Grassland Bird Research Internship—Virginia

Title: Grassland Bird Research Internship—Virginia

Agency: Smithsonian’s Virginia Working Landscapes

Location: Front Royal, Virginia

Salary: $1200-1800/ month based on experience, housing provided

We are currently seeking two (2) interns to assist with grassland bird research on private lands near Front Royal, Virginia. Start and end dates are flexible but field work would begin approximately April 15th and run through August 1st. Primary responsibilities include conducting behavioral observations, intensive nest searching for multiple grassland bird species, tracking radio-tagged individuals, vegetation sampling, data entry, re-sighting color-bands, and assisting with banding and tagging eastern meadowlarks. 

Virginia Working Landscapes (VWL) is a program of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) that promotes the conservation of native biodiversity and sustainable land use through research, education, and community engagement. Interns will be assisting a PhD student with research evaluating grassland bird breeding ecology on working lands and full-life cycle histories of eastern meadowlarks. Interns will be given a unique opportunity to gain a variety of skills, engage in research on private working lands, and connect with professionals within the SCBI network. 

Preference will be given to applicants with:

-Excellent bird ID via sight and sound, experience conducting behavioral observations, ability to resight color-bands, and experience nest searching. 

-Radio-telemetry experience and the ability to navigate via GPS and maps. 

-Plant identification and experience conducting vegetation surveys. 

-A strong work ethic and positive professional attitude. Interns will engage in research both as a team and individually and will likely be in a position where they will interact with landowners.

-Must be able to walk long distances and begin work in early mornings. Daily field conditions include walking through fields in hot, humid weather during the summer with ticks, and occasionally poison ivy. 

-Ability to share housing with others, good communication, and flexibility to adapt a changing schedule.

-Willingness to comply with the Smithsonian’s COVID-19 guidance, which may include, at minimum, being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and wearing masks in indoor workspaces. 

To apply: Please send a cover letter discussing your qualifications, resume, and contact information for three references in a single electronic document to Bernadette Rigley  (rigleyb@si.edu) with CC to (VirginiaWorkingLandscapes@si.edu). The close date is January 10, 2022 and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received.  Please indicate “Grassland Bird Internship Position” in the subject line.