Forest Conservation Intern

The National Audubon Society is seeking a Forest Conservation Intern in Sharon, CT. The intern will assist staff with bird habitat conservation activities, including monitoring nest boxes and conducting field surveys. This seasonal position involves a 30-35 hour work week and offers training in bird conservation techniques. The internship runs from late May to early August, with a pay rate of $18.00 per hour. Independent projects are encouraged.
Position Summary

The Forest Conservation Intern will assist the full-time staff as needed in any or all activities related to bird habitat and conservation during and after the nesting season. The intern will also spend significant time becoming familiar with training materials and with the conservation activities of Audubon in CT/NY and across the hemisphere. An independent project is optional but encouraged. This is a seasonal position, with a 30-to 35-hour work week and a 4- or 5-day schedule, M-F. The intern reports to Sharon Audubon’s Center Director and is supervised by SAC’s full-time staff. Start and end dates are negotiable but are expected to fall between May 28th and August 10th.

Compensation:

$18.00 / hour

Additional Job Description

Essential Functions

Intern Responsibilities and Learning Objectives:

During the internship, you will work under the direction of the SAC full-time staff staff to:
• Assist staff in monitoring and maintaining 12-15 American Kestrel nest boxes
• With a qualified bird bander, assist in banding American Kestrel nestlings
• With a qualified bander, assist in banding/tagging Purple Martin nestlings
• Record Purple Martin behavior through observation and photography
• Assist as needed with assembling biological material for the Bird Genoscape Project
• Receive training, and participate in, field surveys for breeding birds
• Assist in planning/implementing non-chemical control of invasive plants
• Become familiar with relevant training materials and regional/hemispheric bird conservation projects
• Participate in regular discussions and planning sessions with staff and other interns
• Assist as needed with bird study conducted by CT DEEP on the property

Internship Benefits:

Interns will gain experience and knowledge in the following: field identification of forest bird species and proficiency with Merlin and eBird apps; technical expertise in evaluating forest bird habitat; familiarity with migratory bird research techniques; and possibly use of GPS technology.

Intern Schedule:

The scholar’s schedule will vary according to the needs and opportunities of each week, but the expectation is that overall, the scholar will spend approximately 30% of the time on the activities above; about 20% of the time learning about or participating in other Audubon projects such as the coastal bird conservation program, the shrubland habitat management program, the Healthy Forest Initiative, Audubon Americas, songbird banding, and the Motus tracking system; and up to 50% of the time planning and carrying out an independent project related to bird habitat, evaluating habitat restoration, or a similar topic to be determined.

Projected Start Date/End Date:

6/2/25 to 8/15/25

Qualifications and Experience

Required:
• College coursework in relevant areas of conservation, bird biology, natural resources, forestry or related fields; or equivalent hands-on experience
• Strong interest in conservation, biology, and related areas
• Ability to organize your own time effectively
• Ability to follow instructions accurately and work as part of a team or independently
• Positive, problem-solving approach to a variety of situations
• Ability to do physical work outdoors for prolonged periods in varied terrain and weather conditions
• Current driver’s license and reliable transportation
• Background check

Preferred:
• Proficiency in bird and/or plant identification
• Experience operating cameras, hand tools
• Prior experience handling wild birds
• Photography experience
• Experience using hand tools for land management

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.