So You Want to be a Field Ornithologist...

At least a few times a year, I get asked for advice on becoming an ornithologist. So I thought I’d make an outline of a few important things to consider and some advice on heading in the right direction.

Most people want to work as an ornithologist because they have a passion for birds. If you like bird watching, conservation, working outside, taking notes and collecting data, then becoming an ornithologist might be a good path for you. Field work is also available for those interested in mammals, plants, or reptiles and amphibians.

Most of these paid jobs require a Bachelors degree in biology or a related field (related fields usually include Environmental Studies, Zoology, Parks and Recreation, GIS, etc.), or require that you are pursuing a degree.  However, there are many opportunities for volunteers who are interested in birds that don't require a degree.  Most wildlife refuge visitor centers are staffed by retirees that man the desk in exchange for a place to park their motor home for a season.  Many bird banding stations allow volunteers to visit and help record data.  Most hawk watches in the east are unpaid positions run by volunteers, and are constantly in need of dedicated people to keep them going.  Do a simple google search of wildlife organizations in your area, or email me, and I can point you in the right direction.

We can break down ornithological field work into the 4 seasons of winter, spring, summer and fall, with spring and summer being the busiest and having the most jobs available, as researchers follow and study the behavior of breeding birds and their nestlings. It is more of a challenge to find work in the fall and winter when most neotropical migrants are long gone. However, bird jobs do exist in the fall and winter (mostly focused on migration and over-wintering birds), and getting the right experience in the spring and summer will help you continue work through the entire year.

Before you delve into the job search, consider these (few) harsh facts and realities of field work.

These are not “9-5” jobs! Days typically start early and well before dawn. Birds start moving right at sunrise, and if you aren’t there to see it, you will miss it, creating a gap in your behavioral data. Not surprisingly, you may also have to work until dusk or later. “Weekends” will become a thing of the past. Your days off will most likely be rainy days that you can’t predict in advance. You will probably have to work well over 40 hours a week without getting paid over time. In reality, most “field technician” jobs will require about 80% field work (outside) and 20% data entry, so don’t expect to get to be outside all day without putting in the sometimes tedious work of transcribing your data.

You will not get rich being a field technician! You may not even get rich being a field supervisor. But the bottom line is…IT DOESN’T MATTER! You get to be outside just about every day and see lots of birds. If you are entering this field to make money, please choose another path! Most people are in this field because they care about birds in relation to the environment, conservation, research, and science.  While you may end up at a permanent position that pays what other typical jobs pay, it is the experience that got you there that you will probably appreciate the most.

If you are ok with having a sometimes strange schedule, and also being paid more with satisfaction than money, then consider some advice (most from personal experience!) that may help you along the way.

Become very familiar with the birds of your region. When you travel to a new state or region, identifying unfamiliar birds will be much easier because of it. Studying common birds like Black-capped Chickadees or Eastern Towhee may seem silly, but you’ll realize the importance of subtle field marks when you get only a quick glimpse of your first Mountain Chickadee or Spotted Towhee. Equally important but often overlooked is bird song, which can be extremely useful to know in an unfamiliar area when you don’t have time to go searching for every new chirp you hear. Once you get to a new location, take advantage of time off to learn the birds and vegetation of the region, which may help you with future jobs in that region.

Invest in your own optics. If you don’t own a pair of binoculars and a scope, try to save up enough money to buy them. One can easily find both for $650 or less. While this may seem like a lot, the investment is ALWAYS worth it when your new employer hands you a scope that hasn’t been taken care of or isn’t adequate for the job (or doesn't give you a scope at all!), or a pair of binoculars that fog up on cold mornings. Scopes and binos at this price range come with lifetime warranties, so if you dunk your binos into the ocean or let your scope take one too many falls, it’s covered. Eagle Optics and Vortex Opticss are my two favorite low price/high quality sources for good optics.

Invest in the right gear! Besides optics, you’ll need good gear for field work. Invest in quality rain gear, sturdy and comfortable hiking boots, and potentially camping gear and cold weather gear. My favorite way to do this is through my Cabelas credit card. I earn points for all of my purchases, including gas and groceries, and the points are traded in for money at Cabelas Stores. Usually by the start of each new field season, I’ve got enough to replace a piece of gear, or save it up for more in the future.

Be familiar with your equipment and how to use it. Again, take advantage of the common birds you see everyday. Practice following birds in both your scope and binoculars, and learn how to transition between the two for quick IDs in the field. Learn how to quickly set up a tripod or window mounted scope, or you’ll end up missing important behaviors.

