Seasonal Shorebird Monitor presso Nantucket Conservation Foundation

Description

Job Description: The Nantucket Conservation Foundation’s Department of Ecological Research, Stewardship and Restoration seeks a motivated, enthusiastic, self-reliant, independent Shorebird Monitor. From late March to mid-August, the shorebird monitor will focus intensively on nest searching, monitoring and protecting rare beach-nesting shorebirds, and summarizing and reporting end of season data. The Shorebird Monitor will work both independently, and collaboratively with the Wildlife Ecology Program Manager, the Seasonal Wildlife Ecology Field Assistant, Coatue Ranger, and volunteers and interns. As the shorebird nesting season winds down, the potential exists to assist the NCF’s Ecology Department with additional ecological field work. Applicants with previous wildlife monitoring, and especially shorebird monitoring and nest searching experience, will be given preference for this position.

Primary Responsibilities:

1. Locating and regularly monitoring nests and documenting nest success of shorebirds including American Oystercatchers, Least and Common Terns and Piping Plovers at multiple locations on NCF properties on Nantucket Island;
2. Participate in banding American Oystercatcher chicks;
3. Installing and maintaining fencing and educational signs;
4. Interacting and educating beach visitors about shorebird ecology and necessary protection measures;
5. Using spotting scopes, cameras and binoculars to accurately record sightings of color-banded birds;
6. Participating in local and regional shorebird monitoring meetings throughout the season;
7. Maintaining online reporting databases, collecting detailed field notes, data entry and quality control.
8. Communicating, collaborating, and coordinating regularly with NCF’s Wildlife Ecology Project Manager.
9. Occasionally participate in environmental education/interpretive events, assist with tasks related to development and fundraising activities, and other wildlife related projects, as needed.

Potential additional responsibilities (dependent on need and time) include horseshoe crab monitoring, invasive plant species management and assisting with other ecological field work and data entry/quality control.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: This is a field work intensive position and applicants must be able to tolerate long field days in sometimes adverse field conditions including inclement weather and variable terrain, poison ivy and biting insects (mosquitoes, ticks). Nantucket is an area with a high incidence of tick-borne disease so precautions to minimize risk are encouraged. The work can be very physically demanding and regularly involves hiking in soft sand, digging, bending, kneeling, hauling heavy field gear, and fence post installation.

Location: The Nantucket Conservation Foundation is located on Nantucket Island, MA ~ 30 miles south of Cape Cod. Nantucket is dominated by sandplain grasslands, coastal heathlands, and scrub oak shrublands (all rare habitats in the Northeast) as well as barrier beaches, coastal plain ponds and tidal marshes. For more information on our mission and research projects, please see the Foundation’s website (www.nantucketconservation.org)

Requirements

Required Qualifications: Completed or in progress B.S. or B.A. degree in Ecology, Zoology, Natural Resource Management, Wildlife Biology, or a related biological/ecological field. Candidates with one or more seasons of field experience monitoring nesting shorebird populations will be given high preference. Strong observational, critical thinking and organizational skills and the ability keep accurate and up-to-date field notes. Experience using GPS units in the field and recording data on mobile phone apps. Experience using binoculars and spotting scopes for wildlife monitoring. Ability to work both independently and as part of a team. A valid driver’s license is required; 4WD beach driving experience is preferred.

Benefits

Dates/Hours: This is a full-time, temporary position beginning in late March and ending mid-August, exact start and end dates are somewhat flexible. Hours are generally 40 hours per week, averaging eight hours per day, although schedule will be flexible depending on weather and will frequently require weekend days. Shorebird monitoring is required on holiday weekends (Memorial Day and July 4th).

Wages/Benefits: Wage is $22 per hour based on a 40-hour work week. Housing is provided in a shared, employee house for a nominal fee. Work-related transportation is provided during working hours.

TO APPLY:

Application deadline is Friday, January 23, 2026 by 5pm. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis so applicants are encouraged to submit materials early.

Application Packet: ONE PDF DOCUMENT THAT INCLUDES ALL OF THE FOLLOWING: Cover letter, resume, contact information for three professional references and an unofficial copy of your college transcripts. 

Questions may be directed to Danielle O’Dell, Director of Research, at [email protected] but applications will not be accepted at this email.