Tern Colony Assistant (Massachusetts)

MassWildlife is committed to a diverse, inclusive workforce and a supportive work culture. We encourage all individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.

The Tern Colony Assistant (3 positions) restores endangered terns to Buzzards Bay through an intensive program of protection, management, and monitoring at the key nesting islands. 

Specific duties

Assist Site Managers with:

• Protection and censusing colonies of Common and endangered Roseate Terns, and Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls.
• Discouragement of nesting gulls.
• Monitoring tern growth and productivity; trapping and banding adult and chicks; participating in other studies as needed.
• Reading bands on adults through spotting scopes.
• Predator control and habitat management.
• Maintaining field notebooks, data management, and writing an end-of-season report.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong work ethic, willingness to learn, initiative, attention to detail, desire to be part of a dedicated team, ability to live and work cooperatively and harmoniously with others, being comfortable working outside most of the day, and good physical condition are most important
• Previous coursework in the biological or environmental sciences
• BIRD/RAM ISLANDS: Experience handling outboard motorboats in the marine environment helpful but not required.
• PENIKESE ISLAND: Experience camping under primitive conditions desirable but not required. Must be comfortable living with others in close quarters in a remote island setting with limited facilities for 2-3 weeks at a time. Person hired will be required to help set up and live in a field camp on the island. Must be able to carry ~40 lbs. of field equipment a distance of ½ mile.
• Experience banding birds helpful but not required
• Willingness to work at night when required

Comments:

Fieldwork will be conducted in Southeastern Massachusetts at BIRD ISLAND, Marion, RAM ISLAND, Mattapoisett, and PENIKESE ISLAND, Gosnold (in Buzzards Bay). Work on weekends and holidays is expected. BIRD/RAM ISLANDS: During the field season, incumbents will be expected to work on an irregular 5 day/week schedule, traveling to and from the islands daily by boat. Crew housing on mainland will be provided. PENIKESE ISLAND: Incumbent will work an average of 6 days/week but will work on the island for up to 2 – 3 weeks at a time before getting time off, depending on weather conditions and on an irregular boat schedule to the island. Housing available: crew housing on mainland will be provided for days off and when working on Bird and Ram Islands; field camp accommodations at PENIKESE. No benefits are included – except earned sick leave.

Anticipated Start/End Dates (flexible):

• Bird/Ram Assistant 1: May 4, 2025 – July 11, 2025 (10 weeks),
• Bird/Ram Assistant 2: May 4, 2025 – June 27, 2025 (8 weeks),
• Penikese: April 27, 2025 – June 27, 2025 (9 weeks)

Salary: $18.00/hr  

Anticipated Hours per Week:

• Bird/Ram: 40
• Penikese: 48