Seasonal Beach-nesting Bird Technician (Six Months) – Martha’s Vineyard, MA

BiodiversityWorks is hiring a Seasonal Beach-nesting Bird Technician for six months in Martha’s Vineyard, MA. The role involves monitoring and protecting threatened bird species, data recording, and volunteer coordination. Candidates should have a degree in wildlife biology or related fields, previous shorebird experience, and strong communication skills. The position requires outdoor work in various conditions and offers $21-$22/hour with shared housing available. Applications are due by 02/08/2025.
• January 7
Employer: BiodiversityWorks

Location: Martha’s Vineyard, MA

Country: United States

Last Date to Apply: 02/08/2025

Open Until Filled: No

Seasonal Beach-nesting Bird Technician (Six Months)

Location: Martha’s Vineyard, MA

Hours: –40 hrs/week. Work days include weekends, holidays, and irregular hours.

Time Period: (April- September)

Application deadline: 2/8/2025

Position Description: BiodiversityWorks seeks an early career ornithologist to work on the island of Martha’s Vineyard within our beach-nesting bird conservation program. This technician will work closely with our year-round Wildlife Technician as well as our staff Wildlife Biologists. We monitor and protect threatened and endangered piping plovers (40+ pairs), roseate, common and least terns (100 – 1,000 pairs) as well as American oystercatchers (15- 18 pairs) and black skimmers (1 – 24 pairs). Responsibilities include: (1) locating, monitoring, and protecting nesting pairs at 18 different field sites, (2) recording data in NestStory, spreadsheets. and field notebook, (3) maintaining communication with supervisors via email, text and phone calls, (4) assisting with banding of oystercatchers and skimmers, (5) collecting and recording color-band resights of oystercatchers, piping plovers, black skimmers, and roseate terns, (6) predator management, as needed, (7) working with and coordinating volunteers and interns, (8) participating in weekly meetings (9) creating GIS/Google Earth maps from GPS data, (10) developing a poster and participating in our annual outreach event, (10) assisting with data compilation and summary reports, and (12) other duties as required.

Requirements:

o Must have a degree in wildlife biology, biology, ecology, or related field with a strong interest in ornithology.

o Previous shorebird/seabird experience. Preference will be given to applicants with nest searching and monitoring experience.

o A valid driver’s license, good driving record, and a reliable vehicle.

o Own a smart phone to record data in NestStory during site visits.

o Must be able to walk at least 1 mile in the sand while carrying up to 25 pounds and engage in strenuous outdoor work in summer heat and humidity – sometimes amidst ticks, mosquitoes and poison ivy.

o Good multi-tasking and communications skills.

o Ability to work independently as well as part of a team.

o Able and willing to communicate regularly via text and email with supervisors.

o Good public outreach and engagement skills. o Good navigational skills in rural areas with a lot of dirt roads.

o Proficiency with PC computers.

o Able to engage in humane box trapping or other capture methods for lethal control of a limited number of mesopredators and crows at nesting beaches.

Compensation: $21- $22/hour, depending on experience. Cell phone stipend ($35/mo) and mileage reimbursement (0.63/mile). Shared housing available at the Hoft Farm Field Station with shared kitchen and bathroom.

To Apply: Please email a cover letter describing your interest in this position, your career goals and dates available, resume, and contact information for 3 work references in one pdf document to: Silas Beers at sbeers@biodiversityworksmv.org. All applications must be received by midnight on 2/8/25. We will review applications as they come in and begin interviews on 2/1/25.

BiodiversityWorks is an Equal Opportunity Employer