Grassland Bird Field Assistants

Field Assistants (4 - 6)
Dates: TBA
Several field assistant positions available to investigate post-fledging habitat use, movement patterns, and survival of dickcissels and eastern meadowlarks in southwestern Missouri. The project is funded by the Missouri Department of Conservation and is a collaboration with The Nature Conservancy of Missouri. Study sites are Taberville Conservation Area is St. Clair county and Wah-Kon-Tah Conservation Area in St. Clair and Cedar counties, north of El Dorado Springs, southwestern Missouri.

QUALIFICATIONS
1. Sense of humor and ability to maintain a positive attitude.
2. Good physical condition to endure hiking long hours in hot and humid weather with ticks and chiggers.
3. Must be willing to work long days that may exceed 10 hours.
4. Must be comfortable working alone and with a partner.
5. Must be detail-oriented and a problem solver.
6. Prior field experience highly desirable. Experience with nest searching, vegetation sampling, and telemetry a plus.

RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Utilize visual and behavioral cues for nest searching.
2. Handle fledglings for radio transmitter attachment and banding.
3. Perform vegetation sampling around fledgling locations.
4. Perform radio telemetry on foot and by helicopter.
5. Coordinating with local landowners for land access.
6. Coordinating with Missouri Department of Conservation and The Nature Conservancy staff and field personnel.

Salary: $1200 to $1400/month depending on experience and qualifications. Field vehicles provided and housing may be available.

To apply, please e-mail a cover letter and resume addressing your qualifications, skills, and dates of availability to: kmsnq6@mizzou.edu.

Application review will begin FEBRUARY 20, 2004, but will continue until qualified candidates are identified.

Kimberly Suedkamp Wells
Graduate Research Associate Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences
302 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building
University of Missouri - Columbia
Columbia, MO 65211
Phone (573) 884-8535
Fax (573) 884-5070
E-mail: kmsnq6@mizzou.edu