Seasonal Coastal Birds Technician

Maine Audubon is hiring two Seasonal Coastal Birds Technicians to join its dynamic team based in Falmouth, ME. Since 1843, Maine Audubon has worked to conserve Maine’s wildlife and wildlife habitat by engaging people in education, conservation, and action.

Position Overview

We are seeking two Seasonal Coastal Birds Technicians at Gilsland Farm, Falmouth, ME. The Seasonal Coastal Birds Technician reports to the Project’s Wildlife Biologist and is responsible for monitoring and managing endangered Least Terns, Piping Plovers, and other coastal birds on beaches in Southern Maine during the 2024 field season. This is a unique opportunity to apply and grow your skills in direct management of endangered species and outreach with a variety of audiences.

Project Overview

The Coastal Birds Project is designed to recover these endangered species, reduce disturbance of migratory shorebirds, and protect beach/dune/estuary systems. The position works as part of a larger collaborative effort that includes the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, USDA Wildlife Services, numerous municipalities, hundreds of private landowners, and dozens of volunteer plover monitors.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

·        Breeding surveys and nest searching for Piping Plovers and Least Terns.

·        Erect and maintain symbolic fencing and signs. Immediately erect metal fencing around plover nests when new nesting sites are located.

·        Track and record nest locations, hatch dates, nest success, fledgling success, and other relevant data in an online database while in the field.

·        Conduct educational outreach programs through interactions with people on the beach, formal presentations, on beach information stations, and community events.

·        Monitor predation through track observations and by deploying and maintaining wildlife cameras.

·        Conduct other shorebird surveys as needed.

Qualifications

·         Interest in conservation biology and shorebird ecology

·         Excellent observational skills

·         Effective, engaging, and diplomatic communicator both verbally and in writing

·         Experience working in the field with birds and/or endangered species preferred

Physical Requirements/ Working Conditions

·         Able to walk extensively, up to 10 miles/day, on soft substrates (sand beaches)

·         Able to lift and carry heavy equipment of 50 pounds or more on sand beaches for extended distances

·         Able and willing to work outdoors on beaches in all weather conditions

·         Clean driving record for last 5 years

·         Able to navigate and drive large pickup trucks through summer beach traffic

Timing, Compensation, and Benefits

·        Full-time, five days a week from approximately mid-April through early August

·        Some weekend, holiday, and evening work required

·        Stipend $640/week when full-time

To apply: Please send one document including resume, cover letter, and contact information for three professional references to conserve@maineaudubon.org, with “PPLT Technician Last Name” in the subject line. Applications reviewed on a rolling basis starting January 8, 2024. Position closes February 2, 2024. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet 100% of the requirements but believe that you would be a good fit for this position.

Maine Audubon is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other aspect of identity protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.