Common and Roseate Tern Technician Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge $500 per week, 26 weeks, must be able to start by April 29 Will be hired through Northwoods Stewardship Center
The tern technician will be responsible for monitoring and management of over 12,000 pairs of nesting common terns, as well a monitoring the activities of federally endangered roseate terns, black skimmers, and laughing gulls.. The technician will spend work days based in a rustic field camp on South Monomoy Island to monitor nesting terns and may make occasional trips (via kayak) to North and South Monomoy Islands for monitoring other resources including American oystercatchers and piping plovers. The technician will be responsible for training and overseeing the daily work of one intern.
Duties: Major duties include but are not limited to the following:
1. Qualitatively monitor productivity of nesting common terns and quantitatively monitor productivity of all nesting roseate terns (approximately 20 pairs). a. Assist with posting and removing public closures for nesting areas. b. Monitor nesting colony from egg laying through chick fledging. c. Conduct a variety of biological observations for 3-6 hours per day from observation blinds within the colony to document forage fish, kleptoparasitism, and roseate tern activities. d. Performing gull harassments to prevent large gulls from nesting within the tern nesting area. 2. Participate in laughing gull nest destruction, which involves physically removing laughing gull eggs. 3. Quantitatively monitors American oystercatchers Conducts daily check-ins with supervisor and compiles weekly reports on activities in the field regarding summaries of wildlife activity, visitor use and proposed management actions (including seasonal closures). 4. Monitors activity of avian and mammalian predators on refuge beaches and reports changes to predator management staff. 5. Technicians with prior lethal predator management experience are preferred. These applicants, if deemed adequately trained, may be responsible for conducting 3-4 night observations with firearms and night vision equipment in the common tern colony. 6. Performs refuge construction and general maintenance when requested. 7. Contacts the general public in the field to disseminate verbal and written information on wildlife management and recreational opportunities. 8. Assists with functions necessary to run two wilderness field camps including camp set-up, break down, and maintenance. 9. Supervises 1 intern and volunteers, as requested. 10. Assists with other biological projects when needed including northeastern beach tiger beetle monitoring, wading bird census, horseshoe crab tagging and surveys, piping plover monitoring, and vegetation monitoring 11. Considerable physical exertion is required, such as walking over wet, uneven surfaces, standing for long periods in all weather conditions and hiking over dunes and soft sand. The work requires above-average agility and dexterity. 12. The job requires both office and outdoor work. Temperature and weather extremes may be encountered in the performance of outdoor work. Poison ivy and biting insects are common throughout the Refuge.
Qualifications: Applicants must have the ability to perform the physical duties of the position including being able to hike long distances and being able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds. Applicants must have prior experience working with nesting seabirds and supervising seasonal staff or volunteers. Applicants must be able to work with minimal supervision, be very independent and adaptable, and be able to work with the public of all ages in a professional manner regarding sensitive conservation issues. Previous field experience with nesting terns is required. Previous experience working in a field camp setting, data collection, bird identification, and an academic background in wildlife biology, zoology, environmental science or a related field are preferred. Willingness to ride in motorboats in challenging marine conditions is required. Applicants must have a valid driver's license, a social security number, and a bank account located in the United States.
How to Apply: Send a letter of interest, resume, and contact information for at least 3 references (must include email and phone number for each reference listed) by email to: [email protected] and [email protected]. DO NOT send applications by mail. Please be clear about which position you are applying for.
Closing Date: February 1, 2019, however hiring may begin before the closing date, so applying earlier is strongly recommended.
Below is what was pasted into the Texas A and M job board submittal
Job Description:
Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) was established in 1944 to provide habitat for migratory birds and was designated a Wilderness Area in 1970, the only federally- designated Wilderness Area in Southern New England. Sand stretches for eight miles off the elbow of Cape Cod, forming the barrier islands of North and South Monomoy. The refuge provides important resting, nesting and feeding habitat for migratory birds, including ~45 pairs of the federally protected piping plover. More than ten species of seabirds, shorebirds, and waterbirds nest on the islands. The refuge also supports one of the largest nesting colonies of common and roseate terns on the Atlantic seaboard with over 12,000 nesting pairs.
