A skilled raptor counter is needed for the 2011 spring season – March 15th through June 15th at Brockway Mountain, near Copper Harbor in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

The counter is responsible for maintaining the count six days a week, with one day off per week. The primary focus is on raptors, but all migrants are to be recorded (significant goose, loon and passerine migrations are annually observed here).

Preferred applicants will be able to identify all regularly occurring eastern North American bird species. Additional duties include entering data into an excel spreadsheet, posting totals to HawkCount.org, and posting updates to the KRS sightings blog. At the end of the count season, the counter will summarize the data in a seasonal report; a template report from 2010 will be available for an example.

Housing is provided in the nearby Village of Copper Harbor. The housing comes with a full kitchen, bathroom, living room and bedroom as well as phone line and long-distance calling card (cell phones work at the count site, but not at the house). Pay will be not less than $3,500 and up to $4,000 for an experienced counter.

Please note:This is a tough count. Conditions will be cold and windy for the first 6-8 weeks. The counter will reach the count site by snowmobile for the first month. The organizers will provide the snowmobile (and fuel) but the counter will drive it to work each day. When the road to the Count Site is snow free, the counter will need their own automobile to reach the site. The nearest town for groceries is 35-45 minutes away in the Calumet/Houghton/Hancock area. The count site is beautiful but isolated; very few visitors can be expected early in the season.

The position will be open until 15 January, 2011, or a suitable applicant is hired.

If interested please contact: Greg Cleary (906) 228-8781 or email at g.cleary@sbcglobal.net

For more information please visit http://keweenawraptorsurvey.org