Job Opportunities
The following positions are currently open for
application:
- Ontario Program Intern
- Migration Monitoring Assistant
Field Coordinator
- Marshbird Research Technician -
Prairie & Parkland Region
- Volunteer Field Ornithologists Needed For Long Point Bird Observatory's Migration Monitoring Program
- Volunteer Field Positions
Position Type: Full-time (Temporary). 6-month
contract, 35 hours/week. Candidates must be willing to work
unusual hours (i.e., some evenings and weekends) to complete
field work.
Location: Bird Studies Canada Headquarters, Port Rowan,
Ontario
Application Deadline: March 8, 2010 (for anticipated
start date of April 15 or May 1, 2010)
Compensation Type: $12.00 per hour (Grant-funded through
YMCA's Youth Eco Internship Program; candidates must be 30 years
of age or younger. Funding for this position has been provided
by the YMCA Youth Eco Internship Program. Because of the nature
of the funding, only candidates who are 30 years of age or
younger, have not completed post-secondary school, and are not
presently enrolled in school will be considered. Post-secondary
students who have completed course work but have not graduated
are eligible and encouraged to apply. Please see www.yeip.ca for
full eligibility requirements.)
Bird Studies Canada (BSC) is seeking an Ontario Program
Intern for a six-month contract at our national headquarters in
Port Rowan, Ontario. The intern will assist the Ontario Program
Manager and other BSC staff with biological field work, data
entry and management, and report writing.
Responsibilities:
(1) Conduct field work related to Ontario programs, including
(but not limited to) Chimney Swifts, Hooded Warblers, Carolinian
forest birds, Short-eared Owls, and the Marsh Monitoring
Program.
(2) Data entry and management related to Ontario Programs field
work.
(3) Assist in the coordination and volunteer training for the
Ontario SwiftWatch program, and liaise with community groups
interested in Ontario projects.
(4) Assist in the preparation of reports presenting the results
of BSC's projects.
Qualifications: To be eligible for this position,
candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Previous biological field work experience.
- Strong written and oral communication skills.
- Strong computer skills, MS Word, MS Access, MS Excel.
- Valid driver's license and the ability to travel.
- Bird identification skills.
- Eligible candidates will have successfully obtained a
secondary school diploma.
Those enrolled in, or nearing completion of, a post-secondary
degree in biological sciences or a related field are preferred.
Candidates must be able to work full-time, 35 hours/week,
starting May 1, 2010 through to October 31, 2010.
Interested
applicants are encouraged to apply by Monday, March 8, 2010 by
submitting their resume, a covering letter, and contact
information for three references to:
Elisabeth van Stam,
Ontario
Program Biologist
Bird Studies Canada,
P.O. Box 160, 115 Front
Street,
Port Rowan, ON, N0E 1M0.
Fax: 519-586-3532;
e-mail evanstam@birdscanada.org.
While BSC appreciates all
applications, only applicants selected for an interview will be
contacted.
Bird Studies Canada is the country's only national
charitable organization dedicated to advancing the
understanding, appreciation, and conservation of wild birds and
their habitats. For more information visit www.birdscanada.org.
Bird Studies Canada seeks a seasonal Assistant Field
Coordinator to help oversee field programs at Long Point Bird
Observatory's three field stations for the 2010 field season.
Overseen by the Director of National Programs and supported by
other personnel, the Assistant is primarily co-responsible for
the organization and delivery of LPBO's Migration Monitoring
Program, but he/she will also be involved in the long-term
Breeding Bird Census and Tree Swallow research projects, as well
as on-site educational activities. Located on the north shore of
Lake Erie, Canada, Long Point is a globally Important Bird Area
and World Biosphere Reserve. LPBO's field programs are crewed by
volunteers who come from all over the world for various periods
of time.
The Assistant Field Coordinator is fully engaged in all aspects of
field program delivery, including daily field research,
recruiting, scheduling and training volunteers, providing
logistical support, maintaining field station facilities and
equipment, helping computerize data, and producing seasonal and
annual reports. The person should have a degree in the natural
sciences and must be able to identify the majority of bird
species migrating through eastern North America by sight and
sound. With over 22,000 landbirds banded annually at the
Observatory, the person must have a good deal of mist-netting
experience (at least 2500 birds handled of at least 75 species
is a rough guideline), and must have an excellent working
knowledge of ageing and sexing techniques. He/she already holds
(or is eligible to hold) a federal bird banding permit. The
successful candidate must be able to follow standardized field
protocols, and must have leadership and personal skills needed
to take charge of day-to-day operations of a major banding
operation.
The position is well suited for someone who truly loves fieldwork,
enjoys excellent physical health, is well organized,
demonstrates initiative, has a strong work-ethic and
interpersonal skills, and has experience training field
personnel. A driver's license and clean driving record are
essential. Motor boat experience, computer experience (e.g.,
Band Manager or BandEdit software), and basic handy-person
skills are also desirable. Monthly wage: $2400 ($CAD), plus
legal and health/dental benefits. Communal, on-site field food
and accommodations are also provided. This is a 9-month term
contract position for the spring, summer and fall migration
periods, beginning on or about 15 March 2010. Competition
closes 15 February 2010.
