Overview
Title: Seasonal Technician — Mexican Spotted Owl Monitoring (3 positions)
FLSA Status: Seasonal / Non-exempt / Hourly
Reports to: Avian Ecologist and Crew Leader
Direct Reports: None
Location: Boulder County, Colorado
Salary: $18 – $19/hour depending on previous experience. Limited overtime hours may be required. In addition to pay, reimbursement for project-related travel and lodging up will be provided.
Duration: 9 weeks (May into July)
Benefits: Not eligible
Start Date: May 12th, 2025 (tentative)
Purpose: The seasonal technicians will conduct playback surveys to monitor Mexican Spotted Owl, populations in the Arapahoe-Roosevelt National Forest, near Boulder, Colorado
Position Overview:
Experience a season of adventure surveying for nocturnal owls on the Arapahoe-Roosevelt US National Forest near Boulder, Colorado. All field work will be conducted with appropriate federal permits. Bird Conservancy of the Rockies is hiring 5 field technicians that will travel within a small team to conduct Spotted Owl playback surveys. Technicians follow strict protocols of broadcasting calls and listening for responses, as per USFWS, adding to a monitoring dataset that informs presence of the raptor species within forest management areas. Mexican Spotted Owl distribution along the Front Range of Colorado is not well known, this is a unique opportunity to work on a federally-threatened at the edge of its range. Successful candidates will be passionate about wildlife conservation, comfortable hiking long distances off-trail at night, and enjoy living and working remotely for several months at a time. Work days can be long and strenuous, and the work schedule is highly variable with extensive driving time. Attendance to a week-long training during the beginning of the field season is mandatory. Technicians must be able to learn to identify all Colorado owls by sight and sound upon completion of the training. Review this blog post to hear about a similar position from a previous technician.
The first week of the field season, you will participate in an intensive training session with the Avian Ecologist and Crew Leader. It will cover protocols, avian identification, safety protocols, GPS navigation and data entry.
Qualifications:
Required qualifications:
• Applicants should be enthusiastic, physically fit, enjoy travel, able to work long hours in the field
• Ability to hike up to 8+ miles/day while carrying a 30-lbs backpack in strenuous terrain
• Willing to stay up late at night, and face hot/cold/rainy/windy weather in the outdoors
• Comfortable with likely encounters with hazardous wildlife including black bears, mountain lions, rattlesnakes, and venomous insects
• Experience driving 4WD vehicles on unpaved roads
Required Skills:
Fieldwork Responsibilities:
• Work ~35-50 hours/week with highly variable hours (overtime pay provided); expect long hours in the field. Fieldwork conducted during a regular work week: 5 days on/2 days off, with limited flexibility for personal needs during the week.
• Travel and work with a field partner during a hitch, then rotate partners within a small team of 6 people
• Drive on remote, 4wd roads and hiking on and off trail in steep rugged terrain on a regular basis
Preferred Skills:
Desired additional experience:
• Prior experience conducting Spotted Owl surveys is highly desirable but not required
• Demonstrated experience with long distance hiking, backpacking, and navigating off-trail
• Prior fieldwork experience conducting avian or other wildlife surveys
• Experience using a GPS, topographic maps, compass, navigation apps (such as Avenza, Gaia, Caltopo)
• A personal vehicle with 4WD and high clearance is highly desirable but not required
• Basic first aid & wilderness first aid
About Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
About the Organization:
Bird Conservancy of the Rockies conserves birds and their habitats through an integrated approach of science, education and stewardship. Our work extends from the Rockies to the Great Plains, Mexico and beyond. Our mission is advanced through sound science, achieved through empowering people, realized through stewardship and sustained through cross-border collaborations. We monitor and identify population trends, research habitat needs, engage landowners and managers in wildlife and habitat stewardship, and inspire audiences of all ages to be better stewards of the land. Together, we are improving native bird populations, the land, and the lives of people. Learn more about our work and programs at our website: www.birdconservancy.org
