AVIAN BIOLOGISTS

Location:
northern Sonora, Mexico

Duration:
mid-late March through late July or 1 May through late July

Job Type:
Seasonal

Job Description:
AVIAN BIOLOGISTS (3) needed to assist with bird surveys and environmental sampling for two field projects in northern Sonora, Mexico. During the first project, we will estimate abundance and richness of migratory and breeding birds in lowland riparian areas to establish baseline conditions before the application of restoration treatments. During the second project, we will estimate abundance, habitat use, and breeding status of birds in highland oak woodland, conifer forest, and montane riparian forests in the Sky Islands of Sonora and in the northern Sierra Madre Occidental in adjacent Chihuahua. A crew leader and one technician will work on both projects from mid-late March through late July, and another technician will work mainly on the highland project from 1 May through late July. To be considered, applicants must have experience conducting point count or line transect surveys for birds and have the ability to identify birds in the region by both sight and sound. Experience with distance sampling, nest searching, and identifying birds in similar environments in southeast Arizona or northwest Mexico is strongly desired and ability to quickly learn new bird vocalizations and tree species is required. Biologists should be enthusiastic about birding in Mexico, have the ability to speak at least basic to intermediate Spanish (and good English), be comfortable working with Mexican and American biologists and local landowners in remote field settings, and be willing to drive 4x4 trucks on terrible mountain roads. Successful applicants will spend long days hiking and navigating in remote field settings, begin work before dawn, camp for up to two weeks in the field, yet be rewarded by amazing scenery and new discoveries that accompany work in areas that have not been visited by naturalists. Days off will be spent in Tucson, Arizona, where housing will be arranged depending on interest. Applicants must be in excellent physical condition, have a positive, can-do attitude, be capable of working well with others, and be willing to camp where necessary and carry a backpack with 1-3 days of provisions on occasion. Salary for crew leader is approx. $2,500 per month ($14.90/hr) and salary for technicians is approx. $2,250 per month ($13.40/hr).

To Apply:
To apply, send a brief cover letter outlining only relevant experience, a resume, and contact information for three references to AARON D. FLESCH (EM: aaron.flesch AT umconnect.umt.edu) or to Avian Science Center, Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, HS-104, Missoula, MT 59812. Please reference “avian biologist position” in the subject heading of emails. If you have questions please call (PH: 406-243-6499) or email.

Number of Openings:
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