The tern technician will be responsible for monitoring and management of over 12,000 pairs of nesting common terns, as well a monitoring the activities of federally endangered roseate terns, black skimmers, and laughing gulls. The technician will spend work days based in a rustic field camp on South Monomoy Island to monitor nesting terns and may make occasional trips (via kayak) to North and South Monomoy Islands for monitoring other resources including American oystercatchers and piping plovers. The technician will be responsible for training and overseeing the daily work of one intern.
Major duties include but are not limited to the following:
1. Qualitatively monitor productivity of nesting common terns and quantitatively monitor productivity of all nesting roseate terns (approximately 20 pairs). a. Assist with posting and removing public closures for nesting areas. b. Monitor nesting colony from egg laying through chick fledging. c. Conduct a variety of biological observations for 3-6 hours per day from observation blinds within the colony to document forage fish, kleptoparasitism, and roseate tern activities. d. Performing gull harassments to prevent large gulls from nesting within the tern nesting area. 2. Participate in laughing gull nest destruction, which involves physically removing laughing gull eggs. 3. Quantitatively monitors American oystercatchers Conducts daily check-ins with supervisor and compiles weekly reports on activities in the field regarding summaries of wildlife activity, visitor use and proposed management actions (including seasonal closures). 4. Monitors activity of avian and mammalian predators on refuge beaches and reports changes to predator management staff. 5. Technicians with prior lethal predator management experience are preferred. These applicants, if deemed adequately trained, may be responsible for conducting 3-4 night observations with firearms and night vision equipment in the common tern colony. 6. Performs refuge construction and general maintenance when requested. 7. Contacts the general public in the field to disseminate verbal and written information on wildlife management and recreational opportunities. 8. Assists with functions necessary to run two wilderness field camps including camp set-up, break down, and maintenance. 9. Supervises 1 intern and volunteers, as requested. 10. Assists with other biological projects when needed including northeastern beach tiger beetle monitoring, wading bird census, horseshoe crab tagging and surveys, piping plover monitoring, and vegetation monitoring 11. Considerable physical exertion is required, such as walking over wet, unevensurfaces, standing for long periods in all weather conditions and hiking over dunes and soft sand. The work requires above-average agility and dexterity. 12. The job requires both office and outdoor work. Temperature and weather extremes may be encountered in the performance of outdoor work. Poison ivy and biting insects are common throughout the Refuge.
The position lasts for 26 weeks, and the technician must be able to start by April 29. The position involves working long hours, nights, weekends, and holidays. Schedules may exceed 40 hours per week and will vary frequently in the length of day and start time. Days off may not be consecutive. Staff will live in a field camp on the island with other refuge staff for up to 5 days at a time. There is no heat, electricity, or running water in the field camp. Willingness to ride in motorboats in challenging marine conditions is required. A background check will be required to gain necessary computer access at Refuge Headquarters.
Pay is $500 per week for 26 weeks through the Northwoods Stewardship Center. The position includes free housing.
Qualifications:
Applicants must have the ability to perform the physical duties of the position including being able to hike long distances and being able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds. Applicants must have prior experience working with nesting seabirds and supervising seasonal staff or volunteers. Applicants must be able to work with minimal supervision, be very independent and adaptable, and be able to work with the public of all ages in a professional manner regarding sensitive conservation issues. Previous field experience with nesting terns is required. Previous experience working in a field camp setting, data collection, bird identification, and an academic background in wildlife biology, zoology, environmental science or a related field are preferred. Willingness to ride in motorboats in challenging marine conditions is required. Applicants must have a valid driver's license, a social security number, and a bank account located in the United States.
Send a letter of interest, resume, and contact information for at least 3 references (must include email and phone number for each reference listed) by email to: [email protected]
DO NOT send applications by mail. Please be clear about which position you are applying for. The closing date is February 1, 2019, however hiring may begin before the closing date, so applying earlier is strongly recommended.