As part of the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, the American Oystercatcher Technician is responsible for aiding the Connecticut Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division in efforts to inventory, monitor, and steward coastal waterbirds nesting both along the Connecticut shoreline and on offshore islands.
This is a great opportunity to work with several species of shorebirds (American Oystercatcher and Piping Plover) and waterbirds (Least and Common Terns) in a unique estuarine ecosystem. This summer, American Oystercatchers will be banded in Connecticut in an effort to track their migration patterns, local movements, abundance, and productivity. The data collected during the 2018 season will contribute to a large-scale research effort to learn more about American Oystercatcher life history along the Atlantic Coast. The American Oystercatcher Technician is a seasonal, full-time position with a 35 hours per week schedule, and is slated for April 23nd through September 30th.
Primary duties include:
- Travelling to beaches and offshore islands (often by boat or kayak) to perform monitoring and stewardship of American Oystercatchers
- Trapping adult American Oystercatchers using a decoy with bow net and noose carpet methods
- Trapping young American Oystercatchers manually
- Banding adult and young American Oystercatchers following protocols designed by the American Oystercatcher Working Group
- Entering banding data into Bandit and the American Oystercatcher Working Group database
- Communicating with the American Oystercatcher Working Group members
Additional duties may include:
- Posting and patrolling bird colonies on beaches and offshore islands
- Monitoring of beach and island nesting birds (by boat or kayak) for productivity and entering data into online spreadsheet
- Educating island and beach visitors about beach nesting and migrant birds
- Recruiting, training and organizing volunteers for inventory and stewardship efforts
- Assisting DEEP staff in stewardship activities of Piping Plovers as needed
- Coordinating monitoring efforts with other Audubon Alliance staff
- Assisting with end of the season reports
- Additional duties may be assigned
- Experience with bird banding, especially American Oystercatchers or other shorebirds, is preferred
- Familiarity with trapping methods of shorebirds, especially using decoys, bow nets, and noose carpets
- Ability to collect and enter data effectively
- Boating license highly recommended
- Experience with waterbird and shorebird identification and/or monitoring for the US east coast
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite software; experience with GPS units
- Must have valid driver's license and safe driving record (the American Oystercatcher Technician will be reimbursed for travel between sites)
- Experience and ability to communicate clearly via written, spoken and graphical means
- Flexible approach to work, as some weekend and holiday work will be required
- Interest in conservation and commitment to the mission of the National Audubon Society
- Ability to safely operate a kayak and boat in nearshore and offshore waters in Long Island Sound. Training will be provided.
- Must be a strong swimmer