Barred Owl Field Technician

DESCRIPTION

Field technicians (1-2) are needed to assist in a study on barred owl distribution and dispersal in the Coastal Redwood region of Mendocino County, California. Positions will run approximately April-August, 2021. Pay is $15/hr.

A typical work week is 40 hours. Shared field housing will be provided, but camping may be required during the work week. Schedules will be irregular with primarily afternoon/evening and evening/nighttime work. Technicians will conduct surveys for barred owls, track them via telemetry, and may assist in banding and GPS backpack-tagging of owls. Regular ATV use may be required as some field sites are only accessible by ATV. Technicians will also record, transcribe, and enter data into databases.

This study is part of an effort to collect more information on the status of barred owls in the coastal redwood region of California. The barred owl (Strix varia), a species native to the eastern U.S., has been progressively invading the west coast over the last several decades and poses a major threat to the persistence of the federally threatened northern spotted owl (S. occidentalis caurina). This work aims to inform the management of barred owls in this region. Technicians will work under a graduate student from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

*Travel restrictions apply due to COVID-19. Interested applicants should inquire about these restrictions*

QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants must:

-          possess a B.S./B.A. in Wildlife Ecology, Biology, or related field

-          have a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record

-          have experience operating 4WD vehicles on rugged, unmaintained roads

-          be physically fit and able to traverse steep and rugged terrain while carrying a heavy pack

-          be willing and able to work in adverse weather conditions

-          have excellent hearing and the ability to identify colors on bird bands as required

-          be able to navigate with GPS, topographic map, and compass

-          be comfortable working alone and hiking off-trail for extended periods, often at night

-          be able to adapt to a flexible schedule involving both day and night work and occasional weekend work

-          have experience conducting field surveys and using VHF radio-telemetry equipment

-          have excellent communication and organizational skills

-          be able to live and work cooperatively with others

Some training can be provided. Preference will be given to applicants with experience handling and attaching backpack transmitters to owls, and operating and maintaining ATVs in the field.

CONTACT

To apply, please email a cover letter stating why you are interested in this position and a CV/resume with at least three references and their contact information all in a single PDF file to Whitney Watson (wawatson@wisc.edu). Include “Barred Owl Tech Position” in the email subject line. Applications will be reviewed as they are received