Seasonal Shorebird (Women in Conservation) Technician

Position Summary

Audubon’s Women in Conservation program provides career opportunities for young women in the environmental field. Each spring and summer, we offer seasonal positions for young women to advance our conservation work and further develop young conservationists’ skills and knowledge in the field of wildlife conservation.

These positions provide an array of different professional experiences in conservation, including:

• Field research
• Habitat stewardship
• Education and outreach
• Communication

We are currently hiring one Seasonal Shorebird (Women in Conservation) Technician to work with our New York Coast Program on Long Island, NY for the 2024 field season (late April – mid August). The WIC Technician will work closely with other Audubon staff to reduce threats to priority coastal birds like the Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, and Least Tern. The position will focus on conducting beach-nesting bird productivity surveys, stewarding nesting areas, surveying migrating shorebirds, and assessing the impact of human disturbance on shorebirds.

Work may include, but is not limited to: locating and monitoring Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, and Least Tern nests and chicks to determine reproductive success; putting up and maintaining string fencing and signage around nesting areas; installing predator exclosures around Piping Plover nests; closely coordinating field work and schedules with partners and volunteers; interacting with beach-goers regarding coastal birds; documenting and reporting human disturbance and other issues to land managers and law enforcement officials; entering and managing survey data; and, assisting with outreach and volunteer events.

Audubon New York's seasonal field technicians gain hands-on beach-nesting bird monitoring, coastal stewardship, project coordination, and outreach experience. The candidate chosen for the position will be expected to work 5 days per week (usually 35 hours). Some weekend and holiday work will be required. The technician will be required to use their personal vehicle to access field sites that are located across Long Island. Travel will be reimbursed. Housing maybe provided. Applicants will be accepted until the position is filled.

This is an onsite role based in Long Island, NY.

Compensation:

$17.00 / hour

Essential Functions

• Assist the Coast Program Manager in monitoring and protecting Piping Plovers, Least Terns, and American Oystercatchers.
• Participate in nest searching and monitoring of reproductive success.
• Monitor and record behavior of nesting birds.
• Use binoculars and/or a spotting scope to locate, identify, and count Piping Plovers, Least Terns, American Oystercatchers, and migratory shorebirds.
• Set up and maintain protective fencing and signs at nesting areas and assist in erecting predator exclosures at Piping Plover nests.
• Record and enter data into Excel and monitoring software database.
• Document updates from the field.
• Talk to beachgoers about beach-nesting birds.
• Assist the Coast Program Manager and other staff in beach-nesting bird outreach activities.
• Work with Communication team to create conservation stories for social media.

Qualifications and Experience

• Female identifying individuals working to or currently have a degree in Biology, Ecology, Conservation, Natural sciences, or related field preferred, or multiple years of experience carrying out similar field work." Strong communications skills and an interest in engaging and communicating with a diverse public audience
• A strong work ethic with comfort working independently
• Willingness to work outdoors for long periods of time in adverse conditions (i.e., hot, humid)
• Ability to walk long distances (up to 7 miles), transport and carry heavy equipment (tents, tables, post pounders, fence posts), and drive to beaches in eastern and western Long Island, NY
• Willingness to work on busy beach days, holiday weekends, and some evenings
• Prior shorebird and/or field experience is not required, but a willingness to learn about beach-nesting bird biology and conservation is
• Ability to speak Spanish and/or other languages is preferred but not required
• Must hold a valid driver’s license and have access to a personal vehicle