Description: One field assistant needed starting June 1 through August (end date negotiable) to continue a long-term research project with crossbills in the South Hills of Idaho. The field site is located in south-central Idaho in the Cassia district of the Sawtooth National Forest about 40 miles southeast of Twin Falls, ID. Research is directed at conservation of the South Hills Crossbill, a resident Red Crossbill population restricted to lodgepole pine forest. Duties consist of extracting birds from mist-nets, resighting banded individuals, conducting bird point counts, taking basic vegetative measurements, and data entry. Summers are usually dry and temperatures range from 40s at night to highs in the 70s to 80s during the day, although during the first two weeks of June snowfall is likely. Assistants are expected to work 6-7 days per week. Qualifications: Must have experience handling and removing songbirds (especially finches) from mist nets and be comfortable living in a remote location with few amenities. A good sense of humor, positive attitude, creativity and patience are a must when trying to determine how to handle daily field situations. Good communication skills, ability to walk on uneven terrain with a 30 lb backpack, experience conducting point counts, and experience collecting basic habitat measurements are also desired. A competitive applicant will be responsible, detail-oriented, hard working, comfortable working alone in remote locations, and interested in avian ecology and conservation. Personal transportation required. Compensation: Housing, worker’s compensation insurance, on-site mileage reimbursement for work-related tasks, and $400/week. Application: Please send a cover letter (include an estimate of the number of birds you have extracted from a mist net), resume, and contact information for three references to Zachary Gayk: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. For more information, visit http://www.uwyo.edu/benkman/. Applications accepted until positions are filled, no later than May 11.