Qualified candidates are invited to submit a resume
(including the names, titles and e-mail addresses of 3
references) to:
Jon McCracken,
Director of National Programs,
Bird Studies Canada,
P.O. Box 160,
Port Rowan, Ontario, Canada N0E 1M0;
e-mail
jmccracken@bsc-eoc.org.
[While Bird Studies Canada appreciates the interest of all
those who apply for this position, only those who qualify for an
interview will be contacted].
Bird Studies Canada invites applications for seasonal research
technicians to assist the Prairie & Parkland Marsh Monitoring
Program. Successful applicants will conduct ecological fieldwork
at locations in Canada's Prairie Provinces. Duties include:
establishment of survey stations, avian point-counts using
call-broadcast methods, assessment and measurement of wetland
characteristics, and data entry. Ideal candidates will be team
players, detail-oriented, self-organized, motivated, and
energetic. Applicants should have a keen interest in birds, be
in good physical condition, possess a strong work ethic, have an
ability to multitask, be meticulous in collecting and recording
data, and be able to maintain a positive attitude while working
long, irregular hours (morning surveys begin as early as 4 a.m.,
evening surveys can end as late as 11 p.m.). Candidates need to
be able to demonstrate proficiency at identifying western birds
by sight and sound (i.e., wetland-associated species and land
birds likely to occur within the region), and must hold a valid
driver's license and be eligible to work in Canada.
Salary from
$1,800 to $2,200/month (Cdn.), depending on experience; housing
(some combination of houses, motels, and camping) will be
provided. Preference will be given to candidates who have prior
experience conducting avian point counts, identifying common
wetland flora, and navigating using maps, aerial photos, and
GPS.
Positions range from 1.5-3.5 months beginning 25 April or
15 May and ending 30 June or 31 July.
For more information or to
apply, contact prairieprograms@birdscanada.org.
Applications should address Dr. Kiel Drake; please include a
cover letter, resume, and contact information for three
references. In the cover letter, provide an honest assessment of
your bird identification skills (these can be summarized using
taxonomic groupings); application deadline is 18 February 2010.
For more information about the Prairie & Parkland Marsh
Monitoring Program visit
www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/ppmmp.
Located on the north shore of
Lake Erie, Long Point is one of the last wild areas left in southern
Ontario. It is internationally recognized as a World Biosphere Reserve
and a Globally Important Bird Area, and supports a fantastic diversity
of habitats, plants and animals. During migration huge numbers of birds
(and monarch butterflies) are funneled down Long Point. Founded in
1960, Long Point Bird Observatory (LPBO) is North America's oldest bird
observatory. The core program is centerd on monitoring populations of
migrating birds through daily census and banding routines at three field
stations. Volunteers staying for at least 1 month have food and
accommodation fees waived. Short-term volunteers are required to pay a
nominal fee covering housing and food. Up to 14 volunteers are required
for the spring (1 April to 10 June) and fall (10 August to 15 November)
field seasons. In addition, up to 4 volunteer field ornithologists are
needed for breeding bird censuses (territory mapping) and inventories at
Long Point from 25 May to 15 July. Previous ornithological work
(including bird banding) and excellent bird identification skills are
preferred, but not absolutely essential. All participants will
experience intensive and diverse training in field ornithological
techniques. International applicants with good English skills are
encouraged to apply.
For applications or more information, contact:
Landbird Program Coordinator,
Bird Studies Canada,
Long Point Bird Observatory,
P.O. Box 160,
Port Rowan, Ontario, Canada N0E 1M0
(519) 586-3531,
(519) 586-3532 (fax),
email:
lpbo@bsc-eoc.org.
Visit our web site
for more information about the volunteer programs
at Long Point Bird Observatory and a downloadable application form.
available, monitoring bird migration activities at Thunder Cape Bird
Observatory (TCBO), Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. The field season runs
from late Apr to mid Jun in the spring and from late Jul to
early Nov in the fall. Volunteers will be involved in mistnetting,
banding, and censusing migratory birds, including passerines, hawks and
owls. TCBO, located at the tip of the Sibley Peninsula, is bordered by
Lake Superior and Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. We provide comfortable
facilities in a beautiful wilderness setting. Volunteers staying over 2
weeks will have accommodation and food provided free. Experience is
preferred, but TCBO also aims to provide an excellent opportunity for
those eager to learn. Volunteers will be accepted throughout the season.
Additional information can be found on our website.
Questions and resumes can be directed to DR.NICK ESCOTT (Chairman), 650
Alice Avenue, RR#14, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E5; E-mail: ngescott@shaw.com
.
