Backcountry Point Counts in Pacific Northwest National Parks

We have openings during spring/summer 2007 on our backcountry point count crews at North Cascades National Park, Olympic National Park, and Mount Rainier National Park.

PROJECT DATES:

~May 1 - July 31

TRAINING: The field season will begin with an intensive 2-3 week training session in visual and acoustic bird identification skills, point count techniques, flora identification, habitat description protocols, backcountry orienteering and safety, and wilderness camping skills. A supervisory biologist will assist interns in further developing each of these skills throughout the field season. Interns will acquire substantial expertise in western bird identification, general natural history, and backcountry living, while exploring one or more of the beatiful, rugged national parks in the Pacific Northwest.

RESPONSIBILITIES:  Working in teams of two, interns will hike into the Park backcountry for up to seven days at a time. On a typical day, interns will wake up before dawn and spend the morning conducting point counts and rapid vegetation surveys at each point count site. The afternoon will then be spent breaking camp, hiking to the beginning of the next day's point count transect, and setting up camp once again. Work will be extremely physically demanding, sometimes involving hiking 15 miles or more per day, some of it off-trail, and carrying a heavy pack. A 3-day break will usually follow each backcountry session. Some computer data entry will also be required.

REQUIREMENTS:  We are looking for candidates with prior birding experience and familiarity with (or ability to quickly learn) the songs and calls of western montane birds. Even more important than prior birding experience, however, is a strong desire to learn more about western montane birds and natural history, and a willingness to face the rigors of fieldwork with good humor. These rigors include (but are not limited to!) physically demanding work, long work days that may begin well before dawn, wet, cold weather, mosquitos, occasional contact with bears, and crowded living conditions when not in the backcountry. Successful candidates must be in excellent physical condition and must be comfortable with off-trail hiking and orienteering (training provided).

EQUIPMENT:  Interns are expected to provide their own binoculars and backpacking gear, including hiking boots, tent, sleeping bag, raingear, etc. A personal automobile is a plus, but is not strictly required.

COMPENSATION:  Like all IBP internships, our backcountry point count internships in the national parks are fundamentally volunteer positions. Primary compensation includes the valuable skills you will develop, the satisfaction of joining important bird conservation efforts, and the joy of working with fun-loving people in a fantastically beautiful environment. Additionally, we will provide you with a per diem of $32 (amounts to $800 per month) to cover food and general living expenses, on-the-job mileage reimbursement, and free shared housing.

WHAT PAST INTERNS HAVE SAID : "I gained so much, I don't know where to begin. My backcountry skill, my people skills, survival skills, have all been fine-tuned. My experience with the birds will never be forgotten. I loved learning the songs!"

"This was probably the best summer I've ever had. I learned a lot of new birds, made some great friends, and got to work in some of the most beautiful country I've ever seen."

"This was one of the hardest summers of my life. It was physically challenging and forced me to do things I would have never otherwise attempted. I learned so much about birds, backpacking and bushwacking, and found I can actually function at 4am!"

"I am very satisfied with all of the experience I gained this summer. I learned a lot about myself, my interaction with other people, and nature. I also enjoyed learning all of the birds and plants. Working for IBP and in the North Cascades has been a very positive experience that has forever changed me."

HOW TO APPLY: Please send resume, cover letter, and names, phone numbers and email addresses of two references to Bob Wilkerson, Biologist at:

The Institute for Bird Populations
P.O. Box 1346
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956-1346
Ph: (415) 663-2051
Fax: (415) 663-9482
e-mail: bwilkerson@birdpop.org

Click here to see images from our 2002 field season in Olympic National Park.

Click here to see images from our 2002 field season in North Cascades National Park.

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