Louisiana Seasonal Coastal Technician

The National Audubon Society is hiring a Seasonal Coastal Technician in Baton Rouge, LA, to monitor and protect beach-nesting birds like Least Terns and Wilson's Plovers. The role involves working with a team to track nests and educate the public about conservation efforts. This full-time position runs from April to early August, offering $15/hour. The job requires on-the-ground presence in Cameron Parish, Louisiana.
Overview:

The National Audubon Society is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects birds and the places they need today and tomorrow. We work throughout the Americas towards a future where birds thrive because Audubon is a powerful, diverse, and ever-growing force for conservation. Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the hemisphere and more than 1.5 million active supporters.

North America has lost three billion birds since 1970, and more than 500 bird species are at risk of extinction across Latin America and the Caribbean. Birds act as early warning systems about the health of our environment, and they tell us that birds – and our planet – are in crisis. Together as one Audubon, we are working to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss. We do this by implementing on-the-ground conservation, partnering with local communities, influencing public and corporate policy, and building community.

Audubon is committed to a culture of workplace excellence, where our talented and diverse staff are deeply engaged with a strong sense of belonging. The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon brings new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.
Position Summary:

South Louisiana is a popular destination for tourists, fishermen, and beachgoers. Birds including Least Terns, Wilson's Plovers, and Common Nighthawks nest on these beaches, creating the potential for disturbance by recreational users of private and public lands.

Supervised by the Louisiana Coastal Biologist, the Seasonal Coastal Bird Technician will help buffer beach-nesting bird sites against the threats of human disturbance, and work with community members to provide protection efforts and offer outreach and education opportunities to visitors. The program will have a strong bird-monitoring component, which will involve tracking nests, chicks, and their fates, to understand the impacts of human disturbance, predation, and other environmental stresses on breeding productivity.

The Seasonal Coastal Bird Technician will also demonstrate and gain skills in outreach and education (virtual and/or in-person), as well as have opportunities to intimately monitor and protect charismatic beach-nesting bird species. They will work with a team of conservation professionals, graduate students, partner organizations, and local decision-makers to improve outcomes for conservation priority bird species.

We will hire three full-time seasonal positions based in Cameron Parish. The position will start in 1 April and terminate in early August (~20 weeks).

Compensation:

$15.00 / hour

Essential Functions:

The Seasonal Coastal Bird Technician will work with full-time Audubon staff, volunteers, and partners to help protect and monitor breeding Least Terns, Wilson’s Plovers, and Common Nighthawks in Cameron Parish in southwestern Louisiana.

Duties will include:
• Monitoring and documenting colony size, nest and chick fates, and fledging rates to determine breeding productivity.
• Supporting bird banding efforts and resighting banded adults and chicks to determine territory ownership and to confirm fledge success.
• Monitoring and documenting disturbance rates through field surveys and game cameras on active nests, which includes maintaining and organizing photos throughout the season.
• Posting and fencing nesting areas, informed by monitoring efforts, in collaboration with community leaders and members, to reduce human disturbance.
• Working with full-time staff to engage local communities, organize volunteer events, and use social media to increase awareness around the protection of sensitive beach-nesting birds.
• Providing virtual/in-person educational programs for visiting beachgoers, local communities, and volunteers.
• Entering data daily and maintaining order and quality to all existing datasets.
• Filling these duties requires working during early mornings and sometimes evenings, on weekends and holidays, and in the Louisiana summer heat. Working on Memorial Day and 4th of July holiday weekends is required. Work weeks will average 40 hours per week across the term of employment but may vary and be unpredictable each week, depending on program needs.

Qualifications and Experience:
• Must have completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology, Ecology, Natural Resources, Environmental Education, or a related field.
• At least one season of work experience in avian ecology or coastal ecosystems; experience banding birds without supervision is a plus.
• Excellent interpersonal as well as written and oral communication skills.
• Must be willing to work long hours outside under physically demanding conditions (hot, humid, biting insects) and to live in group field housing (provided).
• Must be comfortable interacting with the public and staff of multiple partner organizations.
• Must have strong organizational skills and great attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs such as Excel, Word and PowerPoint required.
• Valid driver’s license is required for travel between housing and nearby work sites; travel with a personal vehicle will be reimbursed at the current federal rate.
• Must be willing to live in coastal Cameron Parish, LA in provided housing.
• Must properly maintain field equipment and keep supplies and materials organized.

Please submit a cover letter, résumé, and contact information for three references in a single PDF document to apply for the position by February 15, 2024.

EEO Statement:

The National Audubon Society is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, inclusion and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in this search.

Accessibility Statement:

The National Audubon Society endeavors to keep our careers site accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Accommodations@audubon.org. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.