Assistant Bird Bander

Ornithologyexchange; Utah; On-site; USD 10,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading organization seeks two volunteer assistant banders for the fall banding season at the Bonderman Field Station in Utah. This role offers a fantastic opportunity to gain hands-on experience with songbirds while working in a beautiful canyonland habitat. Candidates should be enthusiastic about bird research and able to commit to the full season, which includes engaging tasks like banding, data management, and visitor interactions.

Qualifications

• No banding experience required, but enthusiasm about bird conservation is essential.
• Ability to live and work well in an isolated environment for a few months.
• Field experience and capability to work outdoors in variable conditions are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct bird banding and assist in data entry and reporting.
• Give tours to educational groups and engage with visitors.
• Maintain the field station and assist site manager with maintenance tasks.

Skills

Enthusiasm for bird research

Ability to work in a small team

Comfort in remote field settings

Job description

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Employer: University of Utah, Biodiversity and Conservation Ecology Lab

Location: Bonderman Field Station at Rio Mesa, Utah

Country: United States

Last Date to Apply: 08/17/2025

Dates: ~August 20th– November 2nd

Where:Bonderman Field Station at Rio Mesa,Moab, Utah

Work Schedule: ~7 hours/day, 10 days on 2 days off

Salary: TBD, see below

We're looking for two volunteer assistant bandersto join a lead bander for the fall banding season. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain real experience in the handling and processing of songbirds at a long-term monitoring site.

You will be working at the Bonderman Field Station at Rio Mesa near Moab, Utah. This beautiful canyonland riparian habitat provides critical resources to migratory birds, amidst the desert of the Colorado Plateau. The station has banded over 23,000 birds so far of 135 species, including Lucy’s Warbler, Willow Flycatcher, Black-throated Sparrow, Canyon Wren, Sage Thrasher, Sagebrush Sparrow, Gray Vireo, and much more.

The position runs from the middle of August (approximately August 20th)through November 2nd, encompassing the entirety of fall bird migration; availability for this entire period is key.The banding team is required to work 10 days on and 2 days off. Nets are opened from half an hour before dawn for six hours a day, conditions permitting. In addition to the banding, you will assist in giving tours to visiting educational groups, entering and proofing all of the data, and writing weekly banding reports. In your free time, you can explore the fantastic Red Rock Country of southern Utah, go rafting on the Dolores River, etc.

Additionally, you will be expected to work at least three hours a week (in the afternoon), at $15/hour, with the Rio Mesa site manager on gardening, watering, and other site maintenance projects. These three hours will help cover weekly accommodation on-site. You can work up to 10 hours a week (the exact number of hours might fluctuate slightly per week) if you want to earn a part-time salary during the season.

Banding experience is not required. It is important that you are at least enthusiastic about bird research and/or conservation biology. You must be able to live with and work well with a small team for a few months in an isolated location; comfort operating in a remote field station setting with limited wi-fi, no cell service, and a 1.5-hour distance from the closest town is key. You must also be able to interact well with any visitors. Ideally, you would have some field experience and beused to working outside for long hours in variable conditions.

To apply, please email a short message expressing your interest and a resume outlining relevant experience and skills for the position [e-mail] [e-mail]. Use "Assistant Bander Applicant, Rio Mesa" as your subject line.

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