Deadline: Fri, 04/01/2022 - 12:00pm Employer: Crane Trust Job Field: Wildlife Job Type: Full Time Location: Nebraska Location Detail: Wood River Job Description: Position Type: Full-Time Term Fellowship Date of Employment: May 30th to December 31st 2022, with possible extension through March 31st 2023 Description We are currently seeking 1 term Conservation Fellow to serve as part of our natural resources research team at the Crane Trust for the upcoming 2022 field season. The Conservation Fellow will be working on a variety of projects described below, with a major focus on avian point counts, Whooping Crane monitoring, anuran surveys, butterfly species of concern surveys, slough fish surveys, small mammal trapping, vegetation surveys, and moth surveys. This position will also entail a significant amount of public outreach via the production of digital media documenting their work. The position is generously supported by the Saunders Trust and is intended to support research, implementation, and outreach for the protection and enhancement of the ecological and hydrological integrity of the Platte River to help sustain Whooping Cranes, Sandhill Cranes, and other migratory birds. Projects Whooping Crane – Assist with behavioral monitoring during fall (2022) and potentially spring (2023) migration. Avian- Assisting with point count and transect songbird surveys as well as helping with shorebird/wading bird and prairie chicken research, including data entry on these projects. Small Mammal- Sherman box trapping along long-term monitoring transects to collect species diversity and abundance data. Conservation Storytelling – Responsible for documenting their fellowship and producing media content to tell the story of conservation in the Central Platte River Valley. Butterfly Species of Concern Surveys- Transect surveys for Regal Fritillary and Monarch butterflies. Fish Seining- Systematic surveys for populations of slough fish. Position will aid with fish capture, identification, data recording, and data entry. Anuran- Supporting field-based anuran call surveys and associated efforts with acoustic recorders. Bison Health - Helping collect and process bison biometric data for long-term genetic and health studies. Ground Water Monitoring- Assist in recording groundwater depth data utilizing digital transducers. Vegetation- Helping record data and reading long-term vegetation monitoring plots, including both upland and wetland habitats. Learning to use taxonomic keys to identify plants to species. Helping press plants and contributing to our herbarium. Macro-moth Inventory- The Crane Trust will be working on a short-term grant funded study to inventory nocturnal macro-moths in various habitats in the Central Platte River Valley, with a focus on Catocala spp. and Sphingidae spp. Qualifications: A college degree with a major or minor in the biological sciences, natural resources, botany, range science, ecology, wildlife biology, agriculture or a related field. If you do not have a degree or official minor in one of these fields, college credits equivalent to a minor (~24 credits in biological sciences) will be acceptable. Field experience is a bonus, whether in class, for work, or for an internship. Please let us know about your love of working in the outdoors. Our tallgrass prairie system is extremely beautiful and diverse, but you will be exposed to many biting insects, hot humid weather conditions, and poisonous plants. Knowing you enjoy working outside for extended periods of time, despite some basic lack of comfort, is a must. You must also be good at working in close quarters with other people. Housing includes private rooms with shared men’s bathroom, women’s bathroom, and kitchen. These will be the same people you will also be working long field hours with and collaborating with on research projects, both in the office and field. An ability to get along with others is a must. Must have the ability to hike moderate distances over uneven terrain and lift up to 50 lbs. Skill in Microsoft Office, Access, Excel, STATA, R, SPSS, ArcGIS, ArcPad, Garmin Basecamp, DNR Garmin, and other programs often used in Natural Resources Research is a great benefit, but not mandatory. Must also have proof of personal health insurance and a valid driver’s license for the position. Miscellaneous: Deadline Application Deadline is April 1st 2022 and interviews will be conducted between April 5th and 8th 2022. Salary: $1,800/mo. Benefits: Housing if needed How to Apply: To apply send one document, preferably a PDF, containing your resume/CV, contact information, >3 references, and a cover letter no longer than 1 page detailing your interests in our research projects, your skillset, important experiences (educational, volunteer, or work highlights), and a little about your philosophy on conservation and work. I know this is a lot to fit into 1 page, but be concise and it should fit. Thank you for your interest in this position. Please email (acaven@cranetrust.org) or airmail applications to the below address and feel free to call with any questions. Please CC Wendy Bailey, Director of Finance & Human Resources, on email applications (wbailey@cranetrust.org).
