Seabird Island Supervisor

National Audubon Society•Bremen, ME

17d•$21•Onsite

About The Position

Audubon's Seabird Institute manages seven island research stations off the coast of Maine that support breeding colonies of Arctic, Common, Roseate, and Least Terns, Atlantic Puffins, Black Guillemots, Razorbills, Laughing Gulls, Common Eiders, Leach’s Storm-Petrels, and wading birds (study species vary by island). Seasonal field teams live and work on each island for the duration of the field season. Work includes, but is not limited to: managing multiple concurrent seabird research projects; training Research Assistants, interns, and volunteers on field skills and data collection; creating daily work schedules; monitoring seabird populations, productivity, and growth; conducting seabird diet studies; banding and resighting birds; removing invasive vegetation; educating island visitors; conducting predator management; data entry and proofing; preparing a season report; camp maintenance; and coordinating logistics with mainland staff. Island field stations have a cabin or wall tent that serves as the base of field activity, limited electricity (solar panels power research needs), propane stoves, composting toilets, and no running water (rainwater is collected for washing; drinking water is brought from the mainland). Field team members sleep in their own tents. Communications with the mainland are via cell or VOIP phone, depending on location, with VHF radios as back-up. Island field teams consist of 2 to 5 people (depending on island and time of year) and are led by the Island Supervisor. All field team members participate in seabird monitoring and camp maintenance duties. For the welfare of the birds, field work is highly weather-dependent. Island work schedule and daily duties are determined by the Island Supervisor, following established work plans and procedures. Daily schedules will vary based on weather (no entry into the seabird colony is permitted during inclement weather to protect the nesting terns) and time of the nesting season. Daily activities may include the following: island-wide morning bird count; collection of weather data three times per day; one to two 3-hour “stints” in the observation blinds for data collection; seabird trapping and banding; productivity monitoring; trail maintenance; invasive plant removal; predator control; computer data entry; daily journal log entries; and maintenance of camp facilities. Following a brief orientation period on the mainland (shared housing provided), field teams will spend the entire field season living on-island. Teams working on inshore islands (less than 2 miles from the mainland) will have a small motorboat and may have the ability to go ashore for food and supplies for the field station, approximately every 2 weeks. On offshore islands (more than 5 miles from the mainland), food and supplies will be delivered approximately every 3 weeks. Island Supervisors are responsible for submitting a grocery/supply list to mainland staff prior to scheduled deliveries. Length of Assignment: Positions start between May 1 and May 22 and end between August 21 and September 18, depending on site. Hours: 35 per week This role is on-site, based out of the Maine Summer Seabird Restoration Program, in Bremen, ME. Compensation: $21.00/ hour

Requirements

Previous experience working on avian field research projects, including experience banding birds and working in remote areas.
Bachelor’s degree in biology, conservation biology, wildlife management, or a related field
Comfortable living and working in small groups on remote islands with limited amenities.
Ability and willingness to traverse rugged terrain and slippery rocks and maneuver with up to 50 lbs. with or without accommodations.
Wilderness camping experience.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team, and to get along with people of diverse backgrounds.
Capable of working long hours outdoors in variable weather conditions.
Ability to make observations and record data from a small blind for three hours and maintain focus on data collection.
Comfortable on the water in small boats; experience rowing and/or operating small motorboats is helpful.
Experience with data entry and management.
Experience with predator control, hunting and/or trapping is helpful.
Experience with the following: spotting scopes, binoculars, bird banding equipment, camping equipment (e.g. tents, camp stoves, etc.), basic hand tools (e.g. hammer, drill driver, etc).
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.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience leading and training field crews is desirable.

Responsibilities

Manage and participate in multiple concurrent seabird studies as directed by the Sanctuary Manager, which may include, but are not limited to: bird trapping, banding, and resighting; observations from blinds; conducting seabird diet studies; conducting nest censuses; monitoring productivity and growth of chicks; computer data entry; blood or specimen collection; vegetation management; predator monitoring and control.
Draft daily work schedules for the field station and train research assistants, interns, and volunteers on essential field and computer skills and proper use of binoculars and spotting scopes.
Accurately and neatly record data on specified datasheets; enter and proof data in computer databases.
Protect the seabird colony from human disturbance and conduct predator management or control as necessary.
Maintain field equipment and facilities.
Coordinate logistics with mainland staff.
Ensure personnel safety at remote field camp.
Safely and responsibly use power and/or row boats, ensuring all personnel wear personal flotation devices as required by NAS.
Maintain and properly care for NAS-issued equipment, including spotting scopes, cameras, GPS, cell phones, radios, stoves, solar power systems, and other research and camp equipment.
Inventory all island equipment and “winterize” and secure the field station and at the end of the season and report any equipment loss, breakage, or failure and any facility maintenance required.
Prepare a short field season summary for oral presentation at the August Gulf of Maine Seabird Working Group meeting.
Write an end of season report summarizing results of field work, data collected, and management activities, for submission to the Sanctuary Manager.
When on the mainland: procure supplies; pack groceries, research supplies, and mail in waterproof island transport bags; clean and fill water jugs for supplying research stations; clean and store field equipment at the end of the season; assist mainland-based staff as needed.
Collaborate with Audubon staff to ensure that equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging principles are incorporated and followed in all aspects of our work.
Other job duties as assigned.