Job: AmeriCorps BLM Wildlife Technician

Job Description

Job Type: Seasonal, Weekly

Wage: $687/wk. 

Location: Canon City, CO.

Job Description:

Start Date: May 13, 2024

Stipend: $687 per week paid on a bi-weekly basis

Term: 9 weeks, 40 hours a week

Location:  Based out of the Royal Gorge Field Office Cañon City, CO

Status:  300-hour AmeriCorps Service Term 

Benefits:  AmeriCorps Education Award $1,459.26 after successful completion and access to Employee Assistant Program

Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) is a program of the non-profit service organization, Conservation Legacy, that is built on the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) that operated from 1933 – 1942. SCC provides youth and young adults opportunities to complete conservation projects primarily on public lands. While serving with SCC, members receive training on job skills, conflict resolution, leadership, teamwork, and environmental stewardship. Programs are developed using a step ladder approach to provide a progression of skill development based on a member’s needs. Members receive a weekly living allowance, training, and an AmeriCorps Education Award (for qualifying individuals).      

Program Overview: 

The Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Royal Gorge Field Office (RGFO) administers more than 668,000 surface acres of public land along the Front Range of Colorado and 6.8 million subsurface acres. Since the field office spans such a large area, it covers a variety of terrain and is involved in a multitude of initiatives and programs.

The wildlife program is responsible for analyzing impacts to wildlife habitat as a result of actions on public lands. They make recommendations to line officers to minimize and/or mitigate impacts. In addition, they monitor populations of special status species, conduct habitat improvement projects, conduct education activities for youth, etc. The Individual Placement (IP) will primarily assist with surveys for Piñon Jays and Northern Goshawks among other species during the 2024 season. The IP will be involved in several research, monitoring, and inventory projects pertaining to raptors, BLM sensitive species, and threatened and endangered species (e.g. Mexican spotted owls, federally listed plants, Canada lynx). The IP will get exposure to study design, data collection, data analysis, and writing and communication of findings.

Essential Roles and Responsibilities Include:

Piñon Jay Surveys

• Search for pinyon jay nesting colonies
• Conduct point counts
• Observe nesting colonies to locate nests
• Sample vegetation in and around nesting colonies

Northern Goshawk Surveys

• Search for Northern Goshawk nests
• Assist graduate research assistant with capture and banding of Goshawks

Mexican Spotted Owl Surveys

• Survey for Mexican spotted owls
• Determine the presence of breeding pairs and/or juvenile owlets

NA Bat Acoustic Data Collection

• Set bat acoustic detectors
• Manage sound data in digital database

Snow Shoe Hare Population Monitoring and Analysis

• Assist biologist in data collection
• Data entry into an ArcGIS data set
• Assist biologist with composition of final report

Special Status Species Monitoring

• Implement survey protocol across multiple species on BLM lands
• Communicate findings with BLM field office regarding species of interest
• Conduct analysis and author reports

Preferred Qualifications or a Strong Desire to Grow in the Following: 

• Completion of a bachelor’s degree in wildlife science or a similar field
• Capable of conducting field work in remote, mountainous terrain
• Experience surveying for avian species is a plus

Training Provided: 

Field trainings to understand wildlife ID and behavior

Potential Environmental or Human Risk Involved:

The work is physical in nature, the RFGO utilizes a sign in/out system to have accountability of individuals in the field, extreme hot and cold temperatures, high elevation hiking, slips, trips, falls

Housing Provided:  No

General Requirements: 

• Received or on track to receive high school diploma or GED
• Valid U.S. Drivers License
• Per grant funding, candidate must be 18-30 years of age or up to 35 years of age if veteran status
• U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, or Lawful Permanent Resident
• Willing to undergo and must pass required criminal history checks

Apply Now!  To apply, please submit an updated resume and letter of interest along with the online application.  Contact Niki Antonio with any questions | [email protected]

Conservation Legacy strives to create a diverse workplace and an inclusive culture to give more people the chance to experience the outdoors and improve our shared outdoor spaces. Conservation Legacy encourages applicants from all backgrounds to apply for this position. We are deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Conservation Legacy is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

* Position is dependent upon grant funding. *

**Disclaimer: The duties and responsibilities described above are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned to the employee, time to time; the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands. Click “View Application” below for more detail on this specific job.