Assistant Bird Bander - Jackson, Wyoming

One full-time, short-term position available for projects with the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation (JHWF) and its Nature Mapping Jackson Hole (NMJH) program from late May 2022 through mid-August 2022. 

Successful applicant will assist two Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) stations and be responsible for banding nestling and adult Mountain Bluebirds in Grand Teton National Park, the National Elk Refuge, and private lands in Jackson, Wyoming. Main duties will be to conduct passerine mist netting, banding, and data entry according to MAPS protocols 2.5 days each week. Other duties are associated with an ecological study of Mountain Bluebirds, including nestbox monitoring, banding, re-sighting, data entry and general project support. This position will work directly with the Lead Bird Bander throughout the summer and alongside JHWF staff and volunteers. Non-banding days will be spent doing data entry and data management, resighting of banded Mountain Bluebirds, habitat surveys, and other research-related field and office tasks.

Applicants must possess excellent bird-identification skills (western North America), high competency at mist netting, aging, sexing, and banding passerines and near-passerines. At least two seasons of bird banding experience required (>500 birds, western preferred), with knowledge of MAPS protocols highly desirable. Also required is a detail-oriented approach to collecting and recording data and excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to manage volunteers and public visitors is favored. Applicants must be in good physical shape, capable of making commonsense decisions, tolerant of mosquito activity, and able to work independently and as part of a team. Experience working in grizzly country is preferred and banders will be required to carry bear spray at all times while on site. Banders are required to be on site no later than ½ hour before sunrise for banding. A valid driver’s license is required.

Compensation is $6000/season for the assistant bander position. No fringe benefits or health insurance provided. Start and end dates somewhat negotiable. Housing is not provided, but we will do our best to help you find accommodation for the summer, likely in Alpine, WY or Teton Valley, ID. On top of the base salary, we provide a housing stipend ($1100/mo) and mileage reimbursement at the federal rate when personal vehicles are used for the commute to and from Jackson. You will be given use of a company vehicle for driving from the office to the work sites.

TO APPLY: Please email a cover letter that details relevant experience and skills, a resumé, and contact information for three professional references as a single PDF document to hilary@jhwildlife.org. Include in your cover letter an estimate of the number of birds you have extracted from mist nets and processed.  Label your PDF and the subject line of the email as "First name_Last name_Passerine Bird Bander." Applications will be reviewed in the order in which they are received.  Deadline to apply: March 31, 2022.

More information on the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation can be found at www.jhwildlife.org.