Subject: Part-Time Passerine Bander/Field Assistant, New York
Position: Part-Time Passerine Bander/Field Assistant
Employer: Clark Lab of Fordham Universit
Location: Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station, Armonk, NY
Salary: $2,000 – $3,000 for the summer, commensurate with experience
Application Deadline: Review of applications begins 4/1/2021
Details:
Experienced passerine bander needed for the summer field season: June – August (and possibly September) 2021. We are looking for one field assistant to work alongside undergraduates, graduate students, and experienced banders to assist with data collection for two graduate research projects. The banding schedule is dependent on weather, and the fieldwork schedule is generally decided on a week-to-week basis.
For one project (mostly June – July), we will be banding passerines and near passerines, color banding gray catbirds, and collecting blood samples from gray catbirds. Color-branded individuals are then tracked with a handheld GPS and audio recorder on non-banding days to record vocalizations and map nesting territories. We will also be piloting the use of tracking packages containing both a GPS data logger and a VHF transmitter to track bird movement and map territories.
For the second project (July – September), we will be banding passerines and near passerines and collecting ticks and blood samples for a project exploring birds in the ecology of tick-borne diseases. We will band birds and collect samples specifically for this project at least once a week in July and September and twice a week in August.
Primary responsibilities include: 1) extracting birds from mist nets, 2) handling and processing birds, 3) tracking catbirds, and 4) other fieldwork related responsibilities as necessary. Field assistant must have experience opening/closing mist nets, extracting birds, and handling, identifying, aging, and sexing passerines and near passerines. Experience color banding and collecting blood samples would be preferred but is not required. Experience identifying arthropods is welcome, but not required. Work will generally be 30 minutes prior to sunrise for 6-7 hours, 3-5 days per week for an average of 20-30 hours/week. Successful candidates should have an interest in birds, possess a positive attitude, be able to work in close company with coworkers, be able to follow protocols, be prepared to work long hours in sometimes adverse conditions (heat and humidity), and be meticulous.
We have a socially distancing bird banding protocol based on CDC guidelines, including the use of face masks. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, applicants would ideally be based in New York State or from states not on New York’s travel advisory list and be able to commute to field sites. The provision of basic housing is a remote possibility that is still being discussed.
Please submit a resume and two references to Medha Pandey (95pandey.m@gmail.com). Please include “Summer Passerine Bander/Field Assistant” as the email subject line.