Overview

Wildlife Biologist – Owl Surveyor

Turnstone Environmental Consultants is hiring seasonal Wildlife Biologists to support Strix owl survey projects across Oregon for the 2026 field season. At Turnstone, we pride ourselves on our commitment and contribution to conserving and managing natural resources through innovative and sustainable solutions. As a Wildlife Biologist on one of our owl projects, you will play a crucial role in conducting field studies, collecting ecological data, and contributing to the development of strategies to enhance wildlife conservation and management efforts.

Essential Duties

  • Conduct nighttime broadcast surveys for northern spotted owls; identify, record, and map locations of spotted owls and other owl and raptor species including barred owls, great horned owls, northern pygmy owls, and northern goshawks
  • Conduct daytime surveys after spotted owl detections in order to locate nests and determine nesting status
  • Significant job related travel, including night time driving on forest roads
  • Collect clear, concise, and accurate field data
  • Communicate clearly and professionally with crew leader, project manager, landowners and agency representatives

Surveys are conducted on federal, state, and private forested lands. Exact work locations are project-dependent and distributed throughout western and southern Oregon. Employment dates are approximate and may vary by project.

Housing is provided at no cost, for many positions and locations. A field vehicle is provided unless an employee elects to use a capable personal vehicle for reimbursement.

Most positions will start in mid-March or early-April depending on environmental conditions and project location. Some candidates may have an opportunity to begin in early March. Survey locations are distributed throughout Oregon and some positions will require significant daily travel, including extended drives to and from survey areas.

Please indicate your willingness to travel, and any limits or strong preference for general location in your cover letter.

For well qualified candidates, there may be opportunities to contribute to additional field projects involving special status wildlife species; extending work later into the season.

Crew Leader roles are limited, but applicants interested in consideration as a Crew Leader should clearly state their interest in their cover letter and describe relevant leadership experience and crew oversight skills in their application materials.

Location

Oregon (Coast Range, Cascades, Siskiyou Mountains)

Salary Range & Incentives

$3,207 – $4,507 Monthly ($18.50 – $26.00 Hourly). Wage is dependent upon project and applicant experience. May also be eligible for: Housing provided at no cost for many project locations (shared housing near field sites), Bonus Days/Overtime, Season Completion Bonus, Lodging/Camping Stipend, Federal Mileage Reimbursement, Personal Vehicle Use Stipend.

Dates of Employment

March 01, 2026 – August 31, 2026

Minimum Requirements

A minimum of one year of field survey experience is required. Spotted/Strix survey experience is preferred, but may not be required if applicant has avian or other relevant field experience. Having a B.S. degree in wildlife biology or related field is preferred (but not required) for owl surveyors and required for crew leads.