Field Technician​/Shorebird Monitor Supervisor

Position Titles: Shorebird Monitor Supervisor, Field Technician
FLSA Status: Hourly, Non-Exempt (not benefit eligible)
Department: Coastal Ecology Program (CEP)
Salary Range: $17.00- $18.50 hourly (based on qualifications and role)
Location: Duxbury Beach, MA
Hours: Variable; including weekends, evenings & holidays; 18-40 hr/wk
Schedule: March to September; additional off-season hours as necessary

The Duxbury Beach Reservation, Inc., a 501c3 charitable corporation, owns approximately 4 miles of Duxbury Beach, a 7.5 mile long barrier beach that extends from Marshfield in the north to Gurnet Point and Saquish in the south. The Reservation’s mission is to protect the beach structure, preserve its ecological resources and maintain recreational access. Part of this responsibility is to maintain a Coastal Ecology Program on Duxbury Beach.

Pay range:

Field Technician: $17.00 - $17.50 hourly

Shorebird Monitor Supervisor: $18.00 - $18.50 hourly

The purpose of both the Field Technician and the Shorebird Monitor Supervisor roles is to assist in the protection of the listed species Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) and Least Tern (Sternula antillarum), working as part of the Endangered Species Program, a subset of the Coastal Ecology Program. At the beginning of the season the employee will help to install necessary fencing and barriers.

During the season they will assist with daily data collection including, but not limited to: avian behavior, nesting phenology, predator observations, visitor statistics, Piping Plover road crossings, Least Tern colony and nursery observations, etc. following the protocols provided for to meet the requirements of Duxbury Beach Reservation’s Certificate of Inclusion permit. The employee will interact with the public to provide information and answer questions as necessary and communicate beach rules and regulations in a polite and professional manner.

As needed they will assist in implementing temporary road closures due to plover brood road crossing activity. They will report directly to the Duxbury Beach Reservation Field Coordinator, and work closely with and communicate daily with other Duxbury Beach Reservation staff and the Town of Duxbury Beach Operation Rangers.

Additionally, Shorebird Monitor Supervisors will fulfill all of the functions mentioned above, and will also assist with supervisory and administrative tasks for the Endangered Species Program. Shorebird Monitor Supervisors will work together to train, assign, and supervise Shorebird Monitors. They will provide day-to-day supervision and mentorship for Shorebird Monitors to ensure protocols are met including but not limited to, behavioral data collection, predator observations, visitor statistics, Piping Plover road crossings, Least Tern colony and nursery observations, barrier use, etc.,

and ensure they are implemented correctly.

The responsibilities and duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or logical assignment to the position. Additional tasks may be assigned (depending on need and availability) that are related, but not limited, to: vegetation sampling, invasive plant removal, avian composition surveys, dune monitoring, etc.

• Conduct nest searching and monitoring for listed species
• Assist the Field Coordinator and other Duxbury Beach Reservation staff in identifying vulnerable nesting sites
• Behavioral observations of Piping Plover pairs, broods, and Least Tern chick nurseries
• Conduct Least Tern colony and chick surveys
• Assist Shorebird Monitors in locating Piping Plover broods and Least Tern chicks
• Identify shorebirds of the Eastern US
• Collect data of predator presence through observations of sightings, tracks, and signs
• Perform functions related to the D  Certificate of Inclusion under the MA Habitat Conservation Plan for Piping Plovers and Least Terns including implementing road closures, installing and maintaining fencing and barriers, and public outreach

• Use ArcGIS Field Maps, Survey
  123, and other ArcGIS applications to record biological and other data
• Assist in management of collected seasonal data including abundance, productivity, and behavioral data
• Compile data for state plover, tern, and oyster catcher census forms and assist the Field Coordinator with summary reports for specific sites on results and management activities
• Uphold high standards of data collection
• Review and proof data
• Provide feedback and clarification on field data

• Submit daily updates on Piping Plover and Least Terns via Slack to the Field Coordinator and other Duxbury Beach Reservation Staff
• Collaborate with field staff to ensure adequate monitoring coverage
• Communicate observations of enforcement issues…