Crossbill field technician needed

[Cody Porter]

All,

I'm looking to hire 1-2 people to help me out with crossbill fieldwork this coming late summer-fall and winter-spring. See below for more details. Please pass on to any groups/individuals that this might be of interest to.

Good birding,
Cody Porter
Laramie, WY

AVIAN FIELD TECHNICIANS (1-2 positions) needed late July – late October (2018) and early January – late April (2019) to collect data on reproductive isolation and feeding ecology of red crossbill call types in the central Rocky Mountain region. The exact location of fieldwork will be determined in mid-summer as conifer cone crops develop. Previous fieldwork has been conducted in the Pike National Forest and Grand Mesa National Forest of Colorado, the Medicine Bow National Forest of Wyoming, and the Wasatch National Forest of Utah. Fieldwork in 2018/2019 will likely be in these or nearby locations.

Qualified candidates will possess strong skills for identifying birds by sight and sound and observing bird behavior. Fieldwork will critically depend on the ability to identify red crossbill call types by sound (training will be provided). Technicians will also need to be physically fit and capable of hiking long distances while carrying binoculars, a spotting scope, and audio recording equipment. Fieldwork will take place in rugged and remote high elevation conifer forests and will include long periods of working alone. In the late summer-fall period, camping will be required. Housing will be provided in the winter-spring period. Technicians will need to have a valid driver’s license and their own vehicle for transportation to and around the field site. Mileage will be reimbursed. The ability to identify common conifers of the Rockies (namely lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine, Engelmann spruce, and Douglas-fir) is also important, but can be taught.

Primary duties include finding and making audio recordings of mated crossbill pairs, using field surveys to estimate the relative frequency of different call types in different habitats, behavioral observations of crossbills to assess breeding and pair formation, measuring feeding rates of crossbills using a spotting scope and stopwatch, and conducting playback experiments of crossbill vocalizations in the field to assess flocking behavior.

Compensation is $1,500-2,000/month, depending on experience. Applicants may apply to work during one or both time periods.

Please send:

1)      Letter of interest

2)      Contact information for three references

3)      Curriculum vitae

to Cody Porter: cpor...@uwyo.edu

Feel free to contact me with any questions.