Forest Conservation Internship
: Job Details :

Overview:

The National Audubon Society is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects birds and the places they need today and tomorrow. We work throughout the Americas towards a future where birds thrive because Audubon is a powerful, diverse, and ever-growing force for conservation. Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the hemisphere and more than 1.5 million active supporters.North America has lost three billion birds since 1970, and more than 500 bird species are at risk of extinction across Latin America and the Caribbean. Birds act as early warning systems about the health of our environment, and they tell us that birds and our planet are in crisis. Together as one Audubon, we are working to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss. We do this by implementing on-the-ground conservation, partnering with local communities, influencing public and corporate policy, and building community. Audubon is committed to a culture of workplace excellence, where our talented and diverse staff are deeply engaged with a strong sense of belonging. The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon brings new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.

Position Summary:

Audubon Vermont seeks applicants pursuing, or having recently completed a degree in conservation, natural resources, forestry, ecology, ornithology, and related fields to serve as a Forest Conservation Intern. The person in this position will work, both independently/remotely and in-person, with Audubons Healthy Forests Program Senior Associate on a variety of forest-bird conservation projects.

The primary responsibility will be coordinating, conducting, and reporting on forest bird habitat assessments associated with the Woods, Wildlife, and Warblers program. Depending on interest and experience level, additional opportunities may include monitoring Vermont forest bird species of conservation concern, conducting public outreach, and developing digital and print outreach and interpretive materials. The internship is designed to provide a range of administrative and programmatic experiences with a focus on issues facing birds in Vermont and Northern New England.

Position will occur during the summer of 2024 (May-August) with a time frame that can be adapted to meet a variety of academic schedules. Applicants must commit to working 20 hours a week @ ($16/hr) over this time period. Travel between home office and field sites is reimbursed at 62 cents/mile.

This is a remote position, allowing for work from home for office-related tasks, and involving regular travel to field sites throughout the state of Vermont.

Compensation:

$16.00 / hour

Essential Functions:

The primary responsibility of the position is:

Assist with landowner outreach, intake, and conduct forest bird habitat assessments for private landowners through the Woods, Wildlife, and Warblers program. This includes communications and scheduling site visits with landowners, interacting with landowners and collecting data during site visits, and writing follow-up reports to be provided to landowners.

Additional tasks and projects may include the following:

• Conduct bird monitoring at Foresters for the Birds demonstration sites.
• Participate in outreach activities, which may include bird walks, workshops and special events.
• Draft articles, factsheets, blogs, webpage and social media content and other outreach materials to support Audubon Vermonts conservation programs.
• Attend meetings with public officials, environmental leaders, scientists and volunteers to support Audubon Vermonts participation and contributions.
• Opportunities to participate in other Audubon Vermont conservation projects including the Green Mountain Audubon Center MAPS bird banding station, Common Tern Recovery Project, and Peregrine Falcon and Bald Eagle monitoring.

Qualifications and Experience:

Personal Attributes

• Self-starter and ability to work independently, including operating in remote situations.
• Strong work ethic, attention to detail, and oral and written communication skills.
• Dedicated and excited about working in a dynamic, fast-paced nonprofit organization.
• Appetite for learning and growth.

Primary Qualifications

• Working toward or a recent graduate of a bachelors or higher degree in conservation, forestry, natural resources, environmental studies, or related field.
• Familiarity or willingness to learn about the management of, and silviculture systems used in, New England forests.
• Familiarity with natural resource inventory techniques.
• Familiarity with, and basic identification skills of, Vermonts birds (by sight and sound) as well as tree, and shrub species (including non-native plant species).
• Familiarity with or willingness to learn map creation features of ArcGIS.
• Genuine interest in environmental protection, conservation, education, the mission of the National Audubon Society, and social and environmental justice.
• Ability to work safely outdoors, as well as independently, in a variety of challenging environmental conditions ; i.e. bugs/rain/mud/steep or uneven terrain/hiking several miles in a day.
• Valid drivers license required and willingness to drive up to 4 hours or more, round trip, to reach field sites

EEO Statement:

The National Audubon Society is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, inclusion and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in this search.

Accessibility Statement:

The National Audubon Society endeavors to keep our careers site accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact ...@audubon.org. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.