*Job Title:* Avian Field Technician for Spring/Summer 2020

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

*Location:* Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia

*Job Category:* Temporary/Seasonal Position

*Salary:* ~$2,000/month for 4 months. Housing and a shared field vehicle

provided.

*Start Date:* 04/09/2020

*Last Date to Apply:* 2/15/2020 (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 field technician to assist

with game bird surveys from April 15 to May 10, avian point count surveys

from May 15 to July 10, and post-breeding bird surveys from July 15 to

early or mid-August. The data will be collected as part of research on

avian use of wildlife openings in the Monongahela National Forest in West

Virginia. In addition, the point count data will continue a 25-year dataset

of breeding bird surveys that is being used to assess long-term changes in

avian communities and abundance.

Fieldwork entails conducting evening modified singing-ground surveys for

American woodcock, morning modified drumming/gobbling surveys for ruffed

grouse and wild turkey, 10-minute morning point count surveys for breeding

songbirds, and morning transect surveys (and possibly mist-netting surveys)

for post-breeding songbirds. All survey protocols will be reviewed before

conducting the surveys, but the field technician should have prior

experience conducting point counts or identifying birds by sound.

Additional work will include deploying autonomous recording units and game

cameras, vegetation sampling, data entry, and data proofing. The technician

will be working closely with the supervisor, Hannah Clipp, and another

technician to access field site locations, but actual bird and vegetation

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 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

science, natural resources, or a similar field

3.     Ability to navigate in the field 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 one-, two-, or three-person

team and individually during early morning and late evening 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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