Josh Lefever

We are hiring one wildlife technician to work on a project assessing the impact of wildfires, aspen regeneration, and Red Squirrels on songbird communities in the Monument Ridge area near Bondurant, Wyoming. Specifically, we are looking for a person with previous avian point counting experience, and who is comfortable hiking and camping off trail in rugged, mountainous areas. Familiarity with the IMBCR point count protocol is preferred but not required. Technician may also have the opportunity to help at our MAPS banding stations; previous banding experience, particularly a proficiency with mist net extraction, is a plus. Duration and Salary: May 13th (can possibly start up to one week later depending on experience) to mid-July with possibility of extension to early August $1300 biweekly $20 per diem for work-related travel Up to $350 reimbursement for moving expenses both to and from Bondurant. ***Free housing is provided in the beautiful mountain valley of Bondurant, adjacent to a working ranch with Bison and Horses. *** The technician will primarily be responsible for conducting IMBCR bird surveys around Bondurant, WY as well as in central Montana and the South Hills of Idaho. Technician will also be expected to help monitor passerine nest boxes, check cameras traps, conduct vegetation surveys, help maintain banding sites, and may assist with Clark’s Nutcracker and Common Loon research projects in the surrounding area. Technician may also be able to participate with some MAPS banding sessions, however banding regularly is not a guaranteed element of the position. Point Count Technician Responsibilities: IMBCR point counts (60%) Vegetation Surveys (5%) Camera trap monitoring and maintenance (10%) Passerine nest box monitoring (5%) Clark’s Nutcracker/ Common Loon Surveys (5%) Data entry and proofing (5%) MAPS songbird mist netting (5%) Other office tasks (net repair, gear cleanup, nest box maintenance, inventory, etc.) (5%) Hours/Schedule: This is a full-time, seasonal position with somewhat flexible start and end dates. The work schedule is typically 10 days on and 4 days off, but weather and project requirements will ultimately determine the schedule. Hours worked beyond the 80 hours per period requirement accrue as comp time to be used later in the season as paid days off. Field Conditions: The study area lies at 7,000’ - 8,000’ elevation, so mornings can be frosty, even in summer. Habitat types include aspen woodlands, mixed conifer, and sagebrush steppe. Grizzly bear encounters are possible. Shared housing and transportation for work is provided. Occasional use of personal vehicles for work occurs but is not required. Fuel expenses are reimbursed. Technicians will need their own camping equipment and field gear as well as secure their own transportation to and from Bondurant, WY (travel cost up to $350 will be reimbursed). Bondurant is a remote town with a population of less than 100 year-round residents. The closest amenities are in Jackson and Pinedale, each a 45-minute drive from town. Recreational opportunities in the surrounding area are truly limitless, with world class fly fishing, backpacking, rafting, climbing and two national parks. Qualifications: Excellent hearing, sight, and the willingness to learn to identify western birds by sight and sound are non-negotiable requirements. Familiarity with Rocky Mountain species of birds, trees, and shrubs is helpful but not required. Some previous experience extracting passerines from mist nets, maintaining camera traps, monitoring nest boxes, and driving large 4WD vehicles is also highly desirable. Applicants should have earned a degree in wildlife biology, related discipline or be working towards completing a degree. A valid driver's license is required. The ability to drive a manual transmission is a plus. Applicants should possess a strong work ethic, be a quick learner, have good navigational skills, be a team player, and willing to share living spaces with coworkers. Ideally, candidates have some experience backpacking with camping and survey equipment into remote areas and knowledge of bear avoidance protocols. Technicians must be in excellent physical condition, able to lift 50 pounds, hike up to 15 miles off trail at high altitude in steep terrain, sometimes with large areas of deadfall, and tolerate early mornings, long hours, and adverse weather. To apply: Send a cover letter and resume detailing how your experience and interests make you a suitable candidate as well as three references and your preferred start and end dates. Please send all materials in a single PDF document to Josh Lefever at jlefever@rickettsconservation.org. Applications will be reviewed upon receipt; a suitable applicant may be hired prior to the closing date (March 30th).