Use your field guides. I’ve seen too many people toting around loads of field guides that they’ve never actually opened. Field guides are essential tools, and can help you with more than just bird ID. Use your field guides to learn about ranges and behaviors of birds you haven’t seen. Supplement this with the many sources about birds you can easily find on the internet (E-bird, bird blogs, etc.).

Be familiar with what you are getting yourself into. Don’t apply for jobs that you can’t physically handle! Many jobs require strenuous hiking, backpacking alone, or advanced birding skills. While some jobs are geared more as internships or learning experiences, a lot of employers are looking for experienced people who are comfortable without training. Be upfront in your interviews, and ask questions about exactly what will be required, and what training, if any, will be provided. On the other hand, I’ve taken a few jobs that required sitting in vehicles or blinds for hours on end, doing long periods of behavioral observations. This requires more patience and attention than you’d think, so if you can’t stay focused or get easily cramped, these jobs aren’t for you!

If you find yourself in a job slump, volunteer. Fill the sometimes unavoidable gaps between field seasons with volunteer gigs. It will give you more experience that may lead to your next job and it will keep those unsightly time gaps off your resume. Don’t worry if you have to take a part time job outside of your field. Just be sure to stay in the game and keep birding in your free time. Everyone has to start somewhere.

Don’t settle! Like many other aspects of life, settling is usually not a good idea. If you read a job description and it doesn’t peak your interest and match your goals, you probably shouldn’t apply. You’ll do your best work at a job that you didn’t settle for and can keep your interest.
Here are a few job websites that will help you find jobs in ornithological field work. Apply for more than just a few each field season, and apply fast; the competition is very high, and the sooner you get your resume out there, the sooner you can start planning your next trip! (and, the sooner you can start applying for a job for next field season…)

Texas A&M Job Board-Very popular source for finding bird jobs! (also mammal, reptile and amphibian, and vegetation work is frequently posted here)

Association of Zoos and Aquariums Job Board-If you want a more hands-on experience and are a bit hesitant to dive into the world of field work, an internship at a zoo may be a good place to start.

So after you’ve really thought about it, applied for jobs, done the interview, and landed the job…do all the research you can about your target species and the region you are about to travel to!

A few good blogs...

With spring migration happening as we speak, it’s a great time to follow personal birding blogs and see what is happening across the country. There are zillions of blogs out there, but here is a list of the few I’ve had time to follow in the last few weeks! Do a simple google search or visit the Nature Blog Network to find a few more.

Jerry Jourdan’s Birding/Digiscoping Blog I met Jerry last year at the HMANA Conference in Duluth, Minnesota. He takes some of the best digiscoped images I’ve ever seen, and is also a great birder!

Words About Birds Words about Birds A blog by Tim Schrekengost, a student at Penn State who blogs about birding near State College, PA.

Utah Birders Title self-explanatory. A plethora of information about birds, and a great source for keeping up with your raptor ID skills thanks to contributor Jerry Liguori.  See recent post about Ferruginous/Red-tailed Hawk hybrid!

Photo Naturalist A blog by Steve Berardi about nature photography, a must-see for photographers to learn basic skills.

Nemesis Bird Drew Weber has just about every birding app ever created, and frequently blogs about them. Alex has been travelling in South Africa, and has posted many photos of birds he encountered. I post most of my blogs here now, too.

Pacific NW Birder A blog by Greg Gillson about birds of the north west!

Daily Knowledge A blog by Tom Badger...not about birds, but will help you continually avoid things like taxes, data extry, and exercise.

If you'd like your bird blog to be featured, send me an email at annafasoli@gmail.com, and when I get a few more, I'll make another list!

Dunnings Mountain Hawk Watch: March 26, 2011

Yesterday morning, I looked out the window and saw this American Robin sitting on the porch as a few snow flurries fell. For awhile, he didn't move, and as I was planning a frozen bird rescue, the sun came out and he started moving. I watched from inside our warm cozy house, feeling rather guilty as I sipped my hot tea, when the weatherman was telling me it was about 20 degrees out.  If this bird could sit there and eat frozen worms for breakfast, I think I could suck it up, put some layers on, and go hawk watching.

"Winter is lame!"

