Summer jobs, Student jobs

Position: Avian Field Asistant (student)
Type: age 30 & under / summer
Organization: Pelee Island Bird Observatory

Location: Pelee Island, Ontario
Housing: Candidate will be provided with free housing and internet access, but food and transportation to and from the island are the responsibility of the candidate.

Wildlife Biologist
(Avian Field Assistant –youth)

• Anticipated start date: May 5, 2025* dates somewhat flexible
• Anticipated end date: June 28, 2025
• Duration: 8 weeks
• Hourly wage: $ 19.85/hour for 35 hours a week
• Deadline for Application: April 5, 2025

The Pelee Island Bird Observatory (PIBO) is a regional not-for-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of birds by conducting scientific research, avian population monitoring, and connecting people to nature. The field station and its work are done on Pelee Island, which sits in the migratory path of two major North American flyways, a premier location to study and observe hundreds of migratory species and dozens of breeding birds with limited ranges in Canada.

We are looking for an enthusiastic environmentalist to join our team as Avian Field Assistant for the spring and summer seasons (May 5- June 28) at our field station on Pelee Island, near Windsor, Ontario. As Avian Field Assistant you will report to the Field Supervisor and be responsible for helping with the spring and early summer research, data management, field station logistics and maintenance, as well as assisting in the delivery of on-island education programs (as needed).

Depending upon experience, your duties include:

Fieldwork Duties

• daily constant-effort migration-monitoring, including daily 90 minute census
• passerine bird banding in April, May, and early June
• summer breeding bird studies
• species-at-risk monitoring
• marsh bird and amphibian surveys
• additional spring and summer research activities (as required)

Record-keeping Duties

• Entry and proofing of research data collected during the season including PIBO’s Daily Totals (DTs), bird banding records, species-a-risk data, marsh bird surveys, amphibian monitoring, etc.
• Assist with online social media updates during the spring migration season, and contribute articles to the newsletter, as required.

Other Duties

• Assist with driving, equipment and vehicle upkeep, and staff house maintenance (includes shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc.).

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Some songbird banding and extraction experience
• Familiar with birds of the Great Lakes region
• Comfortable interacting with the public
• Data entry and proofing, and be familiar with at least excel data entry
• Assist with the upkeep of the PIBO staff cottage and field station, help with shopping, cleaning, etc.
• Assist with PIBO island education programs and events- banding demonstrations, etc.
• Conditions around the banding station are sometimes flooded and often muddy. You must be able to spend long periods standing and walking over uneven terrain. Candidates should bring their own field gear- binoculars, rubber boots, mosquito hats/shirts, and clothing for warm and cold weather, etc. Hip waders are useful as well.
• Driver’s license is not essential but helpful.
• Must be an early-riser! Work starts almost every day before dawn.
• Must be mature, dependable and easy to live with.

Perks/Conditions:

Candidate will be provided with free housing and internet access but food and transportation to and from the island are the responsibility of the candidate.

This position is contingent upon funding from Canada Summer Jobs. We are looking for a recent graduate (last 3 years) in the fields of biology, zoology or ornithology. Applicants must be under the age of 30 at the start of employment. Must be legally entitled to work in Ontario.

APPLY

Please send cover letter and resume to suzanne.friemann@pibo.ca

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Our Commitment to Diversity
PIBO actively engages individuals from all backgrounds. We are committed to embracing diversity within our organization because we firmly believe that diverse employee teams help us to achieve our best organizational outcomes and provide the most effective support to the communities we serve. We are deeply dedicated to creating and maintaining an inclusive, equitable and supportive work environment. PIBO believes in growth and supporting our employees as best we can so they can become their best selves in and outside of work. We believe that a healthy work environment means building an inclusive culture where people can thrive together and feel supported and empowered.

We strongly encourage people of all backgrounds and identities, including but not limited to people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender and non-binary people, veterans, parents, and individuals with disabilities to apply. PIBO is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone to our team. If you need reasonable accommodation at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know.

Research has shown that women and people from marginalized communities apply to roles when they meet 100% of the job requirements, whereas people without marginalized identities apply if they meet an average of 60% of the requirements. If you think that your skills are transferable and can add value to this role, please apply so that we can determine whether it’s a good fit.

In your cover letter, please note which pronouns you use (for example – she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs, etc.).