We are hiring an experienced bird bander/point count technician to work on a project assessing the impact of aspen regeneration projects and wildfires on bird communities near Bondurant, Wyoming. Specifically, we are looking for someone knowledgeable with songbird mist netting and banding, passerine aging, and sexing techniques, familiar with or willing to be trained in the Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions (IMBCR) point count protocol, comfortable hiking off trail in mountainous areas, and excited to assist with other research projects. Interested applicants with suitable experience may also extend the position into the fall as our lead owl bander and/or fall migration passerine mist net assistant. Duration and Salary: Mid-May to late-August, with possible extension to mid-November $1600 biweekly $20 daily per diem for work-related travel Up to $350 reimbursement for moving expenses both to and from Bondurant ***Free housing is provided in a beautiful mountain valley, adjacent to a working ranch with Bison and Horses. *** The Experienced Bander will work with the foundation’s Associate Biologists and Lead Bander to help run our many MAPS banding sites in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The selected candidate will be responsible for operating several low to mid-volume MAPS stations with one or two mist net assistants (set up and taking down nets, extracting, banding, aging, and sexing birds as well as recording and entering data), and work with the lead bander at our high-volume sites. They will also conduct IMBCR bird surveys, monitor passerine nest boxes, check cameras traps, conduct vegetation surveys, and assist with Clark’s Nutcracker and Common Loon research projects in the surrounding area. The Experienced Bander will also assist the Lead Bander with project management and crew supervision. Spring/Summer Responsibilities (May - August): MAPS songbird mist netting and banding (50%) IMBCR point counts (20%) Vegetation Surveys (5%) Camera trap monitoring and maintenance (10%) Passerine nest box monitoring (5%) Yellowstone Clark’s Nutcracker Surveys (5%) Data entry and proofing (5%) Other office tasks (net repair, gear cleanup, nest box maintenance, inventory, etc.) Fall Responsibilities (September – November, tentative): Owl migration mist netting and banding (60%) Songbird migration mist netting and banding (20%) Camera trap monitoring and maintenance (5%) Yellowstone Clark’s Nutcracker Surveys (10%) Data entry and proofing (5%) Other office tasks (net repair, gear cleanup, nest box maintenance, inventory, etc.) Hours/Schedule: This is a full-time, seasonal positions with somewhat flexible start and end dates. The work schedule is typically 10 days on and 4 days off with extra days for some federal holidays, but weather and project requirements will ultimately determine the schedule. Hours worked beyond the 80-hour/period requirement accrue as comp time to be used later in the season as paid days off. Field Conditions: The study area lies at 7,000’ - 8,000’ elevation, so mornings can be frosty, even in summer. Habitat types include aspen woodlands, mixed conifer, and sagebrush steppe. Grizzly bear encounters are possible. Shared housing and transportation for work is provided. Occasional use of personal vehicles for work occurs but is not required. Fuel expenses are reimbursed. Technicians will need their own camping equipment and field gear as well as secure their own transportation to and from Bondurant, WY. Bondurant is a remote town with a population of less than 100 year-round residents. The closest amenities are in Jackson and Pinedale, each a 45-minute drive from town. Recreational opportunities in the surrounding area are truly limitless, with world class fly fishing, backpacking, rafting, climbing and two national parks. Qualifications: Substantial songbird mist netting and banding experience required (processed a minimum of 500 adult passerines). Must possess knowledge of aging and sexing techniques and qualify as a sub-permitee on the banding permit. Excellent hearing, sight, and the willingness to learn to identify western birds by sight and sound are non-negotiable requirements. Familiarity with Rocky Mountain species of birds, trees, and