassland bird and quail population monitoring as part of a coordinated bird monitoring effort to assess the impacts of grassland management in the Oaks and Prairies region of northern Texas and central Oklahoma. Point counts will be performed on private lands as part of an effort to assess the effectiveness of private lands management. Basic plant monitoring is included to tie together bird populations and habitat. This is an opportunity to be part of a large-scale grassland bird conservation effort involving partner conservation agencies and organizations in Texas and Oklahoma.

Primary duties:

• Early-morning points counts on private lands to survey bird communities (will require hiking and coordination with landowners and biologists to access)
• Data entry and proofing
• Other responsibilities may include but are not limited to: equipment maintenance, managing databases, respectfully talking with landowners and biologists in person and over the phone, etc.

Working Conditions:

• Candidates will be expected to work long hours with early starts in relatively difficult field conditions (e.g., high temperatures, exposure to the elements (sun, wind, rain), hiking, active cattle pastures, venomous snakes, cactus, chiggers, ticks, etc.).
• Housing will be arranged and may include trailers, camping, and possibly bunkhouses, hotels, and other forms of field housing. As such, candidates should be flexible about housing, are expected to adhere to current health advisories, and will be respectful of those around them.
• Technicians will be interacting with Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture partner organizations/agencies and landowners. As such, technicians must have excellent interpersonal skills as they will be expected to represent the OPJV and may be required to professionally interact with landowners in person or over the phone.
• Technicians will be required to drive a personal vehicle to and from field sites.
  • Mileage will be reimbursed for personal vehicles driven for work purposes during the field season.
  • Personal vehicles should be in good condition and able to handle dirt/gravel roads.

*Note that road conditions may be difficult in some areas depending on weather.

• Work schedules consist of 1-2 weeks on, followed by several days off. However, timing of and the number of days off is highly dependent upon weather conditions and is subject to change throughout the field season.

Position Requirements:

• Ability to work independently
• Experience conducting avian point counts
• Experience with identification of Texas and Oklahoma birds, especially grassland birds
• Experience estimating distances to detected birds
• Experience with plant ID and basic plant surveys preferred but not required
• Navigational skills and ability to hike off-trail to point count locations
• Meticulous data collection skills
• Excellent inter-personal skills
• Must have valid driver’s license and be at least 18 years old
• Must be willing to gain basic Red Cross CPR/First Aid Training (fees covered by employer)
• All remote and hybrid employees are required to have a stable and high-speed internet service provider in place prior to beginning work for ABC. Our distributed work force relies heavily on cloud technologies, Zoom, and other automations to successfully complete our day to day work. The ideal speeds are 30-40 Mbps for downloads and 10-15 Mbps for uploads.
  • You may be required to use your personal cell phone to access ABC systems remotely.
• Authorized to work in the US or Permanent Resident
• Occasional air and car travel may be required with this position.
• Background screening required

Benefits:

Position not available for benefits.