Point Count Trainer Field Technician Job Announcement
Klamath Bird Observatory is seeking seasonal Field Technicians for the 2023 breeding season to complete avian point count surveys from May 1st through July 21st 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 the effects of conifer forest restoration on species distributions and long-term monitoring on private and public lands. Surveyors will work in northeastern Oregon conifer forests, eastern Oregon sagebrush habitat, northern California oak-conifer and riparian woodlands, Redwood National and State Parks, and/or Lava Beds National Monument. Applicants should be able to identify a wide variety of western bird species as they may work in a range of habitats, including coniferous forests, oak woodlands, riparian, montane meadows, and shrub-steppe. Primary responsibilities will include conducting multispecies avian point count surveys and 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 season’s onset. Camping independently, often at undeveloped or dispersed sites, will be required for most work. A small number of sites 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, but in certain cases, surveyors may need to use a personal vehicle to travel to work sites. If technicians are required to drive their personal vehicle, mileage reimbursement will be provided at the federal mileage rate.
We are additionally seeking one of the Field Technicians to take the lead on a small training program for local Tribal biologists for three weeks of the point count season. This will involve spending one training week with two Tribal biologists in the field, leading practice of bird ID and point count and vegetation survey protocols (this would occur after your training period with KBO), then spending an additional two weeks completing two rounds of co-surveys in the Scott Valley in northern California along with the Tribal biologists. This will involve completing simultaneous surveys in oak-conifer and riparian habitats, and then offering time for questions and discussion; routes will be slightly shorter to accommodate the extra time needed for training. The rest of your field season would be spent on regular point count duties like the other point count technicians. For this position, we seek someone with more substantial experience in point count methods and Western U.S. bird identification, and the interest and ability to teach others.
Salary
$3256/month, plus 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 field season.
To Apply
Send cover letter (including dates of availability and vehicle type), resume, and contact information for three references in a single PDF document to Tom McLaren (thm@klamathbird.org). Hiring will be ongoing until all positions have been filled. Offers are contingent on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent health and safety mandates throughout the field season.
Full job description: KBO Point Count Technician Posting