Overview

Now in its second century, Audubon is dedicated to protecting birds and other wildlife and the habitat that supports them. Audubon’s mission is engaging people in bird conservation on a hemispheric scale through science, policy, education and on-the-ground conservation action.  By mobilizing and aligning its network of Chapters, Centers, State and Important Bird Area programs in the four major migratory flyways in the Americas, the organization will bring the full power of Audubon to bear on protecting common and threatened bird species and the critical habitat they need to survive.  And as part of BirdLife International, Audubon will join people in over 100 in-country organizations all working to protect a network of Important Bird Areas around the world, leveraging the impact of actions they take at a local level.  What defines Audubon’s unique value is a powerful grassroots network of approximately 450 local chapters, 120 campus chapters, 17 state and regional offices, 34 Audubon Centers, Important Bird Area Programs in 50 states, and 700 staff across the country.

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 identify, 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.

The National Audubon Society endeavors to make https://careers-audubon.icims.com/ accessible to any and all users.  If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Accommodations@audubon.org. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

Position Summary

The Greenwich Audubon Center has been connecting people with nature since 1942.  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 the Center Director, the Hawk Watch Intern 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. Cost-free, on-site, and furnished apartment is available. The value of rent will be imputed for employee tax purposes. Residence contains private bedrooms and a shared kitchen, bath, and living room.

Applications are encouraged from candidates without formal experience in conservation.

Essential Functions

The Hawk Watch Intern 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 on migrating raptors, including the use of online data collection tools.
  • Conduct outreach to visitors and volunteer hawk watchers to involve the community in raptor conservation efforts.
  • Coordinate volunteer schedule and work with volunteers to conduct daily counts.
  • Assist with public programs on raptor identification.
  • Prepare and deliver a public program on the results of the season at the season’s end.
  • Train to accurately identify and count migrating raptors as they travel along the Atlantic flyway at the Quaker Ridge site.
  • Record hourly weather conditions, species, and numbers of migrating raptors using Dunkadoo data entry software.
  • At the end of each count day, enter count data to the HMANA website.
  • Assist visitors and volunteers with bird identification and general birding questions during the hawk migration period.
  • At the conclusion of the count season, present a public program of the season’s hawk numbers.
  • Assist Center Director to coordinate hawk watch volunteer schedule for weekend count days.
  • Other duties associated with the Hawk Watch and hawk watching, as needed.
  • The seasonal Hawk Watch Intern is expected to conduct hawk watching duties five days a week, 9 am to 5 pm from August 25th 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.

Qualifications and Experience

  • Previous experience in identifying Northeastern raptors in flight at a distance is preferred, although the intern will receive training on the mechanics of counting hawks from our hawk watch site, site layout and distant hawk identification from staff.
  • Interest in bird monitoring and outdoor research work.
  • 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.
  • Previous seasonal work at a Hawk Migration Monitoring Site preferred, though not required.