Assistant Bander in Charge (ABIC)

PEPtBO Assistant Bander-in-charge

Role of the Assistant Bander-in-Charge

The Assistant Bander-in-charge (ABIC), under the direction of the Banding, Research, and Training Committee (BRT) of the Board and the Bander-in-charge (BIC) is responsible for the competent and efficient running of the banding and Migration Monitoring programs, supervising and training volunteers, and managing data collection including the preparation of regular reports. The job runs from April 1st 2023- November 15th 2023

Qualifications

-          Experience and comfort working at a high-volume migration station

-          Eligibility for a Canadian sub-permit for songbirds, land birds, owls, and audio lures.

-          Experience and confidence with training volunteers in extractions and banding

-          Comfort with presenting to the public on bird banding and migration

-          Comfortable working in harsh conditions (heat, cold, and mosquitoes)

-          Experience preparing social media posts is an asset

-          Experience running MAPS station is an asset

Job Description

The ABIC will assist the BIC in the following 4 banding operations following the ABIC responsibilities below and provide regular updates for social media posts by PEPtBO.

-          Spring Migration Monitoring

-          Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) Program

-          Fall Migration Monitoring

-          Occasional nights for the Owl Migration Monitoring program

Compensation

$2250-3000 (commensurate with experience) per month

Food and housing are also provided

Requirements

Eligible to work in Canada, possess a personal vehicle to get to and from PEPtBO as the location is quite remote

To Apply:

Send a cover letter and resume to phillip.mercier@hotmail.com with 3 references (at least 1 banding reference) Last date to apply is January 15th 2023

ABIC responsibilities:

1. Banding Operations

o   Obtain a sub-permit from Canadian Wildlife Service

o   Post all permits and other official notices in the banding lab

o   Update sightings board beside banding lab

o   Open the Observatory and supervise setting up nets for the beginning of the season

o   Keep track of and communicate to staff/volunteers:

·       Scheduled Day Volunteers

·       Special Events (school groups, Board events, etc.)

·       Visiting Banders

o   Perform, delegate and monitor all banding and Migration Monitoring activities with the BIC or in the absence of the BIC. (see Banding Manual and PEPtBO protocol documents for detailed descriptions)

·       Perform/delegate net opening

·       Perform/delegate daily census

·       Perform/delegate casual observation records

·       Perform/delegate greeter duties

·       Perform/delegate banding

·       Monitor Banding Assistant(s) and Day Volunteers – when nets are open the ABIC is present in the banding area (Lab or nets).  The ABIC is available for any identification/banding questions and for help with extraction

·       Perform/delegate net closing

·       Organize a meeting with Banding Assistants to update Daily Log and observations

·       During Owl banding, create a rotation for 2 days on, 1 off for banders.  When Owl banding is open to the public (Thu – Sat), share duties with Banding Assistant(s) of explaining Owl banding to visitors

o   Close the banding operations due to inclement weather 

o   Strictly monitor length of time birds are held and apply the Banders Code of Ethics - if a backlog develops (birds held for more than 30 minutes) the ABIC will assist with banding, close nets, release birds or a combination of these

o   Help take down nets and supervise closing the Observatory at the end of the season

3.  Data Management

o   Fill out log data and enter in the computer (proofing any data entered by Interns or volunteers) – refer to Banding Manual/Protocol for samples

o   Supply blank banding, retrap, and owl data sheets for the banding lab

o   Provide a weekly paragraph of highlights/sightings and events to the website (or send to website manager), if designated to do so by the BIC

o   Assist with data submission

o   Submit season summary to the Board by June 30 (Spring monitoring) and Nov 30 (Fall monitoring) – summary should contain:

·       a written paragraph of highlights for each week (can be those prepared for the website)

·       a table of species numbers by week

·       a list of volunteers

·       a list of banders with banding totals for each

o   Report any foreign-banded birds on the Bird Banding Lab website (in PEPTBO's name) and inform the Station Permit holder

o   Assist the BIC and BRT with the preparation of a detailed annual technical report

4. Training/Instruction

o   Verify and monitor that Banding interns(s) and Visiting Banders know and are using correct methods of banding, including the proper handling of the birds, identification, aging, sexing, measuring, entering data and other banding techniques

o   Instruct and monitor Banding interns(s) for the correct methods of handling the birds, extracting them safely from the nets and transporting them to the banding lab

o   Instruct and monitor Day Volunteers for the correct methods of handling the birds, extracting them safely from the nets and transporting them to the banding lab – the Board recommends that Day Volunteers should receive a refresher session at the beginning of each season and be monitored regularly

o   Instruct Day Volunteers how to enter the banding data correctly on the daily data sheets.

o   Insist that all those handling birds and working in the banding lab follow the Banders Code of Ethics and PEPtBO’s protocols.

o   Train new, inexperienced banders separately from daily banding operations at the BIC’s discretion and if there is time (refer to Appendix II in the Protocol)

o   Assist with the development and implementation of virtual workshop(s) in discussion with the Banding, Research, and Training Committee

5. Banding Equipment

o   Assist  the BIC with maintaining the band inventory

·       prepare a written checklist of the band stock (sizes 0a to 2) at the end of each season

·       prepare a full band inventory at the end of the fall season

·       place a band order, when necessary, in consultation with the Station Permit Holder

o   Assist the BIC to replace nets from the stock when the current ones are too old, too brittle or have too many holes in them. Prepare a written checklist of the condition of all the nets a few days before the end of the fall season and recommend/arrange for replacement nets to be ordered before the next season, if necessary, in consultation with the Station Permit Holder

6.  Banding Area Maintenance

o   Report any needed net lane maintenance to the Station manager/Board

o   Wash bird bags regularly during the season and throw out soiled/stained bags

o   Manage predators promptly according to best practices

7.  Staffing

In the absence of the BIC:

o   Assist with the advertising and acquisition of Banding Assistant(s)

o   Approve and schedule requests from Visiting Banders and communicate dates to the Volunteer Coordinator

o   Communicate with the Volunteer Coordinator with concerns about the performance of any Day Volunteers or Banding Assistant(s)

8.  Other

o   Be current in first aid and AED training

o   Schedule days off (1x a week recommended by the Board)

o   Report any activity that violates CWS regulations for the NWA using the contacts provided by CWS or the OPP if the contacts cannot be reached – CWS Staff will provide instructions

o   Report any individual(s) who threaten(s) the safety of staff or volunteers in the NWA.  The BIC should not engage with the individuals but instead contact the proper authorities (OPP for immediate danger)

o   Follow PEPtBO’s Anti-harassment policy for interactions with other staff or volunteers and report any incidents using the described protocol