Title: Henslow’s Sparrow Point-Count Technician (1)
Location: Flint Hills, Kansas
Organizations: Kansas State University and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Salary: $1,600–2,000/month
Application Deadline: 15 March 2016
Term: 1 April–31 July 2016
Description:
Kansas State University and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service are seeking
one seasonal research technicians to join a project investigating
breeding habitat associations of an enigmatic, highly mobile, and
declining grassland specialist—the Henslow’s Sparrow—throughout the
Flint Hills and neighboring ecoregions of eastern Kansas. The Flint
Hills contain ~80% of North America’s remaining tallgrass prairie and
represent a critical landscape for the long-term viability of grassland
birds in the Great Plains. The results of this study will help to
improve our understanding of critical thresholds associated with species
responses to habitat loss and fragmentation and to guide conservation
efforts aimed at protecting natural resources under pressure from
agricultural development and intensified rangeland management practices.
Applicants can view photos taken in the Flint Hills and this job
announcement here: http://www.markherse.com/hespjobannouncement/
This position provides an excellent opportunity to gain valuable field
experience while working in a beautiful tallgrass prairie landscape with
a species recognized as a bird of National Conservation Concern. The
field season will run from 1 April to 31 July 2016. We will pay
technicians $1,600–2,000 per month, provide project vehicles, and cover
accommodation costs while traveling. If needed, we can provide temporary
housing at Konza Prairie Biological Station near Manhattan, Kansas.
Technician duties are as follows: (1) conduct daily point-count surveys
for Henslow’s Sparrows and several other grassland species from roadside
transects in a study area encompassing the entire eastern one-third of
Kansas; (2) drive long distances and navigate remote areas while working
long and irregular hours that include weekends; (3) sleep at campsites,
field stations, and/or motels for a significant portion of the field
season; (4) enter and manage data; and (5) assist the project leader as
needed.
Qualifications:
We are seeking highly skilled birders with experience conducting point-
count surveys and a demonstrated ability to identify grassland birds by
sight and sound. The primary objective of our field work is to detect
the presence of Henslow’s Sparrows which are exceptionally cryptic with
a short, insect-like song; therefore, the applicant must have excellent
hearing and vision, attention to detail, and an ability to identify
grassland bird species by sight and sound. Qualified applicants must (1)
be independently motivated and capable of waking several hours before
sunrise daily without direct supervision; (2) have excellent
organization and written and verbal communication skills; (3) maintain a
safe and positive attitude; and (4) be comfortable tent camping, driving
and maintaining 4WD trucks, and navigating remote areas in the dark with
a GPS, compass, and maps.
Successful applicants will have a strong work ethic, a desire to be
involved in avian ecology and grassland management research, and a valid
U.S. driver’s license with a clean driving record. We will give
preference to excellent birders, as well as applicants who have
completed or are working towards a Bachelor of Science in Biology,
Wildlife Ecology, or other related field.
To apply:
Please submit a cover letter, CV, and contact information for 3
references in one file with your name and ‘Research Technician’ in the
title and subject line to [email protected] (Mark Herse). Applications may
be submitted until 15 March. However, we will review applications as
they are received, so applicants are encouraged to apply early.
Mark Herse, Graduate Research Assistant, 116 Ackert, Division of
Biology, K-State, Manhattan, KS 66506
Mobile: 630-229-3624
Email: [email protected]
Webpage: http://www.markherse.com/hespjobannouncement/
