Mexican Spotted Owl and General Raptor Survey Technician (1)

Position title: Mexican Spotted Owl and General Raptor Survey Technician (1)

Organization: HawkWatch International

Project Supervisor: Jordan Herman (she/her)

Crew Lead: Frankie Vierela (she/her)

Location: Salt Lake City and South-Central Utah

Salary: $2,600/month, plus free shared housing in Salt Lake City, UT. Not eligible for benefits.

Timeline: 40-50 hours/week late-March – early July 2024. Work days and hours are highly irregular, but are typically 4-6 days on, 2-4 days off. Occasional extended trips into the field may be required.

About HawkWatch International

Founded in 1986, HawkWatch International (HWI) is a raptor conservation nonprofit with a mission to conserve the environment through education, long-term monitoring, and scientific research on raptors as indicators of ecosystem health. We are ready to invest in technicians who can help our hardworking team of scientists, educators, and administrative staff.

About the position

HWI is seeking one technician to conduct raptor surveys from mid-March through early July, 2024. The technician will work in a pair alongside an experienced crew lead on the following two projects: 1.) Intensive, nocturnal Mexican Spotted Owl surveys in canyonlands habitat near Hanksville, UT, and 2.) Comprehensive diurnal raptor and Common Raven surveys and nest monitoring in sage-brush and pinyon-juniper habitat near Loa, UT.

This is a unique opportunity to work with sensitive species in beautiful and dramatic landscapes. Primary duties include performing daytime and nighttime nest surveys in remote areas on foot and by vehicle. Technicians will follow established protocols for owl and diurnal raptor nest surveys. Technicians must be comfortable driving on difficult, unimproved roads and hiking with backpacks to survey locations. Field training will be provided, however, prior experience with surveys is preferred. Attending a training course in Moab, UT, for Mexican Spotted Owl surveys in late March is required if the applicant has not received prior Mexican Spotted Owl training with USFWS in this area.

Shared housing is provided for free in Salt Lake City when not in the field. HWI will provide high-clearance, 4WD trucks for field work, but a personal vehicle may be desired for personal use in Salt Lake City or for exploring Utah during time off. Technicians will commute to field sites for “on” days, and will stay in primitive, dispersed campsites while in the field, often without cell phone service or facilities. Some shared bunk housing may be available at certain field sites, but is not guaranteed. Some overnight backpacking (1-3 days) may be required to access remote sites. 

Competitive applicants:

• Must be able to ID, sex, and age western diurnal & nocturnal raptor species.
• Will have prior experience surveying for Mexican Spotted Owls, or performing nocturnal surveys for other owl species.
• Will have prior experience recreating or working in canyonlands habitat.
• Will have prior avian monitoring and nest survey experience (e.g. point counts, transect surveys, nest surveys, migration counts, etc.).
• Are physically fit and capable of hiking 5-10 miles per day or night off-trail
• Are comfortable working long hours during the day or night, sometimes ending or starting very early in the morning.
• Can confidently navigate in the backcountry with limited cell service using maps and a GPS unit, especially at night.
• Are able to make detailed field observations and strictly follow specific data collection protocols.
• Must be willing to car camp overnight near the study site for several nights per week during the field season.
• Are competent with basic vehicle maintenance and repair (changing tires, putting on snow chains, getting unstuck from mud, patching tires, etc.)
• Have experience driving high-clearance 4WD trucks on uneven terrain with rain, mud, and snow.
• Must be comfortable driving and riding in a vehicle for long periods of time (6+ hours per day).

For this role, we are open to considering candidates who demonstrate a combination of skills, knowledge, experience, viewpoints, and backgrounds that align with the position and our mission. If you are passionate about raptor conservation, we encourage you to apply, even if you do not meet every single criterion.

How to apply

Please fill out the application here: https://form.jotform.com/HawkWatchInternational/raptor-survey-field-technician

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We will stop accepting applications after February 14, 2024, or once we receive 50 applications. We will contact applicants to schedule interviews no later than February 14, 2024.

** Please note, we are not able to accept international applicants at this time. **