shrubs is helpful but not required. Excellent note taking and organizational skills is required. Working knowledge of Bandit, MAPSPROG, and Microsoft Office programs (e.g. Word, Excel, and Access) is helpful. For those wishing to stay for the fall season, experience using playback and mist nets to capture and band owls is highly desirable. Experience using reference materials (i.e. Pyle) to age and sex birds, familiarity with both WRP and HP aging systems, maintaining camera traps, monitoring nest boxes, and handling nestlings is also highly desirable. Applicants should have earned a degree in wildlife biology, related discipline or be working towards completing a degree. A valid driver's license is required. The ability to drive a manual transmission is a plus. Applicants should possess a strong work ethic, be a quick learner, have good navigational skills, be a team player, and willing to share living spaces with coworkers. Ideally, candidates have some experience backpacking with camping and survey equipment into remote areas and knowledge of bear avoidance protocols. Technicians must be in excellent physical condition, able to lift 50 pounds, hike up to 15 miles off trail at high altitude, tolerate early mornings and late nights, long hours, adverse weather, large areas of deadfall, and be comfortable not using mosquito repellents in the field (DEET and birds do not mix). To apply: In a single PDF, please send a cover letter and resume detailing how your experience and interests make you a suitable candidate as well as three references. Specify your desired start and end dates and whether you are interested in continuing through the fall season. Applicants should include a banding resume detailing locations where experience was obtained as well as rough totals of birds extracted and birds processed. Please send all materials to Josh Lefever at jlefever@rickettsconservationfoundation.com. Applications will be reviewed upon receipt; suitable applicants will be pursued as they are identified.

We are hiring two wildlife technician positions to work on a project assessing the impact of aspen regeneration projects and wildfires on songbird and mammal communities in the Monument Ridge area near Bondurant, Wyoming. Specifically, we are looking for persons knowledgeable with songbird mist netting and banding, familiar with or willing to be trained in the Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions (IMBCR) point count protocol, comfortable hiking off trail in mountainous areas, and excited to assist as needed with other research projects. There will also be the opportunity for one technician to stay on as a mist net assistant for our fall bird banding operations. Duration and Salary: Mid-May to late-August with possibility of extension to mid-November $1300 biweekly $20 per diem for work-related travel Up to $350 reimbursement for moving expenses both to and from Bondurant. ***Free housing is provided in a beautiful mountain valley, adjacent to a working ranch with Bison and Horses. *** ***One of these positions will be split with the Greater Yellowstone Loon Project. *** The technicians will be responsible for assisting at MAPS stations (setting up and taking down nets, extracting birds, recording, and entering field data). They will also conduct IMBCR bird surveys, monitor passerine nest boxes, check cameras traps, conduct vegetation surveys, and assist with Clark’s Nutcracker and Common Loon research projects in the surrounding area. Full-Time Monument Ridge - Spring/Summer Responsibilities (May - August): MAPS songbird mist netting and banding (55%) IMBCR point counts (20%) Vegetation Surveys (5%) Camera trap monitoring and maintenance (10%) Passerine nest box monitoring (4%) Yellowstone Clark’s Nutcracker Surveys (1%) Data entry and proofing (5%) Other office tasks (net repair, gear cleanup, nest box maintenance, inventory, etc.) Split Common Loon/Monument Ridge - Spring/Summer Responsibilities (May - August): MAPS songbird mist netting and banding (44%) IMBCR point counts (5%) Common Loon monitoring (44%) Camera trap monitoring and maintenance (1%) Yellowstone Clark’s Nutcracker Surveys (1%) Data entry and proofing (5%) Other office tasks (net repair, gear cleanup, nest box