Research Assistant - Diversionary Feeding

The Rspb; Conwy; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading wildlife conservation charity in the UK seeks a dedicated conservationist to monitor raptors and implement feeding strategies for curlew chicks. This fixed-term, full-time role focuses on outdoor fieldwork, collaboration with landowners, and data collection. With a passion for wildlife and a commitment to inclusivity, the ideal candidate will have skills in data recording and effective communication. The position offers potential hybrid working options and aims to improve curlew productivity as part of an important conservation project.

Qualifications

• Full UK driving licence.
• Experience monitoring or working with raptors is desirable.
• Experience working with landowners and/or farmers is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Monitor raptors' nests and behaviors.
• Install feeding platforms and nest cameras.
• Tailor provisioning based on trail camera observations.
• Collaborate with farmers for diversionary feeding.

Skills

Monitoring raptors

Excellent communication skills

Ability to work independently

Data recording

Working outdoors

Job description

Key Activities

• Monitoring raptors (buzzards and red kites) - identifying nests, recording behaviour and monitoring breeding
• Working with contractors to install feeding platforms and nest cameras
• Provisioning feeding station with prey
• Monitoring use of feeding station using trail camera and viewpoint observations; tailoring provisioning accordingly
• Working with farmers to implement diversionary feeding
• Working with the Curlews' Call field team (opportunity to monitor curlew as well)
• Full UK driving licence
• Accurate data recording
• Excellent communication skills (our site is not on RSPB reserve so you will be working with landowners)
• Bird monitoring
• Ability to work outdoors in a rugged landscape
• Ability to work independently, use initiative and be adaptable
• Ability to work as part of the wider team

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience monitoring or working with raptors
• Experience working with landowners and/or farmers

The Curlew's Call is a Nature Networks funded project (a government fund administered by the Heritage Lottery). The project area covers over 7000 hectares of rolling moorland and farmland, an area which is home to one of the highest densities of breeding curlew in England and Wales. With breeding populations of curlew having declined by over 77% since 1995, this stronghold population needs serious conservation intervention to avoid local extinction. The Project Area is Ysbyty Ifan and Hiraethog, which is located to the east of Snowdonia.

During the past 4 years, productivity monitoring of curlew on the project site has shown that productivity of breeding curlew is consistently below the requirement of 0.5 for a sustainable population. We have implemented predator control and nest protection measures, as well as dedicated habitat improvement. Despite this, predation of chicks is still high. Radio tagging studies on the curlew chicks within the project have found that not many chicks are surviving past 10 days. Many chick losses are attributed to avian predation, and we are consistently finding chick tags in raptor (buzzard and red kite) nests. Diversionary feeding has been implemented on our project site for the last 2 years to try and divert foraging of raptors away from curlew chicks. In this, our third year of diversionary feeding, we will be looking to implement everything we have learnt from the previous two years, with the aim of significantly increasing curlew productivity.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature's side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application. The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

The RSPB is a charity for the conservation of birds and nature. We bring people together who love birds and other wildlife, and who want to take action to restore the health and diversity of the natural world. We carry out conservation on a large scale, protect and restore habitats, and save species from extinction. We're living in a nature and climate emergency, and we won’t stop whilst the threats persist.

This is a Fixed‑Term, Full‑Time role for 5 months looking to start in March 2026. The role is site based, but Hybrid working options can be considered. The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.