POSITION DESCRIPTION

Title:                    Avian Technician

Reports to:         Avian Project Manager

Location:            Mt. Vernon, Washington

Type:                Full-time: hourly, non-exempt.

Period:              Seasonal. 25 January 2027 to mid-June 2027

Benefits:             Sick, vacation, holiday PTO, retirement*.

*Retirement: All positions: employees can make personal contributions to retirement after 3 months, Ecostudies provides match after 6mo

Hourly Rate:     $20.30 - $22.71

Application deadline: 30 November 2026. Applications are reviewed as received.

OVERVIEW SUMMARY

Ecostudies Institute (ESI) is hiring a seasonal avian field technician position to work out of the Mt. Vernon, Washington, area conducting avian monitoring in estuarine habitats in the North Puget Sound supporting the Salish Sea Estuaries Avian Monitoring (SSEAM) Program. Major responsibilities will include conducting standardized point-counts, transects, and secretive marshbird surveys, and habitat monitoring encompassing the wintering, spring migration, and breeding season. Additionally, the avian technician will be responsible for data entry, QA/QC, and uploading data to a central database. Work will occur at several estuarine sites located in the Skagit and Stillaguamish River Deltas in the north Puget Sound. This position will work highly independently with remote supervision from our headquarters in Olympia, WA (~3hrs away) with occasional collaboration with staff from our agency, tribal, and NGO partners. This position will require a personal vehicle to drive between sites (mileage reimbursement provided at the federal rate).

Successful applicants should have a keen interest in avian research and conservation, at least two seasons of avian fieldwork (prior wetland, coastal, or estuarine work preferred), demonstrate excellent communication skills, capable of working highly independently, and be able to maintain a positive attitude while working long days navigating challenging tidal marsh terrain. This full-time field position entails early mornings and long days in variable weather conditions with extensive walking in chest waders. Technician is expected to meticulously collect and manage detailed data, be self-motivated, and communicate effectively with remote supervisor and project partners. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conduct line-transect, point-count, and secretive marshbird surveys for estuarine birds using binoculars and spotting scopes.
• Conduct habitat surveys of estuarine vegetation and landcover composition.
• Identify all Puget Sound estuarine birds by sight or sound including shorebirds, waterfowl, landbirds, and secretive marshbirds.
• Identify common tidal marsh vegetation, especially those found in low-marsh habitats.
• Use mobile apps for data collection including ESRI Survey123 and FieldMaps.
• Maintain daily entries in field notebooks including detailed observations.
• Complete daily data entry and regular QA/QC using Microsoft Excel, and Avian Knowledge Network database.
• Operate and maintain equipment such as binoculars, spotting scopes, and chest waders.
• Hike 5-10 miles daily in tidal marsh habitats in all weather conditions, adhering to safety protocols for working in potentially hazardous estuarine environments.
• Operate in a flexible work schedule dictated by tidal conditions, survey type, and weather (i.e., some surveys may begin at sunrise, others may begin in the afternoon).
• Assist ESI staff with installation and maintenance of survey grid markers.
• Interact professionally with other ESI and partner organization staff, as well as members of the public, and be able to communicate the value and benefit of estuarine bird conservation.
• Work collaboratively with other ESI programs, resource agencies, consultants, and other conservation organizations.
• Complete administrative duties including tracking work hours, submitting timesheets, and recording reimbursable mileage.
• Other related duties as assigned to assist in meeting ESI’s conservation goals.

REQUIREMENTS

• Completion of or progress towards BA/BS/AS/Technical or vocational degree in science/natural resources-related field or at least three years natural resources or avian-related field experience.
• Ability to identify western Washington birds, particularly shorebirds, waterfowl, coastal landbirds and secretive marshbirds, by sight and sound, with minimal training.
• At least two seasons of experience with avian field techniques, especially transects and point-count surveys.
• Ability to follow provided protocols and instructions from colleagues.
• Ability to manage time and diverse activities under deadlines while delivering quality results.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision and demonstrate a strong initiative in completing tasks while maintaining frequent communication with project lead.
• Ability to perform physical work, sometimes under adverse conditions or in inclement weather.
• Working knowledge of common software applications on computers and mobile devices (e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel, web browsers, Google products).
• Must have and maintain a valid state driver’s license and safe driving record.
• Must have access to a working personal vehicle that can be used to drive to and from work locations daily (use of personal vehicle will be reimbursed at the federal mileage rate).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced western Washington bird identification skills by sight and sound across wintering/migration/breeding season plumages, especially with shorebirds, waterfowl, landbirds, and secretive marshbirds.
• Prior experience working in tidal marsh, wetland, or estuarine habitats and navigating challenging terrain in chest waders including deep mud, channels, and tidal conditions.
• Prior experience managing data with ESRI products including Survey123, and FieldMaps.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Regularly works outdoors, walking 5-10 miles per day through tidal marsh and estuarine mud in chest waders navigating across deep channels, carrying up to 30 lbs (~90%); occasionally works indoors in an office setting for data entry (~10%).
• Required to use personal vehicle for travel to and between work sites (mileage reimbursed at the federal rate).
• Primarily works solo and expected to adhere to safety protocols (i.e., check-in check-out policies, etc.).
• Remotely supervised but expected to maintain frequent communication with project leads and partner staff.`
• Occasionally lifts, positions, or otherwise moves objects weighing up to 50lbs.

ABOUT ECOSTUDIES

Ecostudies Institute is a 501(c)(3) scientific non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of native species and their ecosystems. We achieve our mission through effective partnerships, sound scientific research, strategic land management and ecological restoration.  At the core of our mission is a cooperative conservation model that strives to realize improved conservation outcomes by developing shared goals and vision through partnerships. These partnerships, in turn, encourage information transfer, advances in cutting edge restoration techniques, and the development of integrated range-wide conservation approaches. The organization is headquartered in Olympia, Washington with additional staff based in other locations in Washington and Oregon. Ecostudies currently employs over 40 permanent and seasonal staff.

HIRING EQUITY STATMENTS

ESI values and seeks diversity and equity within the organization, and we encourage applications from all groups of people. We recognize that the strength of the organization is in our people, and we believe that every employee has the right to work in surroundings that are free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment. Ecostudies does not and will not discriminate in employment and personnel practices, and our commitment to equal employment opportunity applies to every aspect of the employment relationship.

It is well-documented that Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), queer and transgender folks, women, and other marginalized groups often do not apply for jobs unless they feel they meet every qualification listed in the job description. We are most interested in finding the right candidate for the job and our organization. We encourage all passionate and interested candidates to apply and think broadly about your background and qualifications that could be transferable for the position. We are committed to working against the structural biases that continue to keep marginalized people excluded from the conservation, restoration, and wildland fire/prescribed fire fields, and to making sure our hiring practices are not reproducing those biases.