Important Bird Areas Program Assistant, Lyme Forest Block

Audubon’s Important Bird Areas (IBA) Program is a global effort to identify and protect habitat that will protect sustainable populations of birds. The IBA program is overseen by BirdLife International, with Audubon as the partner designate in the United States, and has become a key component of many bird conservation efforts, including, Partners in Flight, North American Waterbird Conservation Plan, and the U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan.

Connecticut’s IBA Program strives to complement the conservation programs of our state, federal, and non-profit partners. By connecting people with nature, working with land stewards to develop conservation strategies, and supporting implementation of these plans at a local level, the IBA Program fills an important niche in statewide conservation efforts by working to protect areas that aren’t easily protected under other conservation programs.

The Lyme Forest Block IBA spans the towns of East Haddam, Colchester, Lyme, Old Lyme, East Lyme, and Salem in eastern Connecticut. The Forest Block was identified for the forest habitat offered to Cerulean Warbler and Wood Thrush, two species of global conservation concern. Audubon CT, land trusts, and other partners in the IBA are working to educate landowners in the area about forest birds and their habitat. Bird walks, workshops, lectures, and hands-on workdays will take place over the next year to engage the public and encourage landowners to create habitat that benefits birds, other wildlife, and people within the IBA. The Program Assistant would be involved in all aspects of this project.  This is a great opportunity for a college student who is looking for a part time job and valuable work experience.

The Program Assistant will work 14 hours/week for 55 weeks at a rate of $15/hour. The position will start in fall 2018.