Job Overview
The RSPB is seeking 3 Woodland Bird Monitoring Assistants as part of the Celtic rainforest LIFE project.
These posts are part of the Celtic rainforest LIFE project (CRLIFE), an EU funded project that is restoring protected Western Atlantic oak woods of European importance for nature conservation. These are important habitats for woodland birds, bryophytes, lichens and bats. As part of its monitoring activities the project carried out baseline Common Bird Census surveys in 2019, and these now need to be repeated as the project draws to a close, in order to assess the impact of the project's work on bird populations within the various CRLIFE woodland sites.
Responsibilities
Surveying woodland birds is reliant on locating and identifying all calling and singing birds, which are seldom seen. The post holder will therefore need to be excellent at identifying woodland birds by sound as well as sight. The surveys will be carried out using territory mapping to record populations of all woodland bird species and applicants will therefore need good spatial awareness and navigational skills, using maps, compass and GPS to locate study plots and accurately map the bird activity and locations.
Qualifications and Skills
In order to calibrate changes in woodland birds to changes in woodland structure, the post holders will also be undertaking basic woodland structure measurements so an understanding of vegetation structure in woodlands and an ability to identify basic woodland plants, trees and shrubs will be an advantage. The post holders will also be responsible for collating the mapped data and entering results into spreadsheets. Attention to detail, as well as accuracy and completeness of recording is necessary in the field and during data entry to maximise the value of the data collected.
Additional Information
The work will be physically strenuous, working in habitats and terrain, including steep slopes and dense vegetation, that can be difficult to work in. The work will also need flexibility in working hours in order to carry out surveys during early mornings and in the best available weather.
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