Job Description: The Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex will be hiring a Biological Intern during April – August 2020. This position is co-funded by the Audubon Society of Corvallis, and administered through Environment for the Americas. The Biological Intern will assist the refuges’ Biology Program staff with population monitoring for federally Threatened Streaked Horned Larks (SHL), as well as other biological, habitat management, and outreach duties.
Work will occur at three refuges – William L. Finley, Ankeny, and Baskett Slough NWRs. This position will help assess the Refuges’ contribution to SHL recovery efforts. Monitoring work will help answer many questions regarding conservation of SHLs on the Refuges, esp. nesting habitat use, timing of nesting attempts, and reproductive success.
There may also be opportunities to work with staff from the Audubon Society of Corvallis.
Wage: $14.00 / hour
Start / End Dates: mid- to late April through late August 2020 (start and end dates negotiable)
Work Schedule: 40 hours / week
If intern is a locally enrolled student, intern must work a minimum of 3 days/week during the spring term (specific schedule negotiable). Schedule may include weekend work. Intern will work a shifted 8-hr daily schedule, with early morning start times.
Primary Duties: Conduct SHL reproductive monitoring, and assist with monthly SHL breeding pair surveys. Intern will search for SHL nests using lark behavioral cues and visual observations. Nests will be monitored every 3-4 days to assess nest success and fledgling survival. Intern will collect relevant photo-documentation and enter data into spreadsheets.
Other Duties:
Intern also will help conduct acoustic bat monitoring as part of the continent-scale NABat project. Intern may conduct presence/absence surveys of Oregon Vesper Sparrows at several refuge sites. There will be numerous opportunities to assist refuge staff with habitat management activities, esp. invasive plant control and mapping.
Experience Required (specific training provided as necessary):
Field birding skills (use of binoculars & spotting scopes; identification of songbirds by sight and sound)
Biological field survey experience
Orienteering experience and use of GPS (Global Positioning System) equipment
Physical Requirements:
Ability to walk on uneven and sometime steep terrain, up to several miles per day
Ability to carry a spotting scope, binoculars, daypack, and water/food for extended periods
Ability to stand for long periods while using spotting scopes and binoculars
Tolerance of sun exposure for long periods
Tolerance of allergen exposure (grass and weed pollen) and poison oak
Conditions of Employment:
This internship is being administered by Environment for the Americas
Intern must have, or obtain, a valid driver’s license by the Start Date
After reporting, the Intern will be required to pass an online Defensive Driver’s Training course as part of the orientation process
Intern will receive a safety session on operation of 4WD vehicles
All necessary work-related equipment will be provided; this includes binoculars, spotting scope, GPS, field notebooks, maps, etc.
A Federal Government work vehicle will be provided (but cannot be used off-duty). A personal vehicle will be required for personal travel needs. Intern will be reimbursed for travel costs associated with off-refuge work (e.g., with Audubon Society of Corvallis).
Summer housing may be provided at either William L. Finley NWR and/or Baskett Slough NWR.
Application Process:
On-line applications and instructions are now posted at the Environment for the Americas website (click on the ‘APPLY‘ link from the webpage below):
https://www.environmentamericas.org/internships/internships/
Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm MDT on February 28, 2020.
Specific questions about the internship or application process should be directed to:
Brian Root, Refuge Wildlife Biologist
Willamette Valley NWR Complex
26208 Finley Refuge Road
Corvallis, OR 97333
541-757-7236 x112
Brian_Root@fws.gov