Coastal Waterbird Technician

National Audubon Society•Southbury, CT

2d•$20 - $22•Remote

About The Position

The Audubon Connecticut Coastal Waterbird Technician will work as a member of the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds. The Alliance is a partnership between Audubon CT, the Connecticut Audubon Society, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Wildlife Division, The Nature Conservancy, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The Alliance implements conservation efforts statewide to protect nesting areas and reduce disturbance, while monitoring the breeding populations of five focal species, Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern, Common Tern and Black Skimmer. The Coastal Waterbird Technician is responsible for aiding the efforts to inventory, monitor, and steward the five species of breeding coastal waterbirds in Connecticut. This is a great opportunity to work with several species of shorebirds and waterbirds in a unique estuarine ecosystem along the coast of Connecticut. The Coastal Waterbird Technician is a seasonal, full-time position. Length of Assignment: March 16, 2026 through August 16, 2026 Hours: 35 hours per week Location: This role is a field position working remotely at various sites along coastal Connecticut based out of Audubon CT’s coastal field office in Branford, CT Compensation: $20.00 - $22.00 / hour

Requirements

Degree in biology, wildlife management, or related field along with 1 – 2 years of previous field work experience is required.
Commitment to Audubon’s organizational values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation.
Demonstrated personal and professional commitment to and experience in advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
Experience with waterbird and shorebird identification and/or monitoring for the US East Coast is preferred.
Ability to work independently, take initiative, and problem solve in the field while being part of a larger team.
Experience collecting, managing, and maintaining a large data set with detailed field notes and accurate data entry.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite software for data entry and report writing and experience with GPS units.
Experience and ability to communicate clearly via written, spoken and graphical means along with responding to communications in a prompt and timely manner.
Must have valid driver's license and safe driving record (technician’s will be reimbursed for travel between field sites.)
Flexible approach to work to accommodate frequent schedule changes based on site needs and weather conditions. This may include some early mornings and/or late evenings.
Ability to work one weekend day, over the Memorial Day and Independence Day holiday weekends is required.
Experience conducting field work, as this is a field intensive position.
Ability to adapt to adverse field conditions such as inclement weather, variable temperatures, poison ivy, and biting insects.
Ability to traverse long distances in sand or on rocky coastal terrain, able to maneuver with at least 40lbs with or without accommodation and to manually install and maintain fencing and Piping Plover nest exclosures in rocky substrate.

Nice To Haves

A Safe Boating Certificate or Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation (Connecticut certification preferred) and experience trailering, launching, and operating a motorboat or kayaking on Long Island Sound is a plus.
Experience trapping, handling and banding bird species and/or shorebirds is a plus.
Interest in conservation and commitment to the mission of the National Audubon Society.

Responsibilities

Partner with Audubon staff to ensure that equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging principles are incorporated and followed in all aspects of our work.
Working with Alliance partners’ field staff to monitor and manage beach-nesting birds and reduce human disturbance at nesting sites by positively and professionally enforcing site ordinances while educating the public about the protected shorebird species.
Coordinate management and monitoring efforts with other Audubon Alliance field staff and partners.
Participate in weekly Alliance conference calls and communicate with Alliance staff via Slack, text, phone and email.
Assist with the installation, maintenance and removal of string fencing, signage and Piping Plover nest exclosures throughout the season.
Locate and monitor beach-nesting birds, including nest searching, collecting nest and chick survival data, documenting predators and instances of human disturbance.
Potential to assist with the monitoring of island nesting species, such as American Oystercatcher and Common Tern by assisting with surveys and installation of string fencing.
Engage with the public to educate beach visitors about beach-nesting and migratory shorebirds to reduce disturbances at nesting sites and interact with partners and landowners (private, municipal and State) to coordinate management.
Conduct census surveys and patrol historical nesting sites for focal species.
Daily and weekly data entry into online database software.
Accurately recording and reporting sightings of banded shorebirds with potential to assist with American Oystercatcher banding efforts
Assist with data analysis and end of the season reports.
Provide content (pictures and brief descriptions) to document disturbances, for inclusion in final reports, and for Audubon Connecticut’s social media.
Additional duties may be assigned to support all aspects of the Coastal Program