Gulping down a frozen worm

It actually wasn't that cold out.  If you wear the right clothes, 28 degrees doesn't really feel that awful at all.  With the sun out, I actually felt a little warmth, as I joined Cory Ritter, Francesca Mossaroto, and Matt Landever at Dunnings Mountain Hawk Watch in Bedford County.  The majority of the flight consisted of high flying accipters, with a noticeable push of Sharp-shinned Hawks, according to Cory and Francesca, who have been hawk watching on Pennsylvanias ridge tops for over a month already.  Highlights were both species of eagles, an American Kestrel, a number of Red-tailed Hawks, and a few Northern Harriers (be sure to read this cationary post by Jerry Liguori about aging juvenile and female Norther Harriers in the spring) Common Loons were also abundant, with a few flying close and calling.  Spring counts are much different than fall counts.  Birds look and behave differently, and even though you can follow a raptor timetables as a guide, it seems as though you can see just about anything and everything in one day.  My hawk watching skills were a little rough after a winter with a lack of accipiters, but I am looking forward to getting a copy of "Hawks at a Distance" by Jerry Liguori.

Common Loon migrating past

Juvenile Bald Eagle

high-flying Golden Eagle

Sharp-shinned Hawks gliding by



You can also view this post at Nemesis Bird.

FOY Fox Sparrow

Pennsylvania just got smacked with a big cold front that brought a rain/snow mixture to most of the state, and freezing cold temperatures. Over the next few nights, the temperature is forecasted to dip down to 15 degrees. This doesn't make me want to go birding, at all, especially since I just came from a state where I got a tan in the winter time.  Luckily for me though, today, as I was making a cup of tea in the kitchen, I looked out the window to see leaves flying and a bright red little sparrow kicking around in the brush. Immediately I knew it was a fox sparrow (the first one I've seen this year) because of this classic behavior for sparrows that feed on the ground. Towhees and juncos also have this erratic kicking and scratching behavior, scraping leaves off the ground and sending them flying, revealing hidden seeds and insects under the leaf litter.  Fox Sparrows are found in the winter months in Pennsylvania, but according to E-bird, their numbers in the state peak in March and November as migrants enter and exit the state. Again, luckily for me, this one  (and 3 of his buddies) decided to show up when I looked out the window...because there was no way I was going outside!

Fox Sparrow foraging in leaf litter

Fox sparrows (Passerella iliaca) are one of our larger sparrows. When it comes to sparrows, this might be one of the easiest to identify, so have no fear. The subspecies in the east is known as the Red Fox Sparrow. Their most obvious field mark is the rufous color of their secondaries, upper-tail coverts and tail, along with a reddish wash over their back and coverts that gives them an overall reddish brown appearance. Their head shows a contrast between a rufous crown and a gray nape and superciliary, which is another unmistakable field mark. Their white breast is heavily streaked. Fox sparrows can be found in brushy undergrowth in most types of forests and on forest edges. Again, the dead give-away is their behavior.  In total, there are 4 sub species in North America, and all vary in their plumages. These include the Slate-colored Fox Sparrow from the Rocky Mountains and interior west, Thick-billed Fox Sparrow from the Sierra Nevadas, Sooty Fox Sparrow on the west coast, and our Eastern subspecies that breeds on the taiga, but can be found in the east in the winter and in migration periods.

In late January 2010, while doing surveys for Wilson's Snipe near Clarksdale, MS, I came across a few Fox Sparrows.  Click here and scroll to the bottom of the post for a poor quality video of a Fox Sparrow that shows its distinctive behavior.

Trapping Crested Caracaras in Florida

In mid-February, I helped capture a few of the adult Crested Caracara we had been monitoring at nest sites. Adults were still tending to their nests and chicks, and were very territorial. This makes it easy to target the area near the nest to trap the adults. We used a “lure” bird, a captive Crested Caracara to draw in our target adults. Using a lure bird has proven to be the most effective way to trap adult Crested Caracaras, who are quite upset to see an intruder on the core of their territory. During trapping, we placed the lure bird on a tie-out in the safe zone of a type of elongated Bow net, and as the target bird walked in to the capture zone, the trigger was pulled.

We banded both Crested Caracaras that we captured with the typical USFWS metal band, and gave each a GPS satellite transmitter that will give a good idea of territory size over time. Both adults are on land adjacent to proposed development sites, which have the potential to drastically change their territory sizes.

dinosaur-like feet of Crested Caracara

Each individual Caracara has a varying amount of facial skin and feathers on its face

this Caracaras territory has been recently burned-notice ash on feet

taking flight after capture (notice molt-adults molt in Jan through Feb)

Source: Capture Methods for Crested Caracaras. Joan L. Morrison and Steven M. McGehee. Journal of Field Ornithology Vol. 67, No. 4 (Autumn, 1996), pp. 630-636

A Reversal of the Seasons?