maintenance, inventory, etc.) Fall Responsibilities (September – November, tentative): Owl migration mist netting and banding (60%) Songbird migration mist netting and banding (20%) Camera trap monitoring and maintenance (5%) Yellowstone Clark’s Nutcracker Surveys (10%) Data entry and proofing (5%) Other office tasks (net repair, gear cleanup, nest box maintenance, inventory, etc.) Hours/Schedule: These are full-time, seasonal positions with somewhat flexible start and end dates. The work schedule is typically 10 days on and 4 days off with extra days for some federal holidays, but weather and project requirements will ultimately determine the schedule. Hours worked beyond the 80-hour/period requirement accrue as comp time to be used later in the season as paid days off. Field Conditions: The study area lies at 7,000’ - 8,000’ elevation, so mornings can be frosty, even in summer. Habitat types include aspen woodlands, mixed conifer, and sagebrush steppe. Grizzly bear encounters are possible. Shared housing and transportation for work is provided. Occasional use of personal vehicles for work occurs but is not required. Fuel expenses are reimbursed. Technicians will need their own camping equipment and field gear as well as secure their own transportation to and from Bondurant, WY. Bondurant is a remote town with a population of less than 100 year-round residents. The closest amenities are in Jackson and Pinedale, each a 45-minute drive from town. Recreational opportunities in the surrounding area are truly limitless, with world class fly fishing, backpacking, rafting, climbing and two national parks. Qualifications: Excellent hearing, sight, and the willingness to learn to identify western birds by sight and sound are non-negotiable requirements. Familiarity with Rocky Mountain species of birds, trees, and shrubs is helpful but not required. Some previous experience extracting passerines from mist nets is a must (minimum 200 birds extracted). For those interested in staying for the fall season, experience using playback and mist nets to capture and band owls is desirable but not required. Experience using reference materials (i.e. Pyle) to age and sex birds, familiarity with both WRP and HP aging systems, maintaining camera traps, monitoring nest boxes, and handling nestlings is also highly desirable. Applicants should have earned a degree in wildlife biology, related discipline or be working towards completing a degree. A valid driver's license is required. The ability to drive a manual transmission is a plus. Applicants should possess a strong work ethic, be a quick learner, have good navigational skills, be a team player, and willing to share living spaces with coworkers. Ideally, candidates have some experience backpacking with camping and survey equipment into remote areas and knowledge of bear avoidance protocols. Technicians must be in excellent physical condition, able to lift 50 pounds, hike up to 15 miles off trail at high altitude, tolerate early mornings and late nights, long hours, adverse weather, large areas of deadfall, and be comfortable not using mosquito repellents in the field (DEET and birds do not mix). Loon/Monument Ridge Specific Qualifications: Experience driving large, 4WD trucks while towing small watercraft is highly desirable. The split technician should also be comfortable operating canoes and inflatable outboard motorboats on large, cold lakes. Because the loon work predominantly takes place near Yellowstone National Park, encounters with Grizzly Bears are much more likely for this position. More backcountry camping is required for the loon work, so experience backpacking is a must. To apply: Send a cover letter and resume detailing how your experience and interests make you a suitable candidate as well as three references. Specify your desired start and end dates and whether you are interested in continuing through the fall season. Applicants should include a banding resume detailing locations where experience was obtained as well as rough totals of birds extracted and birds processed. Please send all materials to Josh Lefever at jlefever@rickettsconservationfoundation.com. Applications will be reviewed upon receipt; suitable applicants may be hired before closing date (January 31st).

