One (1) technician is needed for July 15 through September 15, 2019 to conduct research on Piping Plover migration on the North Carolina Outer Banks. The position will be based out of Cape Lookout National Seashore, but work will also be conducted at Cape Hatteras National Seashore. This project is just one of multiple shorebird projects based at Virginia Tech. Please visit www.vtshorebirds.org for more information about shorebird research and conservation at Virginia Tech.
Responsibilities: Survey and resight migratory Piping Plovers and other shorebirds on daily basis. Capture and band Piping Plovers. Daily data entry and management using computer and GPS software. Boat and ATV operation and trailering. Work closely with land management agencies. Maintenance of field equipment.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Science, Biology, Environmental Science, or a related field, and prior experience as a field technician or research assistant.
Desired Qualifications: Experience and proficiency with color band resighting, experience extracting birds from nets, bird handling and banding, and boat operation is strongly preferred. Prior experience identifying shorebird species is also preferred. Necessary training will be provided.
Candidates must be able to work as part of a small team and independently, and keep a positive attitude through long field days (up to 12 hours/day and 6 days/week) in a variety of field conditions. Candidates should be in good physical condition, as the job requires walking 5–10 miles in sand while carrying a spotting scope and other research equipment on a daily basis. Candidates should be comfortable living on a remote island in a rustic cabin setting, and comfortable with regular use of boats in coastal waters. A driver’s license and clean driving record is required.
Resighting color bands is an essential job function. Candidates must be able to distinguish colors at a distance.
Salary: $500/week + free housing