Dear Canadian Birders
Canadian Hawk Counter position now open through
Holiday Beach Migration Observatory at Holiday Beach Conservation Area. Main
counter to conduct daily point count five days per week from September 1
through November 30, 2016.
Count Site:
Holiday
Beach Migration Observatory (HBMO) is soliciting for a Canadian hawk counter
for Sept 1-Nov 30, 2016. Arrival date is August 31, 2016. HBMO is a non-profit
volunteer organization with activities focused on fall migration of raptors and
other avian species that migrate through southern Ontario, Canada at Holiday
Beach Conservation Area (HBCA). The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA)
administers the HBCA. The HBMO manages a raptor count from a forty-foot tower,
a passerine banding station, a raptor banding station, and a saw-whet
owl-banding program. Various school groups through ERCA’s educational programs
visit the site. To observe HBMO’s setting (count tower, fall totals, max. daily
total, migration average timing, 42 years data inventory summary, procedure/protocol
downloadable PDF) visit HawkCount.org, click on ‘Get Started’, Ontario map,
then Holiday Beach.
Duties include:
• Count ten hours (or
less) per day M-F.
• Identify and count
migrating eastern raptors using established protocols (online PDF) from a 40-foot
tower as well as identify and monitor other passing bird species.
• Record hourly
observations and weather conditions on standardized data sheets.
• Work with volunteer
seasoned hawk counters.
• Enter daily raptor
observation data into Hawk Migration Association of North America’s (HMANA)
HawkCount electronic database (laptop provided).
• Participate in hawk
festival activities September 10-11 and 17-18.
• The counter is
expected to complete a write-up of the season’s activities with a comparison of
each raptor species with previous years’ data. A brief seasonal summary report
of non-raptor migration is to be included at the end of the raptor report. The
HBMO hawk count coordinators will work with the counter in formatting and
editing the report, which will be completed January 31, 2017.
• The report includes
tables and perhaps graphs of trends in population changes of raptors at Holiday
Beach. Examples of reports are available to use as a guide. Report will be
published in the Hawk Migration Association of North America’s (HMANA) Journal
Hawk Migration Studies and in HBMO’s newsletter.
Skills
needed:
• Previous hawk
counting preferred.
• Fundamental ability
to identify other bird species by sight and most by sound is essential
• Familiarity with
computer usage is critical.
• Post daily bird
sighting to eBird following protocol.
• The hawk counter
symbolizes the organization’s frontline ambassador to the public. The
individual must have evidence of public speaking skills in order to interact
with tower visitors and scheduled school groups about HBMO’s purposes, counting
activities and bird ID.
• Counter must be
self-motivated, work independently and enthusiastically, and be in good
physical condition to climb the tower and work outside on hot and cold days.
Counter must
provide:
• Own motorized
transportation and valid Canadian drivers license.
• Binoculars (8.5x40
best)
• Spotting scope and
tripod
• Meals
• No pets are
allowed.
Lodging:
Beginning
September 1 housing provided at a bed
and breakfast in Amherstburg with cooking, heat, shower, but no laundry. It is
a 15-20 minute drive to the Tower. Other arrangements will be mad e if this
location is not available.
Stipend:
Stipend
is dependent on birding experience and ranges from $800-$1,500 per month in
Canadian funds.
Serious
applicants:
E-mail
a PDF cover letter and resume including two available references that can
verify your raptor and birding identification skills and other qualifications.
Bob
Pettit, redk...@earthlink.net, 734-755-8832, HBMO Raptor Co-Coordinator
HBMO.
_______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
