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Tag: Field Technician

2025 Field Technician Riparian Bird Monitoring

Written by Elva Manquera on . Posted in Careers and Opportunities.

The Field Technicians will contribute to KBO’s growing riparian bird monitoring program. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain exposure to an array of avian field research techniques while working in a beautiful part of the world. Fieldwork takes place at riparian restoration sites in the Applegate and Rogue Valleys of southwestern Oregon, from April 14 – July 18, 2025 (exact dates TBD). Field Technicians should be prepared to start work by dawn and work outdoors 8-10 hrs/day, 5 days/week. Primary duties are spot-map surveys and nest-monitoring for a suite of riparian songbird focal species, insect counts, vegetation surveys, and data entry. Field Technicians will also provide some oversight for two interns. Training in specific field protocols will be provided. Shared housing for the four-person field crew will be provided. Initial transportation to Oregon is the responsibility of the applicant. Applicants must have a valid driver’s license, insurance, and be able to provide their driving record. Field Technicians will be reimbursed for per-mile transportation costs at the federal rate for any work travel done in a personal vehicle.

Job Title: Field Technician – Riparian Bird Monitoring (2 positions)
Base Salary: $19.58 per hour. This position is classified as non-exempt; non-exempt employees are subject to state and federal minimum wage and overtime laws. Field Technicians may be required to work overtime (>40 hours in a given week) upon approval; if so, the overtime rate will be paid at time and a half (1.5 x base pay).
Location: based in Ashland, OR; field sites located throughout Rogue Valley
Duration: April 14 – July 18, 2025 (exact dates TBD)
Application: Send a cover letter, résumé, and 3 professional references to smr@klamathbird.org. Please include your dates of availability, vehicle type (use of a personal vehicle for work purposes may be necessary), and where you saw this job ad in your letter.
Application Deadline: Review of applications will begin January 2; positions will remain open until filled.

Job Duties

Primary duties include:

  1. Conducting fieldwork –
  • Spot-map surveys to measure the territory density of a suite of riparian birds
  • Nest-searching and monitoring to measure productivity and nest success
  • Measuring nestling growth rates
  • Insect counts
  • Vegetation surveys
  • Data entry
  1. Providing some oversight for two interns –
  • Ensure all data are being collected and filed properly
  • Assist with managing field crew schedules

Minimum Qualifications

  • Minimum education includes at least one year of college. High school graduates may be considered if they have sufficient relevant job experience.
  • One season of experience on an avian field research project, or experience in one or more of the field methods listed above.
  • Strong interest in avian biology, ecology, and/or conservation.
  • Ability to hike in rough terrain, off-trail for 1-3 miles per day.
  • Ability to maintain a positive attitude and enthusiasm by starting work early (by dawn), and working full days in the field in all weather.
  • Ability to carefully follow protocols and meticulously record data.
  • Good communication skills with crew members and supervisors.
  • Must enjoy the outdoors and be willing to work in areas with poison oak, blackberry thorns, and biting insects.
  • Must be comfortable with the potential to encounter rattlesnakes, black bears, and cougars in the field.
  • Must be capable of working both independently and with others, interacting with the public, and respectfully sharing housing.
  • Comfort around flowing water is also necessary; some field sites may need waders to cross streams.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  • At least one season of previous experience spot-mapping or nest-searching.
  • Ability to identify common Western riparian birds by sight and sound.
  • Experience navigating with GPS and compass.
  • Field crew supervisory experience.
  • Bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, conservation, or related sciences.
  • Ability to use your own vehicle for work purposes may be required, depending on how many crew members have cars.

Hiring Point Count Field Technician

Written by Elva Manquera on . Posted in About KBO, Careers and Opportunities.

Klamath Bird Observatory is seeking seasonal field technicians for the 2025 breeding season to complete avian point count surveys from April 28th through July 18th, throughout the ecologically diverse and beautiful regions of southern Oregon, eastern Oregon, and/or northern California. Technicians will conduct work related to multiple projects including monitoring effects of oak and conifer forest restoration on species distributions and long-term monitoring on both private and public lands. Surveyors will work in northeastern Oregon conifer forests, eastern Oregon sagebrush habitat, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Oregon Caves National Monument and/or Crater Lake National Park. Applicants should be able to identify a wide variety of western bird species as they may be working in various habitats including coniferous forests, subalpine, oak woodlands, and shrub-steppe. Primary responsibilities will include conducting multispecies avian point count surveys, vegetation sampling along off-road transects following standard protocols, and associated data entry. Other tasks may be assigned if time permits. Field training on protocol methodology and distance estimation will be provided at the onset of the season. Camping independently, often at undeveloped or dispersed sites, will be required for most work. A small number of sites may also require overnight backcountry camping. Experience and comfort with backpacking to sites will be discussed and agreed upon before the field season and are not required for every position. Several field vehicles are available for use, but it may be necessary for surveyors to use a personal vehicle to travel to work sites. If technicians are required to drive their personal vehicles, mileage reimbursement will be provided.

Qualifications

Well-qualified applicants should have at least one full season of avian point count field experience. Applicants should have a full range of hearing, be in excellent physical condition, and be comfortable working and camping independently. Required qualifications include the ability to identify western birds by sight and sound, hike in steep and rugged off-trail conditions, follow standardized field protocols, collect and record meticulous data, communicate with coworkers effectively, work independently in remote forested areas, work in inclement weather conditions, and tolerate working in areas containing poison oak. Surveyors must possess good map reading, GPS, and orienteering skills and be eager to work long days in the field. Applicants must have a valid driver’s license, a clean driving record, and insurance.

