Senior Woodland Bird Monitor – Celtic Rainforest LIFE

RSPB; Wales; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading wildlife conservation organization is seeking a dedicated individual for a bird monitoring role in Wales. The position involves conducting surveys, coordinating a team of assistants, and managing data entry. Candidates should excel in identifying woodland birds by sound and sight, and possess strong spatial awareness and navigational skills. The work requires physical stamina as field surveys demand working in challenging habitats. This is a fixed-term, full-time position for 5 months with a competitive salary.

Qualifications

• Excellent at identifying woodland birds by sound as well as sight.
• Understanding of vegetation structure in woodlands.
• Ability to identify basic woodland plants, trees, and shrubs.

Responsibilities

• Conduct baseline Common Bird Census surveys.
• Coordinate and manage woodland bird monitoring assistants.
• Collate data and ensure accuracy during data entry.

Skills

Identifying woodland birds by sound and sight

Good spatial awareness

Navigational skills using maps and GPS

Attention to detail

Job description

Reference:OCT20255392
Location: RSPB Ynys-hir, covering Mid and North Wales
Terms: Fixed Term, 5 months, Full-time, 37.5 hours per week
Salary: £30,075.00 - £32,108.00 Per Annum

The Celtic rainforest LIFE project (CRLIFE), is an EU funded project that is restoring protected Western Atlantic oak woods of European importance for nature conservation. These are important habitats for woodland birds, bryophytes, lichens and bats. As part of its monitoring activities the project carried out baseline Common Bird Census surveys in 2019, and these now need to be repeated as the project draws to a close, in order to assess the impact of the project's work on bird populations within the various CRLIFE woodland sites.

Surveying woodland birds is reliant on locating and identifying all calling and singing birds, which are seldom seen. The post holder will therefore need to be excellent at identifying woodland birds by sound as well as sight. The surveys will be carried out using territory mapping to record populations of all woodland bird species and applicants will therefore need good spatial awareness and navigational skills, using maps, compass and GPS to locate study plots and accurately map the bird activity and locations.

In order to calibrate changes in woodland birds to changes in woodland structure, the post holder will also be undertaking basic woodland structure measurements so an understanding of vegetation structure in woodlands and an ability to identify basic woodland plants, trees and shrubs will be an advantage. Following the surveys in the field, data must be collated and the results entered into spreadsheets. Attention to detail, as well as accuracy and completeness of recording is necessary in the field and during data entry to maximise the value of the data collected.

The post holder will be responsible for undertaking their own share of the surveys for project monitoring, as well as coordinating and line managing 3 woodland bird monitoring assistants, including allocating sites, keeping tabs on progress, overseeing and ensuring accuracy of data entry, and keeping to schedule.

The work will be physically strenuous, working in habitats and terrain, including steep slopes and dense vegetation, that can be difficult. The work will also need flexibility in working hours in order to carry out surveys during early mornings and in the best available weather.

Closing: Sunday 18th January 2026

To complete your application online please CLICK HERE