Seasonal Coastal Outreach Technician

Position Summary

As part of an Atlantic Flyway-wide Coast project within Audubon, the Long Island Bird Conservation Program (LIBCP) aims to better understand and protect at-risk shorebirds in New York. The LIBCP works with partners to monitor and protect Piping Plovers, Least Terns, and American Oystercatchers at various sites on Long Island, performs and organizes International Shorebird Surveys, and conducts outreach and education to target audiences to reduce disturbances to shorebirds. We are currently looking for a seasonal outreach technician for the 2024 field season (late March- early August).

To help reduce disturbances to beach-nesting and migratory shorebirds, Audubon New York launched the “Be a Good Egg” outreach campaign in 2013. We use education, social marketing, and citizen science to decrease human threats to shorebirds and seabirds. We target areas where human disturbance has been a threat to beach-nesting birds and/or there is a need for a reduction in human disturbance and/or stronger community support for beach protection measures. We host on-the-beach outreach events to educate beach-goers and encourage them to sign a pledge to share the shore with beach-nesting birds.

Work may include, but is not limited to, leading on-the-beach outreach events; coordinating schedules with partners, volunteers, and land managers; and acting as a liaison between birds and beach-goers. To be able to communicate beach nesting bird biology and conservation needs to the public, this position will also assist with the stewardship and monitoring of breeding Piping Plovers, Least Terns, and American Oystercatcher by locating nests and chicks to determine reproductive success, putting up and maintaining string fencing and signs around nesting areas, and installing predator exclosures at Piping Plover nests.

The outreach technician will be required to lead Be a Good Egg outreach events, talk to beach-goers about beach-nesting bird conservation, work independently without supervision, walk long distances (up to 7 miles) on sandy and rocky beaches, and carry and use equipment (i.e. binoculars, outreach event supplies, post pounders, fence posts).

The candidate chosen for this position will be expected to work 5 days a week (usually 35 hours). Weekend and holiday work will be required, especially in June and July. Technicians will be required to use their personal vehicle to access sites that are located on both the north and south shore of Long Island. Mileage will be reimbursed. Housing may be available.

This position is on site based out of our Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and Center in Oyster Bay, Long Island.

Compensation:

$16.00-$18.00 / hour

Essential Functions

• Assist the center director and coasts program associate and other staff in planning Be a Good Egg outreach activities
• Work with land managers to obtain permissions and permits for events
• Lead on-the-beach outreach events
• Engage and educate beach-goers about beach-nesting birds and their conservation needs
• Distribute educational and promotional materials to beach-goers
• Encourage beach-goers to sign a pledge to “share the beach” with beach-nesting birds
• Set up and transport outreach equipment, including a canopy tent, table, camp chairs, educational materials, and water and snacks for volunteers, to outreach events
• Create social media posts, take site photos
• Inventory, order and maintain program materials and supplies
• Coordinate and work with interns, volunteers, partners, and land managers
• Organize and implement volunteer training sessions and schedule volunteer shifts
• Use binoculars and/or a spotting scope to locate and/or identify piping plovers, least terns, American oystercatchers, and migratory shorebirds
• Assist in nest searching and monitoring of shorebird reproductive success
• Assist in setting up and maintain protective fencing and signs at nesting areas
• Assist in erecting predator exclosures at piping plover nests
• Carefully and neatly record data on specified data sheets
• Enter data into excel and ebird as needed

Qualifications and Experience

• A B.A. in environmental education, environmental science, biology, or a related field and/or prior experience with outreach is preferred.
• Applicants must have strong communication skills and attention to detail.
• Applicants should be comfortable engaging and communicating with a diverse public audience and must be willing to work on busy beach days and holiday weekends.
• The ability to speak Spanish and/or other languages is preferred but not required.
• Ability to work outdoors for long periods of time in adverse conditions (hot, humid, buggy), a good work ethic, and an ability to work unsupervised is required.
• Prior shorebird and/or field experience is not required, but a willingness to learn about beach-nesting bird biology and conservation is.
• Applicants must be able to walk long distances (up to 7 miles), carry heavy equipment (tents, tables, post pounders, fence posts), and drive to both north shore and south shore Long Island field sites.
• Must have valid Driver’s License in good standing.
• Excellent organizational skills, written and verbal communication skills, and computer literacy, particularly word-processing, e-mail, and database functions required. Proficient in Outlook, Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and social media