Bird Studies Canada's (BSC) BC program is looking to hire several field ornithologists for minimum periods of one week, and maximum periods of two months, to conduct an extensive sweep of surveys for the British Columbia Breeding Bird Atlas between late May and the end of July 2011. The Atlas is a five-year field project to determine the distribution and abundance of all bird species breeding in the province. For more information, visit www.birdatlas.bc.ca.
Individuals and teams will be required to complete, to the best of their ability (as weather and topography allow) 15 five-minute point counts per day between 28 May and 10 July, to assess abundance, and 20hrs of breeding evidence surveys, to assess distribution, following BC Breeding Bird Atlas protocols, in as many 10km grid squares as possible, to fill gaps in coverage in northern, central and south-eastern British Columbia, and increase coverage of higher elevation habitats throughout the province. We are currently finalising survey priority areas (which will likely include the Atlin - Dease Lake regions accessed via the Cassiar Highway, and the north-east in the Fort Nelson - Mackenzie - Fraser Plateau regions; the western Chilcotin and Coast Range Mountains, and parts of the Columbia Basin). You will be required to coordinate your activities closely with the BC Breeding Bird Atlas Coordinator and the relevant volunteer Regional Coordinator(s). The number of positions offered is dependent upon pending funding applications, and will fall into the following categories 1-2 (below).
Remote Survey Field Technicians
In order to maximize opportunity and effectiveness, we are offering positions in the following categories (each requires use of own vehicle):
1) Teams of two skilled ornithologists deployed for periods of 40-50 days between 28 May and 31 July, at $225 per day each, to cover salary and all expenses.
2) Individual skilled ornithologists deployed for minimum periods of 7 days between 28 May and 10 July, at $250 per day each, to cover salary and all expenses.
Short-term Remote Surveyors
We are also looking for individual and teams of two to four birders, willing to volunteer to conduct Atlas surveys over shorter periods of time (2-6 days) in remote areas and higher elevation habitats accessed by floatplane and helicopter. We are looking for back-country savvy teams with at least one individual able to conduct point counts (for 28 May - 10 July surveys), and will cover some expenses, including provision of SPOT Satellite Messengers for remote communications and emergencies.
Please send your expression of interest, highlighting your birding and field experience, your availability during the period 28 May - 10 July, your regional preference (if any), resume, which of the above categories you wish to be considered for, and the name(s) of people you could team up with, if any, plus the names and addresses of two references, and your atlasser ID# if you have one, to Christopher Di Corrado at cdicorrado@birdscanada.org.
Deadline: Tuesday, April 19, 2010, 11:59 pm Pacific time.
