Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area is currently recruiting for several Forestry Aide positions for the 2026 Western Snowy Plover and California Least Tern nesting season (March to September)

General Duties include:

• Conduct monitoring for two federally listed bird species, the threatened snowy plover and the endangered least tern, including monitoring adults, nests, chicks and broods
• Fence, sign, and nest exclosure installation and maintenance
• Collect scientific field notes, data entry, and technical report writing
• Work with the public as a State Park representative and with an interdisciplinary team

Applicants should have the following qualities:

• Be flexible, open minded, and able to reason logically
• Have interest and aptitude in the work
• Be able to take direction and establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Work well with the public as a State Park representative
• Ability to work under adverse conditions such as in heavy wind and moving sand
• Be able to cope with sitting for extended periods monitoring by spotting scope
• Be able to lift up to 50 pounds
• Ability to read and record color band data
• Willingness to do routine work in order to learn
• Have experience writing scientific field notes and reports
• Ability to draw sound conclusions and make appropriate recommendations
• Have a clean Class C Driver license and be able to operate a 4-wheel drive vehicle
• Have knowledge of general concepts related to biological and environmental issues
• Birding experience preferred

Housing is not provided. Weekend, holiday, early morning (before dawn), and evening shifts will be required. You will receive full training and work with some of the best experts in the field!