Field Biologist - Puerto Rico Sharp-shinned Hawk

The Peregrine Fund is seeking several field biologists to assist in research and restoring the population of the endangered Puerto Rican Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus venator) in the central mountains of Puerto Rico. The project goal is to determine the population status and number of nesting pairs, and increase the productivity through captive propagation and release of young. The field work will be during the breeding season from January to August 2019 and involve searching for territorial pairs and individuals, monitor previously known nesting pairs, assist in propagation activities and release young back to the wild. The early breeding season work will require driving mountain roads and hiking in rainforests to survey and search from vantage points or lookouts over public and private montane forested habitat for displaying hawks and potential nesting pairs. The candidates should be in good physical condition as work will involve hiking in undulating forested habitat to locate potential and known nesting pairs and conducted nest observations for productivity. Later in the season all young raised in captivity will be released and monitored until they reach independence. An applicant has to be comfortable working long hours in humid and wet weather, self-motivated and able to work both alone and with others. Experience trapping and banding raptors and accessing nests is highly desirable. Above all, a positive attitude and desire to work and learn are qualities expected of candidates. The field team will be in constant communication with a field supervisor and propagation specialist. Some intermediate/advanced Spanish is desirable and beneficial.

Salary: A salary will be provided and to be determined based on experience.

Housing: will be provided in a 3-bedroom house with a kitchen and laundry.

Vehicle: the use of a vehicle will be provided.

Qualification Required or Highly Desirable:

• Previous field experience with raptors - as it is important to be familiar with raptor behavior and identification
• Banding and trapping of raptors
• Tree climbing for accessing nests
• Navigating with topography maps and hand-held GPS units
• A valid driver’s license is required
• Previous experience in avian incubation and/or rearing young avian species

Desired Qualifications:

• Conversational Spanish
• Experience using telemetry to track wildlife

To Apply: Submit electronically (email) by December 1, 2019 or until the positions are filled.

• Resume/cv (two pages maximum) with three references
• A one page cover letter highlighting field experience
• Name the file as LastName_FirstName_PRSSHFieldBiologist

Contact: Russell Thorstrom: RThorstrom@Peregrinefund.org