Michigan Natural Features Inventory

 

Position Description #1108

 

Position Title:                   Seasonal Ornithologist (1 position)

 

Supervisor:                       Lead Ecologist

 

Location:                          Port Huron State Game Area in St. Clair
County, Michigan

 

Salary Range:                   $12 to $15 per hour, commensurate with
training and experience

 

Term of Employment:      Approximate start/end dates: May 31, 2011 to July
1, 2011 

 

Minimum Qualifications:        B.S. preferred in zoology, biology, ecology,
natural resource management, or closely related field. Serious consideration
will be given to all candidates with significant relevant experience
regardless of degree.

 

Description of Position and Duties: The primary responsibilities of the
Seasonal Ornithologist will be to conduct point-count surveys for songbirds
at the Port Huron State Game Area in St. Clair County, Michigan. This state
game area contains large blocks of both upland and lowland forest and
smaller areas of open grassland. In addition, the area contains many
forested ravines, small streams, and an extensive forested floodplain
corridor that runs approximately 12 miles through the game area. The ideal
candidate will have experience conducting point-count surveys for songbirds
in both forested and non-forested uplands and wetlands. In addition, they
will have the ability to recognize the calls of each of the songbird species
that inhabit the area and be able to distinguish the calls of similarly
sounding songbirds from one another. Lastly, because this survey effort is
part of a long-term songbird research project, they will need to adhere to a
specific point-count survey protocol.  

 

The Seasonal Ornithologist should be highly skilled in both aural and visual
identification of songbirds and the use of GPS units, compass, and maps for
navigation. In addition, they should have a firm understanding of the
natural environment and be organized, attentive to detail, enthusiastic,
self-motivated, and able to work alone in remote locations. Daily field work
will require arriving at the field site by dawn, navigating with GPS,
compass, and maps to predetermined survey points located throughout the game
area, and recording the presence of calling birds. The surveys will require
working alone in remote areas, and extensive hiking through hilly, rugged,
and overgrown terrain and across vast tracks of upland and wetland swamp
forests. Daily field work will often be strenuous and performed under
adverse conditions, which may include hot and humid weather, biting insects,
and wet conditions.  Applicants should have a valid driver's license and
will be required to use their own vehicle (mileage will be reimbursed at the
standard MSU rate).  

 

Application Procedure:  Please send cover letter (directly addressing the
above position description), resume, copy of college transcripts, and
contact information for three professional references to Sue Ridge, Director
of Administration, Michigan Natural Features Inventory, P.O. Box 30444,
Lansing, MI 48909-7944.  Include position number on all application
materials and include your earliest and latest work availability dates in
your cover letter.  E-mail applications sent to [log in to unmask] will be
considered.

 

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Michigan State University Extension employment opportunities are open to
eligible/qualified persons without regard to race, color, national origin,
gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation,
marital status, or family status. Persons with disabilities have the right
to request and receive reasonable accommodations.