USFWS Waterfowl Field Assistant Positions: Alaska

Field assistants (6) needed for the summer of 2022 to assist with nesting biology studies of Steller’s and spectacled eiders for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in Utqiaġvik (formerly known as Barrow), Alaska. The USFWS’s Endangered Species Program (based in Fairbanks, Alaska) has been monitoring Steller’s eider breeding biology in Utqiaġvik since 1991. Utqiaġvik is the northernmost city in Alaska and the U.S., with approximately 4,500 residents. Utqiaġvik has an active arctic research community, with a variety of ongoing projects on marine mammals, birds, and terrestrial mammals. Summer weather is typically cold and windy, average highs range from 35 – 50 F, and average lows range from 25 – 35 F. A house with running water, showers, telephone, and kitchen in Utqiaġvik is provided.

Duties: Assistants will primarily assist with two surveys: 1) Breeding pair surveys for Steller’s and spectacled eiders and avian predators (snowy owl, three species of jaegers, glaucous gull, and common raven) and 2) Nest searching and monitoring the fate of Steller’s and spectacled eider nests, and nests of other waterfowl and avian predators.

Additional opportunity may exist for experience capturing and banding of female sea ducks which may include Steller’s eider, spectacled eider, king eider, and long-tailed duck.

Dates: ~ June 1st– July 15th  with possible extension through the end of July

Expenses/Stipend: Roundtrip travel expenses from the continental U.S. to Utqiaġvik are provided.  A $1,000 stipend plus food and lodging are also provided.

Gear: Waders, binoculars, and other field gear are provided; you must provide your own field clothes.

Qualifications*: Applicants must be willing and capable of: working as part of a team, living in shared quarters in a remote village, working long hours, and physically fit for walking up to 12 miles per day in waders and carrying a backpack on wet tundra, in cold, windy weather, and sometimes warm, buggy weather.

Preferred qualifications include: experience and interest in identifying birds in the field including female waterfowl, navigating by maps and GPS, and experience with shotguns (to carry in the field for bear protection) and all-terrain vehicles. Experience with capture, handling, and banding of waterfowl a plus. Ability to lift 50+ lbs, conduct field and house maintenance tasks, and troubleshoot electronic devices and software for data collection all desired.

To apply: Email a letter of interest, resume, and name and contact information for three references to: nathan_graff@fws.gov. Please combine the letter, resume, and references into one document (either a Word or PDF file), and name the file with your last name_ first name (e.g., Smith_John.docx). The application period is open now until 1/2/22. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the positions are filled.

*Selected applicants will need to provide proof they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 during the hiring process. Additional requirements subject to change and fieldwork may depend on COVID-19 crisis levels in the state of Alaska.