*Job Title:* Avian Point Count Technician

*Agency:* West Virginia University/U.S. Forest Service

*Location:* Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia

*Job Category:* Temporary/Seasonal Position

*Salary:* ~$2,000/month for 2 months. Housing and a shared field vehicle

provided.

*Start Date:* 05/14/2020

*Last Date to Apply:* 2/22/2020 (but applications are accepted and reviewed

on a rolling basis, so you are encouraged to apply as soon as possible)

*Description:* Seeking a highly motivated avian point count technician to

assist with morning point count surveys from May 14 (start date) to July 13

(end date). The data will be collected as part of a 25-year dataset of

breeding bird surveys from the Monongahela National Forest, which is being

used to assess long-term changes in avian communities and abundance.

Fieldwork entails conducting 10-minute morning point count surveys for

breeding songbirds and corresponding tree plot surveys. All survey

protocols will be reviewed before conducting the surveys, but the field

technician should have prior experience conducting point counts or

identifying eastern USA birds by sound, as well as identifying eastern USA

tree species. Additional work will include data entry and data proofing.

The technician will be working closely with the supervisor, Hannah Clipp,

and other technicians to access point count transect locations, but actual

bird and tree plot surveys will be conducted alone. The technician should

expect to work 6–8 hours per day; because we are counting birds, field days

will start early (before sunrise) and will involve work on weekends, with

days off during inclement weather. Free housing and a shared field vehicle

will be provided. The field technician should expect rugged housing

accommodations (just the basics, no Internet), ranging from bunkhouses and

cabins to campgrounds. First aid/CPR training and driver safety training

will also be provided at no cost to the field technician.

To apply, please email a cover letter, resume/CV (no page limit), and

contact information for 3 references to Hannah Clipp at hlclipp@mix.wvu.edu.

In your cover letter, please mention any experiences you have with birding,

camping, dealing with rugged field conditions, and/or navigating and

working alone in remote areas. At least one of the references should be

able to speak to any previous avian or other field technician experience.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received.

*Qualifications:*

1.     Ability to identify eastern USA birds by sound and sight (required),

as well as previous experience with avian point count surveys (preferred)

2.     Earned (or are working towards) a Bachelor’s degree in wildlife

biology, natural resources, or a similar field

3.     Ability to navigate off-trail and deal with challenging, difficult

terrain (a lot of steep slopes)

4.     Comfortable working alone in a remote outdoor setting

5.     Ability and willingness to work in a mulitple-person team and

individually during early morning fieldwork

6.     Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record

7.     Positive, upbeat attitude and strong work ethic

*Contact Person:* Hannah Clipp

*Contact Email:* hlclipp@mix.wvu.edu

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