Overview: The National Audubon Society is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects birds and the places they need today and tomorrow. We work throughout the Americas towards a future where birds thrive because Audubon is a powerful, diverse, and ever-growing force for conservation. Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the hemisphere and more than 1.5 million active supporters.
North America has lost three billion birds since 1970, and more than 500 bird species are at risk of extinction across Latin America and the Caribbean. Birds act as early warning systems about the health of our environment, and they tell us that birds – and our planet – are in crisis. Together as one Audubon, we are working to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss. We do this by implementing on-the-ground conservation, partnering with local communities, influencing public and corporate policy, and building community.
Audubon is committed to a culture of workplace excellence, where our talented and diverse staff are deeply engaged with a strong sense of belonging. The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon brings new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.
Position Summary: The Greenwich Audubon Center has been connecting people with nature since 1943. Creating life-changing experiences that enable community members and their families to appreciate, understand and protect the natural world is at the very core of our mission. The Greenwich Audubon Center is a nature center and wildlife sanctuary owned and operated by the National Audubon Society. The nature center is located in the southwest corner of Connecticut, in the town of Greenwich. The Greenwich Audubon Center has over 15 miles of scenic hiking trails and includes 650 acres of mixed forest, meadows, wetlands, ponds, and streams. The mission of the National Audubon Society is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of the Earth's biological diversity and humanity. The Greenwich Audubon Center strives to meet this mission through education, conservation, and environmental research to encourage the responsible usage and stewardship of natural lands. The Greenwich Audubon Center offers educational programs for all ages, a seasonal newsletter, nature programs, annual Hawk Watch, live animal exhibits, a children's learning center, a nature store, and a bird viewing area. Public access to the Greenwich Audubon buildings, facilities and programs have been altered, reduced, or prohibited due to the ongoing public health crisis. Under the supervision of center staff, the Seasonal Hawk Counter will play an integral part in the Quaker Ridge Hawk Watch program located on the grounds of the Greenwich Audubon Center in Greenwich, CT. Quaker Ridge is one of the premier hawk watch sites in the Northeast, with an average of over 14,000 hawks recorded each season and 50 years of data on hawk migration.
The National Audubon Society is dedicated to building a culturally diverse organization and strongly encourages applications from people of color and women.
This role is on-site at the Greenwich Audubon Center in Greenwich, CT. Onsite Housing Can Be Provided.
Compensation:
$19.00-$21.00 / hour
Essential Functions: The Seasonal Hawk Counter will work alongside Greenwich Audubon naturalists and Volunteer Hawk Watchers involved in raptor conservation to: Identify and count the 15+ species of hawks, eagles, falcons, and vultures that migrate along the Atlantic Flyway IN FLIGHT. Record and manage field data of migrating raptors on online data collection platforms. Conduct outreach to visitors and volunteer hawk watchers to involve the community in raptor conservation efforts. Coordinate volunteer schedules and work with volunteers to conduct daily counts. Assist with public programs on raptor identification including assistance with annual Hawk Watch Weekend. Prepare and deliver a public program on the results of the season at the season's end. Record hourly weather conditions, species, and numbers of migrating raptors using data entry software apps. At the end of each count day, enter count data to Hawkcount.org. Other duties associated with the Hawk Watch and hawk watching, as needed. The Seasonal Hawk Counter is expected to conduct hawk watching duties five days a week, 9 am to 5 pm from August 20th to November 30th (start date flexible). They will also be responsible for coordinating volunteers to staff the hawk watch on weekend days. Some work schedule flexibility is required due to weather condition-related changes in anticipated migration activity. The Seasonal Hawk Counter will adhere to all current Audubon policies related to COVID-19. Qualifications and Experience: Previous seasonal work at a hawk migration monitoring site and/or experience in identifying Northeastern raptors in flight at a distance is preferred. Interest in bird monitoring and outdoor research work. Familiarity with operating binoculars and spotting scopes for bird observation. Familiarity with computer data spreadsheet analysis. Self-motivated individual who can work well independently in the field. Ability to work primarily outside in various weather situations. Ability to work some early mornings, late evenings, and some weekend days. Good organizational skills. Ability to communicate to a variety of audiences: visitors, volunteers, staff, the general public, and others. EEO Statement: The National Audubon Society is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, inclusion and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in this search.
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