Overview

We seek (2-3) seasonal field technicians to assist with a long-term study of the winter ecology of American redstarts in Southwest Jamaica from February 1 – May 1, 2025. We will be actively mapping the density of wintering redstarts on the study sites and monitoring their movements and activity throughout the winter up through their spring departure in May.

Assistants can expect 6-8 hours in the field, six days per week, walking in flooded mangrove forests sometimes inhabited by crocodiles and maneuvering through dense and thorny second-growth scrub. Flexibility with hot, buggy working conditions, work schedules, and living situations is absolutely key to success in this position. Competitive applicants will be very self-motivated, have the ability to resight and follow tiny color-banded birds, and extract songbirds quickly and safely from mist nets. Experience with radio telemetry and banding experience for songbirds is highly preferred but optional. Assistants will gain experience in banding and tagging small migratory passerines and learning how to operate an automated radio telemetry array that is part of the larger motus wildlife tracking network.

Fieldwork will involve mapping warbler territories via color band resights, banding, and radio-tagging Redstarts, Ovenbirds, and friends. In addition, some vegetation and insect sampling will be required, along with assisting in the general maintenance of an automated radio telemetry array located on the study site (e.g. carrying heavy batteries). General responsibilities will include data entry and equipment organization and maintenance.

Minimum qualifications:

  • At least some prior experience conducting ecological fieldwork, ideally with birds.
  • Ability to tolerate working in hot and humid conditions.
  • Comfortable working with minimal supervision and as part of a team.
  • Ability to follow standardized protocols and carefully record and enter data.
  • Experience resighting color-banded birds and spot-mapping territories
  • Mildly funny.

Preferred qualifications:

  • Experience extracting and banding songbirds
  • Experience tagging songbirds (i.e., warblers).

Stipend: A stipend of $1500-$2000 per month will be provided – depending on experience — in addition to beautiful housing with ocean views.

To Apply

Email to Dr. Bryant Dossman (bd618 (at) georgetown.edu) a single document (PDF) with the subject line “Jamaica Field Technician” including (seriously…your email may be filtered as SPAM if you don’t follow these directions):

  1. a cover letter describing previous avian research experience and interest in this position;
  2. a resume or CV;
  3. contact information for three references

We will begin reviewing applications on Oct 15th, and applications submitted after that will be considered on a rolling basis until the positions are filled.