Bird Conservation Fieldwork

Position: Grassland Bird Technicians
Organization: Birds Canada
Location: Saskatoon / fieldwork across various sites on both private and public lands in southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba

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, while gaining valuable hands-on work experience? If so, this position may be for you!

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

Grassland Bird Technicians will conduct fieldwork across various sites on both private and public lands in southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba to monitor and assess grassland bird populations. Primary responsibilities include early morning avian point counts, rapid vegetation and habitat assessments, and the deployment and retrieval of autonomous recording units (ARUs). Additional duties include data entry, equipment maintenance, and preliminary processing of bioacoustic samples.

Two of these positions will be designated as Crew Leads, providing additional responsibilities such as supporting the daily coordination and management of the team’s activities. This role offers a valuable opportunity to contribute to meaningful conservation efforts while developing leadership and fieldwork skills.

EMPLOYMENT DETAILS

Reporting to the Grassland Program Manager or Biologist, these full-time, fixed-term positions are scheduled to run from roughly May 8th to August 8th, 2025. Successful candidates must be comfortable spending extended periods outdoors, including long stretches of hiking with a pack over uneven terrain.

Ideal candidates are independent, detail-oriented, strong problem-solvers, and adaptable to shared living environments, including tent camping. Technicians will travel between field sites using vehicles, navigating both highways and grid roads. Fieldwork will require early morning starts (at first light) and may occasionally involve overnight backpacking trips to access remote survey areas.

Seasonal accommodations will be provided, consisting of a mix of tent camping and shared field housing when not actively deployed for surveys. This opportunity is perfect for individuals who thrive in dynamic, outdoor settings and collaborative team environments.

TECHNICIAN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct bird surveys beginning at first light
• Rapid vegetation/habitat assessments at bird survey stations
• Deployment and retrieval of ARUs
• Cleaning and maintenance of field equipment
• Data entry and some processing of bioacoustics recordings

CREW LEAD DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide support in supervising Grassland Survey Technicians
• Conduct fieldwork, collecting data in accordance with established survey protocols.
• Process recording data in the lab, converting it into point count data.
• Oversee the cleaning, maintenance, and proper storage of field equipment.
• Perform data entry tasks, including Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC)
• Assist in processing bioacoustic recordings.
• Undertake additional tasks as assigned by the Manager to support project goals.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience and proficiency identifying birds by sight and sound is paramount
• Comfortable hiking off-trail on rough terrain between 5 – 15 km per day
• Comfortable working alone sometimes in remote conditions
• Careful and accurate attention to data collection, entry, and management.
• Strong communication skills for working effectively with supervisors, co-workers, and landowners.
• Valid driver’s license (G preferred, G2 accepted)
• Legally eligible to work in Canada (if applicable, successful applicants must provide a copy of their Work Permit and temporary SIN prior to commencing work)
• Valid first Aid and CPR C certification (obtained before contract start date)

ASSETS

• At least one field season conducting point count bird surveys
• Native prairie plant identification skills
• Ability to safely navigate rough and sometimes unmaintained roads/trails using a 4x4 truck
• Ability to navigate with GPS, aerial maps, and compass
• Meet Canada Summer Jobs requirements (be between 15 and 30 years old and be legally entitled to work in Canada)

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary for these roles are $19.33-$21.75 per hour for Technicians, and $22.19-$23.76 per hour for Crew Leads, depending on project-relevant experience and expertise, for an approximately 40-hour work week plus statutory and discretionary benefits including pro-rated Vacation and Personal Health Days. These positions also include a modest food budget and basic accommodation for the duration of the Field Season.

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 14, 2025.

Please mention you saw this posting 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.