Biology fieldwork jobs and summer jobs

Position: Aerial Insectivore Field Technician
Type: summer (14 weeks; anticipated start May 5) / age 30 & under
Organization: Birds Canada
Location: This hand-on, field season role is primarily based in Port Rowan, ON and surrounding areas.

Are you looking to channel your skills into meaningful, energizing work that will directly contribute to protecting our natural world? Do you want to work with an exceptional group of passionate and caring colleagues?

Birds Canada is the country’s premier national organization dedicated to bird conservation. Every day, our thousands of caring donors, 100+ dedicated staff, and 70,000+ outstanding volunteers are taking action to help us better understand, appreciate, and conserve birds and their habitats. Together, we are Canada’s Voice for Birds – will you join us?

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Aerial Insectivore Field Technicians will collect field data on nest-site selection, home range habitat use, and diet of Eastern Whip-poor-will in Norfolk County, Ontario. Responsibilities include nest searching, assisting with capture and tagging of Eastern Whip-poor-will, home range telemetry tracking, collecting insect samples, and completing vegetation sampling. Project staff will be required to travel by vehicle and by foot, and the work will primarily be conducted at night, sometimes until 1-2am. Technicians must be comfortable working independently and in a group in rural locations, spending long periods of time outdoors in hot/adverse/buggy weather conditions, working irregular schedules (sleeping during the day and working at night), engaging with the public, carrying equipment, and navigating sites without well-maintained trails. Staff will spend extended periods of time in the field, enter their own data, and assist with insect and plant identification.

EMPLOYMENT DETAILS

This fixed term 14-week role reports to Birds Canada’s Ontario Projects Biologist, with in-field supervision by University of Waterloo graduate students, and is fully in-person. Anticipated start date for this role is May 5, 2025. The role is based primarily at Birds Canada’s headquarters (shared housing), in Port Rowan, Ontario. Surveys take place in Norfolk county on private landowner and other conservation partner properties. The role involves a higher demand of physical, visual, auditory, and concentration effort than what would generally be considered typical due to the nature of the field work and shared accommodations. We welcome applications from all candidates with the required qualifications and skills to apply to the position(s). However, please note that preference may be given to those who meet the Canada Summer Jobs eligibility criteria.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: $19.33/hr – $19.83/hr, per hour commensurate with previous experience for an approximately 40-hour work week. Birds Canada offers all staff the equivalent of 20 vacation and 12 Personal Health Days per year, which will be prorated according to contract start date and duration. This position is provided with free accommodation at Birds Canada headquarters or a nearby rental property, including all utilities, a functioning kitchen and internet access. Furthermore, space can be provided in the office on rainy days or office days, as long as arranged beforehand.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Communicate with crew lead and/or supervisor to plan day-to-day activities
• Nest searching for adult birds using eye-shine and other methods
• Deploy mist nets and assist with capture, banding, and tagging of adults and juveniles
• Assist with deploying, collecting, and sorting insect traps
• Use manual telemetry to determine home ranges of tagged birds
• Complete vegetation surveys at nest sites for collecting habitat data
• Data management, organization, and entry
• Other duties and tasks, as assigned.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Comfortable working alone (within reasonable walking distance to other team members) and with a small team during nighttime field work, sometimes until 1-2am
• Ability to work and live in a communal environment as a part of a small team
• Good communication skills (written and verbal)
• High level of organization, initiative, and ability to take clear and detailed notes
• High enthusiasm and energy
• Valid Ontario Driver’s license (G preferred), with clean record
• Valid First Aid Certification (obtained before contract start date, at own cost)
• Legally entitled to work in Canada (if applicable, successful applicants must provide a copy of their work visa and temporary SIN prior to commencing work)
• Meet Canada Summer Jobs requirements

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Although not required, some candidates may be in the process of, or have already completed, a B.Sc. in biology or ecology or an equivalent wildlife-related program. Relevant experience or other informal and formal education/training are equally considered.
• Experience and high level of comfort conducting fieldwork with in areas with poison ivy, ticks that may carry Lyme disease, and biting flies during hot/humid weather conditions or cold evenings
• Experience handling and tagging birds, nest searching, and conducting manual telemetry is considered an asset

TO APPLY:

Please submit your resume along with a covering letter outlining how your experience makes you the perfect candidate for this role via the Birds Canada Online Job Portal by 5pm EST on February 17th, 2025. Early applications are encouraged. Please mention you saw this at GoodWork.ca.

Birds Canada will provide accommodation throughout the recruitment, selection, and/or assessment process to applicants with disabilities.

At Birds Canada, we are committed to fostering a culture that values Indigenous Engagement and Reconciliation, and Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility, as integral approaches that shape all that we do in our organization and for nature (read our full commitment to inclusion at this LINK). We oppose prejudice, bigotry, and discrimination, and aim to ensure that people of all backgrounds, identities, abilities, and experiences feel a sense of belonging and can participate in protecting wild birds and their habitats.

We are actively seeking to improve our ability to reach all candidates with our job postings. Applicants belonging to racialized groups, who identify as Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+, and/or who have a disability, are therefore welcome to mention this in their cover letter, if they feel comfortable, although this is not a requirement.