California Condor Monitoring Member

Description: American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking 4 Members to contribute to the California Condor Recovery project alongside Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex Staff.

Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1974 for the recovery of the endangered California condor. This 2,471-acre Refuge adjoins the southern boundary of the Sespe Condor Sanctuary, a component of the U.S. Forest Service, Los Padres National Forest. The 53,000-acre Sanctuary contains critical California condor nesting and roosting habitat. Strategically located adjacent to the Sanctuary, the Refuge helps buffer these nesting and roosting areas from human disturbance and protects a portion of the foraging habitat within a much larger area where the condors have historically foraged and fed. Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge also protects a variety of plant communities that provide habitat for other species protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. The Refuge is closed to public access due to the sensitive nature of California condor recovery efforts and physical access limitations, like no public roads leading to the Refuge.

Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1985, with the primary goal being the preservation of essential foraging and roosting habitat for the California Condor. Today, the 14,097 acre refuge serves as a hub of condor activity and research. It protects habitat within an important east/west running mountain range and provides movement corridors for populations of native ungulates, raptors, and other wildlife. Historically, the Bitter Creek area was used as a cattle ranch and used extensively by wild condors before all remaining wild condors were brought into captivity in 1987. While the refuge itself is closed to the public, it is bisected by Hudson Ranch Road, which is a popular place for bird watchers to look for condors.

The Recovery Program for the California condor is an international multi-entity effort, led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Recovery Program is working to establish robust self-sustaining populations of condors within the historical distribution. The program includes several key components including addressing threats to the species in the wild; captive breeding; and release and monitoring at our field sites.

Responsibilities: The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. This position will help FWS realize that mission at Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex. 

The member will provide support and assistance under the guidance and direction of FWS staff in the following tasks:

• Assist FWS biologists with managing the free-flying population of California condors in Southern California 
• Monitor condors using radio telemetry, GPS, and visual observations 
• Observe condor behavior at feeding sites, roosts, and nests 
• Assist with bi-annual trapping efforts of condors and observing newly-released captive-bred individuals
• Care for captive-raised condors prior to their release, provide clean food and water, and conduct detailed behavioral observations
• Transport carcasses to feeding sites at night
• Travel safely via UTV, 4WD vehicle, or foot in steep mountainous terrain to reach field sites
• Travel between Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge and Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge to conduct field work
• Assist with routine office work and maintenance tasks
• Keep detailed field notes and follow data collection protocols to ensure accurate and consistent data

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Qualifications: 

Required:

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner. 
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone (sometimes at night), and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• A valid driver’s license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks 
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation. 
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website. 
• Ability to hike long distances off trail with field gear in adverse weather conditions including heat, cold, and buggy conditions while carrying a heavy pack.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work well in small teams.
• Ability to drive 4WD trucks and UTVs/ATVs to access field sites. 
• Comfortable handling animal carcasses.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Wildlife, or Natural Resources and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as wildlife conservation.
• Previous experience in wildlife field work.
• Ability and willingness to handle wildlife under supervision.
• Experience using radio telemetry. 
• Deep interest in wildlife conservation and endangered species recovery.                                                                                                                                                                                 

Learn more and apply here.