I’m back home in Pennsylvania after a long 18 hour drive last Friday. As I progressed north along Interstate 95, I sadly watched the seasons reverse…big, bright green leaves in Florida and Georgia faded to small tiny leaves unfolding on their branches in South Carolina. By Virginia, the leaves were traded in for bright red buds, getting a boost by the sunny 85 degree temperatures. By Maryland, it was dark, but I was welcomed back into the Appalachians by a beautiful nearly full moon, one day before the “Super Moon” (The phenomena known as “Super Moon” is when the moon passes closest to the earth as it has, in this case, in 18 years). This was the brightest moon I’d ever seen. I drove below Tussey Mountain in Bedford County, and thanks to the bright full moon, I could see the top. All of the ridgelines were illuminated as I headed home to Cambria County.

In the morning, I discovered that the maple tree’s buds in my parents back yard were still a dull red; it will still be over a month before the landscape turns green. On the bright side of leaving sunny, green Florida, I actually added some very important year birds that I could not see in Florida, including Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, and Raven, all common yard birds at my Mom’s house. While in the yard on Saturday with my mom, I heard a familiar repetitive yell, and for a second I thought I was back in Florida as two adult Red-shouldered Hawks appeared high in the sky. They stuck around for the weekend, and I hope they stay at least a little longer to bring some color to our now rainy back yard. I shouldn't complain though, because norther PA just got hit with snow.

While my mom and I watched the real Super Moon rise over the horizon on Saturday night, I swear I heard a Common Nighthawk fly over with a few “beurrr”s, and I still haven't decided if it was just a Woodcock.  My mom’s house is situated right on top a ridge, so she gets some great migrants, and as is the theme in PA right now, we heard a flock of Tundra Swans fly over as well.  The state is also loaded with waterfowl and raptors, which will keep me busy in the next few days as I get ready for my next big trip to Idaho.

Super Moon: March 19, 2011

Painted Buntings Ready to Head North

A few weeks ago, a male Painted Bunting got stuck in a shed behind my house on the ranch. It came through an open window, but could not get out, and likely would have roasted to death in the stuffy building. He was easily picked up on a window sill, and we kept him for a few minutes to snap a few photos. This was by far the most colorful bird I’ve ever seen up close, and this was the first time I’ve seen one on the ranch. I’ve seen “green” Painted Buntings before (including one at Lake Okeechobee in early January) , but hadn’t yet seen a male. The male seems like a completely different species with its blue head, bright red breast and eye ring, and neon green back. Females and first year males are a drab greenish-yellow and are referred to as “greenies.”

Note bright red breast

Note bright blue head and green feathers

Painted Buntings (Passerina cirus) are members of the family Cardinalidae, which includes cardinals, grosbeaks, the Dickcissel (and now also North Americas tanagers). They prefer habitats of low open scrub, scattered trees, or hedgerows. There are two distinct populations of Painted Buntings. The eastern population winters in south-central Florida and will be making their way up the coast to Georgia and the Carolinas to breed in the coming weeks. The other breeding population is found in the south central United States and will also soon be migrating north from Central and South America.

After finding this bird, I started doing some research on Painted Buntings, and found PBOT, the Painted Bunting Observer Team. They do a lot of hard work in monitoring the eastern population on both its wintering and breeding grounds, and are great advocates of citizen science. Their website is just loaded with great information on Painted Buntings! (for example, adult males head north sooner than “greenies). I got in touch with Leah Fuller, the PBOT Program Coordinator, and she informed me that Lake Placid is actually right in the middle of the Painted Bunting wintering range in Florida! She also told me that loss of shrub-scrub habitat is a big part of the reason that the eastern population is declining, and it is very important to educate people about the value of this habitat. Despite being relatively shy birds, Leah says they do frequent backyard tube bird feeders and their favorite seed is white millet, or any basic mixture with millet in it. The millet sticks that you can buy at pet stores are also a favorite of theirs.  Make sure to submit your Painted Bunting observations to both PBOT and E-bird.

Thanks, Leah!

This post can also be viewed at Nemesis Bird.

The Arrival of Swallow-tailed Kites in South-Central Florida

If you’ve been in south-central Florida in the past two weeks, you’ve probably noticed the arrival of Swallow-tailed Kites.

Swallow-tailed Kites (Elanoides forficatus) are probably the most appropriately named raptor, with their forked swallow-like tail.  They have an unmistakable black and white plumage from below, and show dark shoulder patches and primaries from above.  In flight, their small head can give them a "pigeon-headed" appearance.

Note striking white head and belly, and dark primaries and secondaries

Note dark shoulder patches and dark primaries when viewed from above

Note pigeon-headed appearance

Swallow-tailed Kites are found in forested wetlands in tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America, and also on the south east and Gulf Coasts. They used to be found as far north as Minnesota, but their range has decreased with habitat destruction. Members of this species that breed in the United States spend the winter in South America, and can be seen in large groups in southern Florida starting in late February each year like clock work. 