We are hiring an experienced bird bander/point count technician to work on a project assessing the impact of aspen regeneration projects and wildfires on bird communities near Bondurant, Wyoming. Specifically, we are looking for someone knowledgeable with songbird mist netting and banding, passerine aging, and sexing techniques, familiar with or willing to be trained in the Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions (IMBCR) point count protocol, comfortable hiking off trail in mountainous areas, and excited to assist with other research projects. Interested applicants with suitable experience may also extend the position into the fall as our lead owl bander and/or fall migration passerine mist net assistant. Duration and Salary: Mid-May to late-August, with possible extension to mid-November $1500 biweekly $20 daily per diem for work-related travel Up to $350 reimbursement for moving expenses both to and from Bondurant ***Free housing is provided in a beautiful mountain valley, adjacent to a working ranch with Bison and Horses. *** The Experienced Bander will work with the foundation’s Associate Biologists and Lead Bander to help run our many MAPS banding sites in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The selected candidate will be responsible for operating several low to mid-volume MAPS stations with one or two mist net assistants (set up and taking down nets, extracting, banding, aging, and sexing birds as well as recording and entering data), and work with the lead bander at our high-volume sites. They will also conduct IMBCR bird surveys, monitor passerine nest boxes, check cameras traps, conduct vegetation surveys, and assist with Clark’s Nutcracker and Common Loon research projects in the surrounding area. The Experienced Bander will also assist the Lead Bander with project management and crew supervision. Spring/Summer Responsibilities (May - August): MAPS songbird mist netting and banding (50%) IMBCR point counts (20%) Vegetation Surveys (5%) Camera trap monitoring and maintenance (10%) Passerine nest box monitoring (5%) Yellowstone Clark’s Nutcracker Surveys (5%) Data entry and proofing (5%) Other office tasks (net repair, gear cleanup, nest box maintenance, inventory, etc.) Fall Responsibilities (September – November, tentative): Owl migration mist netting and banding (60%) Songbird migration mist netting and banding (20%) Camera trap monitoring and maintenance (5%) Yellowstone Clark’s Nutcracker Surveys (10%) Data entry and proofing (5%) Other office tasks (net repair, gear cleanup, nest box maintenance, inventory, etc.) Hours/Schedule: This is a full-time, seasonal positions with somewhat flexible start and end dates. The work schedule is typically 10 days on and 4 days off with extra days for some federal holidays, but weather and project requirements will ultimately determine the schedule. Hours worked beyond the 80-hour/period requirement accrue as comp time to be used later in the season as paid days off. Field Conditions: The study area lies at 7,000’ - 8,000’ elevation, so mornings can be frosty, even in summer. Habitat types include aspen woodlands, mixed conifer, and sagebrush steppe. Grizzly bear encounters are possible. Shared housing and transportation for work is provided. Occasional use of personal vehicles for work occurs but is not required. Fuel expenses are reimbursed. Technicians will need their own camping equipment and field gear as well as secure their own transportation to and from Bondurant, WY. Bondurant is a remote town with a population of less than 100 year-round residents. The closest amenities are in Jackson and Pinedale, each a 45-minute drive from town. Recreational opportunities in the surrounding area are truly limitless, with world class fly fishing, backpacking, rafting, climbing and two national parks. Qualifications: Substantial songbird mist netting and banding experience required (processed a minimum of 500 birds). Must possess knowledge of aging and sexing techniques and qualify as a sub-permitee on the banding permit. Excellent hearing, sight, and the willingness to learn to identify western birds by sight and sound are non-negotiable requirements. Familiarity with Rocky Mountain species of birds, trees, and shrubs is helpful but not required. Excellent note taking and organizational skills is required. Working knowledge of Bandit, MAPSPROG, and Microsoft Office programs (e.g. Word, Excel, and Access) is helpful. For those wishing to stay for the fall season, experience using playback and mist nets to capture and band owls is highly desirable. Experience using reference materials (i.e. Pyle) to age and sex birds, familiarity with both WRP and HP aging systems, maintaining camera traps, monitoring nest boxes, and handling nestlings is also highly desirable. Applicants should have earned a degree in wildlife biology, related discipline or be working towards completing a degree. A valid driver's license is required. The ability to drive a manual transmission is a plus. Applicants should possess a strong work ethic, be a quick learner, have good navigational skills, be a team player, and willing to share living spaces with coworkers. Ideally, candidates have some experience backpacking with camping and survey equipment into remote areas and knowledge of bear avoidance protocols. Technicians must be in excellent physical condition, able to lift 50 pounds, hike up to 15 miles off trail at high altitude, tolerate early mornings and late nights, long hours, adverse weather, large areas of deadfall, and be comfortable not using mosquito repellents in the field (DEET and birds do not mix). To apply: Send a cover letter and resume detailing how your experience and interests make you a suitable candidate as well as three references. Specify your desired start and end dates and whether you are interested in continuing through the fall season. Applicants should include a banding resume detailing locations where experience was obtained as well as rough totals of birds extracted and birds processed. Please send all materials to Josh Lefever at jlefever@rickettsconservationfoundation.com. Applications will be reviewed upon receipt; suitable applicant may be hired before closing date (January 31st).