ARCTIC ALASKA AVIAN FIELD BIOLOGISTS – ARTIFICIAL NEST EXPERIMENT / OILFIELD REHAB

at Wildlife Conservation Society

Location:
Prudhoe Bay, Alaska

Duration:
25 May to 25 July 2012

Job Type:
Seasonal

Application Deadline:
04/15/2012

Job Description:
Field Associates (1) and Crew Leader (1) needed from 25 May to 25 July 2012 to participate in two projects with the Wildlife Conservation Society in an oil-developed area near Prudhoe Bay. For Project 1 we will conduct an artificial nest experiment assessing predation rates near and far from oil field infrastructure. For Project 2 we will assess breeding bird usage of rehabilitated sites previously disturbed by oil drilling activity. Duties will include placing artificial shorebird and duck nests along transects and monitoring them for nest survivorship. A subset of artificial nests will be monitored with remote cameras. For the rehab project, duties will include nest searching and monitoring, floating eggs to determine age, area search surveys and behavioral observations of all bird species at both rehab and undisturbed sites. Micro-site habitat characteristics will we be measured using a bird-centered vegetation sampling approach. Data entry and proofing will also be required. The crew will access sites in the oilfields using a vehicle and will interact with oilfield personnel on a daily basis. Employees will be paid a monthly stipend of $1200 - 1800 depending on experience. Travel/hotel costs within Alaska will be provided. Room and board (at facilities in the Prudhoe Bay oil field) will be provided. Travel to Alaska will be partially covered ($500 voucher) by WCS.

To Apply:
Please send a cover letter, resume and at least three references (with contact information) by email to JOE LIEBEZEIT (EM: jliebezeit AT wcs.org). *Please send application materials as a SINGLE MICROSOFT WORD DOCUMENT*. . Include in your cover letter any relevant experience and your interest in applying for this position. Application deadline: April 15, 2012 although hiring will begin AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

Qualifications:
Preferred applicants will have excellent bird identification skills, solid nest-searching experience, and be familiar with using a compass and GPS. Applicants must be enthusiastic, in excellent physical condition and willing to hike many miles each day in hip boots, and be able to work independently as well as with others for long hours in, sometimes, difficult field conditions. Field conditions will often be wet and cold, then buggy later in the season. Applicants must be comfortable working in bear country. A valid driver's license is required. A B.S. degree in wildlife ecology or a related field is preferred, but not required. Non-U.S. citizen applicants must have (or obtain) a social security number.