Seasonal Shorebird Monitor

Job Description

The Nantucket Conservation Foundation’s Department of Ecological Research, Stewardship and Restoration seeks a motivated, enthusiastic, self‑reliant, independent Shorebird Monitor. From late March to mid-August, the shorebird monitor will focus intensively on nest searching, monitoring and protecting rare beach‑nesting shorebirds, and summarizing and reporting end of season data. The Shorebird Monitor will work both independently, and collaboratively with the Wildlife Ecology Program Manager, the Seasonal Wildlife Ecology Field Assistant, Coatue Ranger, and volunteers and interns.

As the shorebird nesting season winds down, the potential exists to assist the NCF’s Ecology Department with additional ecological field work. Applicants with previous wildlife monitoring, and especially shorebird monitoring and nest searching experience, will be given preference for this position.

Potential additional responsibilities (dependent on need and time) include horseshoe crab monitoring, invasive plant species management and assisting with other ecological field work and data entry/quality control.

This is a field work intensive position and applicants must be able to tolerate long field days in sometimes adverse field conditions including inclement weather and variable terrain, poison ivy and biting insects (mosquitoes, ticks). Nantucket is an area with a high incidence of tick‑borne disease so precautions to minimize risk are encouraged. The work can be very physically demanding and regularly involves hiking in soft sand, digging, bending, kneeling, hauling heavy field gear, and fence post installation.

The Nantucket Conservation Foundation is located on Nantucket Island, MA ~ 30 miles south of Cape Cod. Nantucket is dominated by sandplain grasslands, coastal heathlands, and scrub oak shrublands (all rare habitats in the Northeast) as well as barrier beaches, coastal plain ponds and tidal marshes. For more information on our mission and research projects, please see the Foundation’s website ((Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).)

Completed or in progress B.S. or B.A. degree in Ecology, Zoology, Natural Resource Management, Wildlife Biology, or a related biological/ecological field.
Candidates with one or more seasons of field experience monitoring nesting shorebird populations will be given high preference. Strong observational, critical thinking and organizational skills and the ability keep accurate and up‑to‑date field notes. Experience using GPS units in the field and recording data on mobile phone apps. Experience using binoculars and spotting scopes for wildlife monitoring. Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

A valid driver’s license is required; 4WD beach driving experience is preferred.

This is a full‑time, temporary position beginning in late March and ending mid‑August, exact start and end dates are somewhat flexible. Hours are generally 40 hours per week, averaging eight hours per day, although schedule will be flexible depending on weather and will frequently require…