Telemetry and Nest Searching Technician for Wood Thrushes in East-Central Illinois

Telemetry and Nest Searching Technician for Wood Thrushes in East-Central Illinois 

Start Date: 05/15/2024 (flexible) 

End Date: 07/15/2024 (flexible)

Hours per Week: 40 

Salary: $15/hour. Housing is not provided, but I will assist the technician in finding affordable subleasing for the field season in the Champaign area if needed.  

Location: Champaign, Illinois 

Job Description: I am seeking one qualified technician to assist with my graduate research study focused on understanding the activity of wood thrushes on their Illinois breeding grounds. This will occur at two study sites in east-central Illinois (Kennekuk Cove County Park and Allerton Park). The project involves mist-netting wood thrushes, attaching motus transmitters and archival accelerometer tags, tracking them via hand-held telemetry, nest searching, and maintaining an array of motus telemetry towers. The main day-to-day duties of the technician will be independently nest searching, nest monitoring, tracking birds, and checking/downloading data from motus towers, as well as assisting me with setting up mist nets, extracting birds, and banding birds/attaching transmitters. Other duties include data entry and equipment maintenance. Transportation to and from study sites will be provided. Candidates should be capable of working outside for long periods of time and in adverse conditions (inclement weather, poison ivy/multiflora rose, ticks/biting insects), and be flexible with their work schedule while maintaining a positive attitude. Early career wildlife biologists are encouraged to apply!

Required Qualifications: 

• Strong passion for avian spatial and behavioral ecology 
• Detail-oriented and capable of working independently and as part of a small team
• Ability to work in adverse conditions for long periods of time 
• Ability to identify birds of eastern North America 
• Valid U.S. driver’s license
• Have a keen interest in wildlife ecology as a professional career 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience conducting behavioral observations and/or nest searching 
• Experience using hand-held radio telemetry to hand-track animals 
• Experience setting up and maintaining mist nets 
• Experience handling and/or banding songbirds

To Apply: Please combine your cover letter highlighting your interest, relevant experiences and career goals, resume/CV, and contact information for 2 references into a single PDF and email to Lauren Brunk (lbrunk2@illinois.edu, Graduate Research Assistant). In the subject line of your email, please use this format: WOTH_2025TechnicianApplication_Last Name_First Name.