Birds and bird conservation

Position: Avian Field Assistant - BIPOC Youth
Type: age 30 & under / summer
Organization: Pelee Island Bird Observatory

Location: Pelee Island Ontario
Housing: Candidate will be provided with free housing but food and transportation to and from the island is the responsibility of the candidate.

Start date: August 31 2026
End date: October 26 2026
Duration: 8 weeks
Hourly wage: $ 20.00/hour for 35 hours a week
Application Deadline: July 31 2026

The Pelee Island Bird Observatory (PIBO) is a regional not-for-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of birds by conducting scientific research, avian population monitoring, and connecting people to nature.

The field station and its work are done on Pelee Island, which sits in the migratory path of two major North American flyways, a premier location to study and observe hundreds of migratory species and dozens of breeding birds with limited ranges in Canada.

We are looking for an enthusiastic young environmentalist to join our team as Avian Field Assistant for the fall season at our field station on Pelee Island, near Windsor, Ontario. As Avian Field Assistant you will report to the Field Supervisor and be responsible for helping with the fall research, field station logistics and maintenance, as well as assisting in the delivery of on-island education programs (as needed).

Depending upon experience, your duties include:

FIELDWORK DUTIES

• Daily constant-effort migration-monitoring, including daily 90 minute census
• Passerine bird banding in September and October
• Additional fall research activities (as required)

OUTREACH DUTIES

• Assist with online social media updates during the fall migration season, and contribute articles to the newsletter, as required.
• Educational outreach at various island events and assisting with educational activities at the Bird Centre

OTHER DUTIES

• Assist with equipment and vehicle upkeep, and staff house maintenance (includes shopping, cooking, cleaning, gardening, etc.).

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Interest in avian field work and a willingness to learn about the migratory birds on Pelee Island

• Comfortable interacting with the public
• Assist with the upkeep of the PIBO staff cottage and field station, help with shopping, cleaning, maintenance of gardens, etc.
• Assist with PIBO island education programs and events- banding demonstrations, etc.

• Conditions around the banding station are sometimes flooded and often muddy. Biting insects, poison ivy, and non-venomous snakes are common: you must be able to spend long periods standing and walking over uneven terrain. Candidates should bring their own field gear- binoculars, rubber boots, mosquito hats/shirts and clothing for warm and cold weather, etc.
• Must be an early-riser! Work starts almost every day before dawn.
• Must be mature, dependable and easy to live with.

Perks/Conditions: Candidate will be provided with free housing but food and transportation to and from the island is the responsibility of the candidate.

This position is based upon funding from Nature Canada. Applicants must be between the age of 15 and 30 at the start of employment. Must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or a protected person as defined by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Must be legally entitled to work in Ontario.

Identify as Black, Indigenous or a Person of Colour (a condition of the grant).

Please send cover letter and resume to suzanne.friemann@pibo.ca

In your cover letter, please note which pronouns you use (for example – she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs, etc.).

Please mention you saw this at rcen.ca or goodwork.ca.