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Location

Southbury, CT | United States

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Job description

Overview:

The National Audubon Society is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects birds and the places they need today and tomorrow. We work throughout the Americas towards a future where birds thrive because Audubon is a powerful, diverse, and ever-growing force for conservation. Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the hemisphere and more than 1.5 million active supporters.


North America has lost three billion birds since 1970, and more than 500 bird species are at risk of extinction across Latin America and the Caribbean. Birds act as early warning systems about the health of our environment, and they tell us that birds – and our planet – are in crisis. Together as one Audubon, we are working to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss. We do this by implementing on-the-ground conservation, partnering with local communities, influencing public and corporate policy, and building community.


Audubon is committed to a culture of workplace excellence, where our talented and diverse staff are deeply engaged with a strong sense of belonging. The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon brings new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.

Position Summary:

The Audubon Connecticut Coastal Waterbird Technician (Peak Season) will work as a member of the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds. The Alliance is a partnership between Audubon CT, the Connecticut Audubon Society, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Wildlife Division, The Nature Conservancy, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The Alliance implements conservation efforts statewide to protect nesting areas and reduce disturbance, while monitoring the breeding populations of five focal species, Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern, Common Tern and Black Skimmer. The Coastal Waterbird Technician is responsible for aiding the efforts to inventory, monitor, and steward the five species of breeding coastal waterbirds in Connecticut. This is a great opportunity to work with several species of shorebirds and waterbirds in a unique estuarine ecosystem along the coast of Connecticut.

The Coastal Waterbird Technician (Peak Season) is a seasonal, full-time position, 35 hours per week, and is slated for April 15th 2024, through August 16th, 2024.

This role is on-site based in coastal Connecticut and the Bent of the River Center, 185 East Flat Hill Rd., Southbury, Connecticut.

Compensation:

$18.00-$19.00 / hour

Essential Functions:

The Coastal Waterbird Technician (Peak Season) will assist conservation scientists with monitoring, research, and management activities for nesting and migratory shorebirds along the coast of Connecticut, including some kayaking to offshore sites in Long Island Sound. Stewardship, inventory and monitoring activities include:

• Working with Alliance partners’ field staff to monitor and manage beach-nesting birds and reduce human disturbance at nesting sites by positively and professionally enforcing site ordinances while educating the public about the protected shorebird species.
• Help implement Phase 4 of the Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Disturbance Project at four sites, which includes weekly data collection, implementing intervention strategies, participating in project outreach and data analysis for inclusion in final report.
• Coordinate management and monitoring efforts with other Audubon Alliance field staff and partners.
• Participate in weekly Alliance conference calls and communicate with Alliance staff via Slack, text, phone and email.
• Assist with the installation, maintenance and removal of string fencing, signage and Piping Plover nest exclosures throughout the season.
• Locate and monitor beach-nesting birds, including nest searching, collecting nest and chick survival data, documenting predators and instances of human disturbance.
• Engage with the public to educate beach visitors about beach-nesting and migratory shorebirds to reduce disturbances at nesting sites and interact with partners and landowners (private, municipal and State) to coordinate management.
• Conduct census surveys and patrol historical nesting sites for focal species.
• Daily and weekly data entry into online database software.
• Accurately recording and reporting sightings of banded shorebirds
• Assist with data analysis and end of the season reports.
• Provide content (pictures and brief descriptions) to document disturbances, for inclusion in final reports, and for Audubon Connecticut’s social media.
• Additional duties may be assigned to support all aspects of the Coastal Program

Qualifications and Experience:

• Experience kayaking on Long Island Sound and/or a Safe Boating Certificate or Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation is a plus.
• Degree in biology, wildlife management, or related field along with previous field work experience is preferred.
• Experience with waterbird and shorebird identification and/or monitoring for the US East Coast is preferred.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and problem solve in the field while being part of a larger team.
• Experience collecting, managing, and maintaining a large data set with detailed field notes and accurate data entry.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite software for data entry and report writing and experience with GPS units.
• Experience and ability to communicate clearly via written, spoken and graphical means along with
  responding to communications in a prompt and timely manner.
• Must have valid driver's license and safe driving record (technician’s will be reimbursed for travel between field sites.)
• Flexible approach to work to accommodate frequent schedule changes based on site needs and weather conditions. This may include some early mornings and/or late evenings.
• Ability to work one weekend day during peak beach season and over the Memorial Day and Independence Day holiday weekends is required.
• Experience conducting field work as this is a field intensive position. Ability to adapt to adverse field conditions such as inclement weather, variable temperatures, poison ivy, and biting insects.
• Must be physically fit to tolerate walking miles in sand or on rocky coastal terrain, able to lift/carry at least 40lbs with or without accommodation and to manually install and maintain fencing and Piping Plover nest exclosures in rocky substrate.
• Interest in conservation and commitment to the mission of the National Audubon Society.

EEO Statement:

The National Audubon Society is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, inclusion and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in this search.

Accessibility Statement:

The National Audubon Society endeavors to keep our careers site accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact [email protected]. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

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