Fall Migration Monitoring Crewmember

Position Title: Fall Migration Monitoring Crewmember

Classification: Full-time Temporary and Seasonal Exempt

Dates: August 1 – November 15, 2025

Location: AZ, NV, NM, OR, TX, and WY

Compensation: $55/day

Application Deadline (timeline): Open until filled

Apply Here

About HawkWatch International

Founded in 1986, HawkWatch International is a raptor conservation nonprofit with a mission to conserve the environment through education, long-term monitoring, and scientific research on raptors as indicators of ecosystem health. As we approach 40 years of conservation, we are committed to investing in people who can help our hardworking team of educators, scientists, and administrative staff.

About the Position  We seek enthusiastic team players to staff HawkWatch International’s (HWI) network of long-term migration monitoring sites in western North America for the fall 2025 season.  Crewmember duties include: standardized daily counts of migrating diurnal raptors; engaging and delivering outreach to site visitors (both scheduled and impromptu) in a friendly and professional manner; and at a subset of sites, assisting with capture and banding of migrating raptors (OR, NV, WY, and NM). Each site has a crew lead who, along with HWI supervisory biologists from the Long-term Monitoring and Community Science Team, will oversee site operations.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Scan diligently for migrating raptors, identify to the finest level possible and document the count using a digital device
• Engage with visitors and share about the migration network and HWI’s mission
• Assist with site/camp setup, takedown, and inventorying
• Communicate regularly with HWI Office Staff
• Safely operate a banding station to capture, process, band, and release migrating raptors
• Care for lure animals
• Log personal hours and all data gathered via digital device and upload to cloud at end of day
• Update the community with season highlights via blogs and updates to site FB pages

Qualifications (Essential skills)

• A keen eye for searching the sky
• Endurance for long hours in the field in highly variable weather
• Stamina for consistently scanning for migrating birds
• Demonstrated in-flight raptor identification skills
• Demeanor to pleasantly and professionally engage site visitors while representing HWI
• Interpersonal skills for working well with others in a remote and small team setting
• Excellent data collection skills (detailed, accurate, and in accordance with protocols) and the ability to digitally log data
• Willingness and ability to follow federal, local, and HWI safety protocols

Characteristics That Will Set You Apart (Desirable skills)

• Previous experience identifying and counting raptors in flight
• Experience engaging visitors of all ages and skills in conservation efforts
• Some experience/exposure to raptor capture/handling/banding efforts
• Experience camping for long period of time
• Education and outreach experience

Site Lead Additional Duties

• Weekly communication with LTMCS Office staff
• Weekly crew check-ins
• Schedule weekly duties and off-days
• Ensuring all crew members are performing duties to the best of their abilities and help to build skills of all
• Communicate with local agency partners and represent HWI
• Alert LTMCS office staff of any site needs or team issues
• Set a positive tone for the team and take a solution-oriented approach to any challenges that may arise

Banding Lead Additional Duties

• Inventory bands and banding supplies
• Oversee safe trapping and banding operations
• Manage daily lure bird care
• Teach crewmembers trapping and banding techniques
• Keep LTMCS biologists apprised of crew member progress of banding related matters
• Log captures and banding data using a combination of paper and digital forms
• Set the tone for a professional, respectful, and mindful approach to animal capture and handling for the entire crew

Length of Appointment  Fall migration seasons run from mid-August through mid-November, specific dates are site-dependent. Positions require a full-season commitment.

Living arrangements Most of our HawkWatches are in high-elevation, remote areas and require camping; all crewmembers must supply their own camping gear and should have their own vehicle to access the sites (or trailheads near sites).  

Additional Information

• A standardized count is conducted for 8-10 hours daily
• Crewmembers will receive one day off a week
• As part of our commitment to providing a safe and secure work environment, we conduct background checks on all prospective employees. These checks are conducted in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and are designed to ensure that our hiring decisions are based on legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons.

Key Points:

• Consent: We obtain written consent before conducting any background check.
• Transparency: Should any information from a background check potentially impact hiring decisions, we will provide you with a copy of the report and an opportunity to respond.
• Non-discrimination: We apply the same standards to all candidates, regardless of race, national origin, color, sex, religion, disability, genetic information, or age.
• Relevance: A criminal record will not automatically disqualify you from employment. We will consider the nature and timing of any offenses in relation to the job requirements.
• Mandatory: Final approval of hiring is contingent upon completion of the background check process.

Compensation

This Full-time, Temporary, Seasonal, and Exempt position includes a $55 daily stipend and a $150 travel stipend to offset travel costs to the site.  Per diems are disbursed bi-weekly via direct deposit. 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We believe that just as in nature, diversity in the workforce fosters adaptability, resilience, and well-being. We strive to build a team that reflects the stakeholders and communities we serve and the places we work. Our goal is to create an environment where each team member feels valued, respected, and empowered in their work.