Assistant Bird Bander

The Assistant Bird Bander position at Ornithology Exchange involves volunteering at the Bonderman Field Station in Moab, UT from April 11 to June 12. Responsibilities include assisting in bird banding, guiding educational groups, and data entry. Applicants should be enthusiastic about bird research, able to work in a remote setting, and live on-site. The role requires a commitment to work 10 days on with 2 days off, with additional site maintenance tasks.
• January 27

Employer: Univeristy of Utah Location: Bonderman Field Station at Rio Mesa, Utah Country: United States Last Date to Apply: 04/04/2025 Open Until Filled: Yes

Dates: ~April 11th – June 12th

Where: Bonderman Field Station at Rio Mesa, Moab, Utah

Work Schedule: ~7 hours/day, 10 days on 2 days off

Salary: TBD, see below

We’re looking for two to three volunteer assistant bird banders to join a lead bander for the spring banding season. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain real experience in the handling and processing of songbirds at a long-term monitoring site.

You will work at the Bonderman Field Station at Rio Mesa near Moab, Utah. This beautiful canyonland riparian habitat provides critical resources to migratory birds, amidst the desert of the Colorado Plateau. The station has banded over 23,000 birds so far of 135 species, including Lucy’s Warbler, Willow Flycatcher, Black-throated Sparrow, Canyon Wren, Sage Thrasher, Sagebrush Sparrow, Gray Vireo, and many more.

The position runs from early April (approximately April 11th) through June 12th, encompassing the entire spring bird migration; availability for this entire period is key. The banding team is required to operate the station 10 days on and 2 days off. Nets are opened half an hour before dawn for six hours a day, conditions permitting. In addition to the banding, you will assist the lead bander in guiding visiting educational groups, entering and proofing all data, and writing weekly banding reports. In your free time you can explore the fantastic Red Rock Country of southern Utah, go rafting on the Dolores River, etc.

Additionally, you will be expected to work at least three hours a week (in the afternoon), at $15/hour, with the Rio Mesa site manager on gardening, watering, and other site maintenance projects. These three hours will help cover weekly accommodation on-site. You can work up to 10 hours a week (the exact number of hours might fluctuate slightly per week) if you want to earn a part-time salary during the season.

Banding experience is not required, but applicants should be enthusiastic about bird research and conservation biology. You must be able to live with and work well with a small team for two months and must be comfortable operating in a remote field station setting 1.5 hours from the closest town with no cell service (but good wi-fi). You must also be able to interact well with any visitors, young and old. Ideally, you would have some field experience and be used to working outside for long hours in variable conditions.

To apply, please email your interest and experience plus a resume to nikolas.orton@utah.edu and CC amy.buxton@utah.edu. Use “Volunteer Bander Applicant, Rio Mesa” as your subject line.

https://bonderman-station.utah.edu/research/bird_banding.php