Interesting Bird Jobs

Couple of interesting bird jobs. Don't want to deal with the cold this winter, then why not be a bird guide in Costa Rica. Six hour a day work day and two meals a day provided as well as compensation. You have to pay your own rent, but it's only $65 - $75 per month!

BIRDING AND NATURAL HISTORY GUIDE: Our small Eco-lodge on the Peninsula de Osa in Costa Rica needs an extra guide for the 2007 high season. Late Dec006-the beginning of Apr 2007. Feb and Mar are the most important months and the other months are negotiable. Qualifications: Birding/ornithology background with experience in tropical biology and birding particularly in Costa Rica, ability to learn bird calls quickly, ability to study and absorb knowledge quickly, enthusiasm, pleasant personality, flexible, some Spanish language, good physical condition and interest in all natural history. A University Degree is not necessary. Birding is our main emphasis but we could consider a general tropical naturalist/biologist with some background in birding. We are located in the National Forest surrounding Corcovado National Park on the Peninsula de Osa. This area is said to be one of the most biodiverse places in the world with approx. 2.5% of the species found worldwide. There are many local endemic species and the birding is excellent. This is a great opportunity to get to know the area. We will need 1-3 weeks (depending on the applicants experience) for training. We are open to a field biologist combining research with the job. Generally, work hours will be 3-5 hours in the morning and 2-3 in the afternoon. Or an approximate total of 6 hrs a day. Schedule is flexible and dependent on our occupancy. During most of the period there will be a fair amount of free time. We provide personal guiding so groups larger than 2 or 4 will be rare. Some interaction with our guests during down time is required. During low periods we may ask for help with lodge related work such as correspondence, trips to town, trail maintenance or natural history related projects and record keeping but this is negotiable. Two meals a day are provided and there is a private house nearby for the guide to rent (very inexpensive, $60-$75 per month). Compensation for services is provided. For more info about the area and our lodge, please view our web page http://www.osaadventures.com and for more info on the job opportunity, write to (EM: info AT osaadventures.com).

And for those who would like to search for ivory-billed woodpeckers we have this job. Hey wait, this one pays! I got robbed!

FLORIDA IVORY BILL SEARCH – We are currently taking applications for full-time searchers for the 2006/2007 field season. The minimum time commitment is 2 Jan to 30 May 2007. Searchers willing to work through Christmas and New Year holidays are also especially needed. Stipend is $1200/mo with no benefits. Anyone willing to join the full-time search without receiving a stipend will get special consideration. Searchers will live in a remote camp in a tent or in a bunkhouse and must purchase their own food. Please send resume, contact info for two references, and a page summarizing why you want to be part of the search, your level of physical fitness, and your skills as a kayaker, photographer, canoeist, hiker, and birder to BRIAN ROLEK (EM: brianrolek ATgmailDOTcom). Applications received before 15 Oct 2006 will get first consideration. Auburn University, Auburn AL.

And this job in SE Ohio would just be fun to have as a conversation piece. Are you kidding, you're paid to look for cerulean warblers and scarlet tanagers?

AVIAN POSITIONS (8) – to work with canopy species in the forested rolling hills of SE Ohio near the town of Athens. The project will focus on searching for nests of Cerulean Warblers, Scarlet Tanagers, and Eastern Wood-Pewees, mist-netting and re-sighting color-banded birds, and transect surveys of mature forest species. Other work will include spot-mapping, point counts, foraging observations, and vegetation work. Experience with any of these a plus. FIELD TECHNICIANS (4–5) must be able to use parental behavior to locate nests often high in the forest canopy and re-sight colored leg bands on small birds moving through foliage. Preference will be given to applicants with prior nest searching experience and/or mist-netting experience. SURVEYOR (1) must be able to identify eastern forest birds by both sight and sound. FIELD ASSISTANTS (2–3) will be responsible for checking nests, spot-mapping and making foraging observations. Applicants must be willing to spend long days in the field hiking over sometimes steep terrain. Everyone will have an opportunity to learn all aspects of the project. Positions run from mid Apr to early Aug 2007 with some flexibility to start and end dates. Housing and work vehicle provided. Pay $300–$400 per week depending on experience. Email (preferably) a cover letter and resume plus the email addresses and phone numbers of three references to FELICITY NEWELL (EM: felicity.newell AT gmail.com) or send to AMANDA RODEWALD at Ohio State University, 375C Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210. Applications will be accepted until positions are filled.

And this job is just rediculous. I'm half tempted to apply for it. Getting paid to live in the Caribbean during the worst winter months and banding birds. Sweet! The only downside is that you have to pay your own airfare.

BANDERS: Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) is looking for two banders from 1 Jan – 31 Mar 2007 for a long-term songbird monitoring project studying both over-wintering migrants as well as resident species on St. Martin, Lesser Antilles, Caribbean. Field work includes mist-netting/banding daily, switching between dry forest, thorn scrub, and mangroves habitats. Applicants must have prior experience both removing birds from mist-nets as well as handling and banding birds. Additionally, applicants must have a working knowledge of the Pyle Guide. Applicants must be in good physical condition, get along well with others, be willing to work hard, and be self-motivated. Banders will be paid $500/month and housing/transportation will be provided on the island during the research period. Banders must provide their own airfare to St. Martin. We prefer applicants that are willing to stay for the entire three-month period but will consider applicants that can stay for a minimum one-month. For more information on EPIC go to our webpage (URL: http://www.epicislands.org) TO APPLY: Please send a cover letter, resume, and three references to ADAM C. BROWN (EM: abrown AT epicislands.org) before 15 Nov 2006.