The first one I saw this season was north of Indiantown on March 1, and I’ve seen more almost every day since in Glades, Highlands, and Hendry counties. Usually, when you see one, you start noticing more and more in the air nearby; one day, I had three in my scope at once! My biggest group so far this year has been six, but last year around this time, Alex and I saw 14 glide over us in a straight line while driving through Orlando. In one day, I saw 9 in Hendry County in various locations, then 5 together in Highlands County. Some seem to be settling on to territories, and I’ve seen one more than a few times at the Route 70/27 intersection in Lake Placid. On Route 98, I saw two carrying nesting material.

Two Swallow-tailed Kites in aerial displays

If you’re lucky, you can stop your car fast enough to snap a few photos, but photos just don’t do this bird justice. They seem to put very little effort into flying, and take advantage of thermals and unseen air currents to help them drift along over treelines and rivers. Most of their time is spent soaring, using their long forked tail as a rudder, interspersed with steep dives and loops aimed at other nearby kites. They catch and eat prey on the wing, eating mostly flying insects, but sometimes take reptiles, amphibians, and small birds.

Hunting insects on the wing



Eating insects on the wing

Report your Swallow-tailed Kite sightings on E-bird, and The Center for Birds of Prey in South Carolina, where Swallow-tailed Kites are listed as endangered. 

This post can also be viewed at Nemesis Bird.  It was also linked at the ABA Blog through Nemesis Bird!

Limpkin: A Unique Florida Specialty

There aren’t many species of birds that you can find only in Florida. Most of Florida’s herons and egrets can be found up the East and Gulf coasts, and many of Florida’s passerines and raptors migrate north in the spring. On the small list of Florida specialities is the Limpkin. Limpkins are only found in Florida’s fresh water marshes (with sporadic records in the south eastern United States). Limpkin used to be commonly found in south eastern Georgia. Limpkin are also found in Central and South America.

Limpkins (Aramus guarauna) are the only member of the family Aramidae (genus Aramus), and are closely related to Rallidae (rails, coots, and moorhens) and Gruidae (cranes). These three families make up the order Gruiiformes. There are fossil records of extinct species of birds that may have also been members of this family.

Limpkins look most like small cranes in appearance. The back of a Limpkin appears spotted, and is reminiscent of a European Starlings speckled plumage. Its downward curved bill can be mistaken for that of an Ibis. Males and females look alike. It is hard to miss a Limpkin, with their loud wailing calls to each other, giving any wetland where they are found a very tropical and exotic feeling.

Limpkins eat mainly apple snails and other mollusks, but will also eat frogs, lizards, or insects in times of drought. Their range in Florida is almost entirely associated with that of apple snails, which isn’t surprising, because their long bill is specialized in removing snails from their shells (usually without breaking the shell!).  There are five species of apple snails in Florida, but only one is native, and Florida is the only place in the world where the native Florida apple snail occurs.  They can live to be two years old and can grow to the size of a plum!  Apple snails face conservation issues of their own that in turn affect the species that depend on them, like Limpkins and Snail Kites.  Apple snails have been greatly and negatively affected by poor water management practices in Florida associated with agriculture and development that have changed natural flows and depths of water.

A good place to find Limpkins in South Central Florida is Lake Okeechobee (the second largest lake in North America). I haven’t had time to fully explore the edges of the lake, but the north eastern marshy edge is teaming with Limpkins. It is hard to go a few minutes without hearing a Limpkin call echo over the lake, with a quick answer from another. While they are usually quite secretive, I’ve seen Limpkin out foraging in open water at the lakes edge, and they frequently fly low in view over the marsh grasses here. Another great place to see Limpkins in at Orlando Wetlands Park. Otherwise, you can find them along the edges of Florida’s numerous channels and canals, foraging on floating vegetation and in reed beds. They are (fortunately or unfortunately?) easily habituated to people, and can also be found in the ponds and wetlands of Florida’s ridiculously excessive housing developments.

Earlier this year in January at Lake Okeechobee, Alex and I saw a Limpkin take flight at the same time as an American Bittern! With luck like that, I figured I’d make this year another big year (I missed American Bittern on last year’s list).

I took the following photos at Lake Okeechobee about a month ago! 

Limpkin attacking a Purple Gallinule at Lake Okeechobee, FL

Limpkin foraging at Lake Okeechobee, FL

Limpkin walking along a canal in Highlands County, FL (photo by Alex Lamoreaux)