Compensation

Base pay is $19.58 per hour. Field Technicians will receive overtime pay at time and a half (i.e., 1.5 x base pay) if they are required to work more than 40 hours in a given week. Reimbursement for mileage at the federal rate if required to drive a personal vehicle. An additional completion bonus of $1000 will be provided at the end of the term of employment if a full season of surveys and data entry has been completed.

To Apply

Send a cover letter (including dates of availability and vehicle type), a resume, and contact information for three references in a single PDF document to Tom McLaren (thm@klamathbird.org). Please include the location you heard about the position in your email or cover letter. Hiring will be ongoing until all positions have been filled.

It is Klamath Bird Observatory’s policy to provide a work environment free from unlawful discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, age, expunged juvenile record, performance of duty in a uniformed service, physical or mental disability, or any other characteristic protected by local law, regulation, or ordinance.

KBO Job Announcement Point Count Field Season 2025_Final

Opportunities for the 2024 Field Season with Klamath Bird Observatory

Written by Elva Manquera on . Posted in Klamath Call Note.

Stationed in Ashland in southern Oregon’s beautiful Rogue Valley, Klamath Bird Observatory utilizes the role of birds as indicators to conduct high-caliber science to inform and improve natural resource management. Through our work conducting avian research, we have a wide variety of field technician positions available for the 2024 field season that span across the Pacific Northwest and range from long-term monitoring to species-specific studies. Our field technician positions offer an exciting opportunity to conduct on the ground research, develop a comprehensive understanding of avian research methods, and contribute to the collective knowledge of bird conservation. Listed below are some of the unique opportunities that we have lined up for our upcoming 2024 season.

Riparian Bird Monitoring

Klamath Bird Observatory is seeking a Field Technician position in our bird monitoring and research program at riparian restoration sites along the North and South Forks of the Salmon River in northern California. Primary duties are spot-mapping surveys to delineate territories of riparian songbird species, observing pairs to determine the reproductive stage (Vickery Index), conducting vegetation surveys, and data entry. Some training may occur in Ashland, OR, before fieldwork near Sawyers Bar and Forks of Salmon, CA. Field work will start ~April 29th and continue until ~July 12th (exact dates to be determined). More information can be found here.

Vesper Sparrow Field Technician

As part of our Oregon Vesper Sparrow research program, we are conducting an inventory of the size and distribution of Vesper Sparrow populations in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument to assess population status and potential conservation actions for this imperiled subspecies. Klamath Bird Observatory is seeking to fill a Field Technician position to conduct transect surveys in meadow and oak-prairie habitat in the Monument and complete associated data entry. The Field Technician will survey for Vesper Sparrows by sight and sound in different locations in and around the Monument, sampling along off-road transects following standard protocols. Field work will start ~April 29th and continue until ~July 3rd (exact dates to be determined). More information can be found here.

Banding Internship

Klamath Bird Observatory seeks highly motivated individuals to participate in our long-term landbird monitoring program. This position requires independent drive and patience for the travails of fieldwork but also affords a fantastic opportunity to build practical experience in field biology and master a variety of bird monitoring and research skills in a beautiful part of the country. Training and duties will include mist netting and banding of passerines and near passerines; bird surveying; data quality assurance, entry, and management; and public outreach and education participation. Non-field duties include study and discussion of banding curriculum, equipment maintenance, field station upkeep, and data entry. Field work will begin May 1st and continue until October 31st with an option to start August 1st. More information can be found here.

Point Count Technician

We are hiring seasonal field technicians for the 2024 breeding season to complete avian point count surveys throughout the ecologically diverse and beautiful southern Oregon, eastern Oregon, and/or northern California regions. Technicians will conduct work related to multiple projects, including monitoring the effects of oak and conifer forest restoration on species distributions and long-term monitoring on both private and public lands. Primary responsibilities will include conducting multispecies avian point count surveys, vegetation sampling along off-road transects following standard protocols, and associated data entry. Field work will take place April 29th through July 19th. More information can be found here.

Loggerhead Shrike Field Technician

We are also seeking a Field Technician to monitor territories and nests of Loggerhead Shrikes at the Boardman Conservation Area near Boardman, OR. Primary duties include surveying grids in sagebrush habitat to locate shrike territories (up to 8 miles off-trail hiking per day), finding and monitoring shrike nests, completing vegetation surveys at nest sites, and data entry. The best-qualified applicants will also have basic ArcGIS skills (e.g., importing GPS points and creating territory maps). Shared field housing is available in Ione, OR. The field season will take place from April 1 – June 30. Click here to learn more.

KBO Position Announcements

Written by KBO on . Posted in Klamath Call Note.

Klamath Bird Observatory has announced several new position openings. We are currently recruiting for field technicians for the upcoming 2018 field season, citizen scientist volunteers for a new Short-eared Owl survey project, and a meeting facilitator to work with the Klamath Siskiyou Oak Network. Links to the position announcements on KBO’s website are below—where you with find details about the positions and instructions on how to apply.

On behalf of the Klamath Siskiyou Oak Network, KBO is seeking bids for a meeting facilitator to support strategic planning efforts—CLICK HERE to view this position announcement.

KBO is seeking to fill two Field Technician positions in our bird monitoring and research program at several riparian restoration sites along the Trinity, Salmon, and possibly Klamath rivers in northern California—CLICK HERE to view this position announcement.

KBO invites applications for four (4) Bird Banding Assistant Internship position openings—CLICK HERE to view this position announcement.

KBO seeks to fill a Field Technician position with primary responsibilities to manage our bird banding long-term monitoring project—CLICK HERE to view this position announcement.

KBO is seeking volunteers for a Short-eared Owl citizen science monitoring project—CLICK HERE to view this position announcement.