Are you a hawkwatcher looking for a counting job? Take advantage of opportunities to count and/or work with sites all over North American and beyond. The job postings below are descriptions and links to opportunities with individual count sites (not employment opportunities with HMANA).
HawkWatch International
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
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
Qualifications (Essential skills)
Characteristics That Will Set You Apart (Desirable skills)
Site Lead Additional Duties
Banding Lead Additional Duties
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
Key Points:
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.
Apply at this link. Applications open until filled.
Hiring Timeline: Applications are reviewed as received using a standardized scoring process to determine the interview pool
Fall Raptor Counter – Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory
Location: Duluth, MN
Position Dates: August 27th-November 4th 2025
Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve is one of the premier fall bird migration sites in North America. Raptor migration research and education have been conducted at the site for over 50 years! It’s the western-most count on the Great Lakes with an advantageous location on a rocky ridge overlooking the western tip of Lake Superior. Annual fall averages include 63,000 raptors and 200,000+ passerines/other birds counted and approximately 3,000 raptors banded. Fall migration highlights include an amazing diversity of 15-20 different raptor species! The Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory (HRBO) is the non-profit organization that manages and conducts bird research and education at the nature reserve. The fall research and education staff of HRBO are key representatives in HRBO’s mission of promoting conservation of raptors and other birds in the Western Lake Superior Region through research, education, and stewardship.
Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory in Duluth, Minnesota is seeking 2 experienced Bird Migration Counters to document and showcase the amazing fall bird migration at Hawk Ridge. These are seasonal full-time positions for 10 weeks August 27th-November 4th 2025 with potential to extend several weeks at part time until November 30th.
Primary duties:
Qualifications:
Compensation: Starting at $15.38/hour (40 hours/week). Lodging provided, if available.
To apply, pease go to APPLY to submit the application form. You will attach your cover letter and resume through that link. Applications will be accepted until filled (note: early applications are encouraged and preferred by Friday, April 25, 2025).
For further information, please visit our website at www.hawkridge.org. For questions, please email research@hawkridge.org or call (218) 428-1479.
Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy: Senior Program Manager, Golden Gate Raptor Observatory, CA
Organization Description: Since 1981, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy (Parks Conservancy) has served as the nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, collaborating with the Presidio Trust, partners, donors, and the community to support the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). The GGNRA stretches across three Bay Area counties north and south of the Golden Gate Bridge and includes iconic places such as Muir Woods National Monument, Fort Point National Historic Site, Alcatraz Island, Crissy Field, Mori Point, Lands End, and the Presidio of San Francisco. The Parks Conservancy engages at the intersection of national park sites, local communities, social justice, and climate resilience. Collaborating with partners, our staff are dedicated to enhancing public awareness and providing volunteer and educational opportunities in the parks. We are park builders, caretakers, ambassadors and educators, all working to connect people to parks in support of our vision Parks for All Forever. Join us.
Full job description here: https://jobapply.page.link/9r2pX
Quaker Ridge Hawk Watch – 2025 Fall Counter Position, Greenwich, CT
Position Summary: The Greenwich Audubon Center is a nature center and wildlife sanctuary owned and operated by the National Audubon Society. The nature center is located in the southwest corner of Connecticut, in the town of Greenwich. The mission of the National Audubon Society is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of the Earth’s biological diversity and humanity. The Greenwich Audubon Center strives to meet this mission through education, conservation, and environmental research to encourage the responsible usage and stewardship of natural lands. In addition to its 300-acres of habitat-managed hiking trails, the Center offers educational programs for all ages, a children’s learning center and a bird viewing area.
Under the supervision of center staff, the Official Hawk Counter will play an integral part in the Quaker Ridge Hawk Watch program located on the grounds of the Greenwich Audubon Center in Greenwich, CT. Quaker Ridge is one of the premier hawk watch sites in the Northeast, with an average of over 14,000 hawks recorded each season and 50 years of data on hawk migration. All data from Quaker Ridge is submitted to the Hawk Migration Association of North America as part of the hemispheric network of over 200 Hawk Migration monitoring locations.
This role is on-site at the Greenwich Audubon Center in Greenwich, CT. Onsite housing can be provided.
Compensation: $19.00 – $21.00 / hour
Additional Job Description – Essential Functions: The Seasonal Hawk Counter will work alongside Greenwich Audubon naturalists and Volunteer Hawk Watchers involved in raptor conservation to:
Identify and count the 15+ species of hawks, eagles, falcons, and vultures that migrate along the Atlantic Flyway in flight.
Record and manage field data of migrating raptors on online data collection platforms (TrekTellen / Hawkcount.org).
Conduct outreach to visitors and volunteer hawk watchers to involve the community in raptor conservation efforts.
Coordinate volunteer schedules of weekend hawk counters and work with volunteers to conduct daily counts.
Assist with public programs on hawk migration including assistance with annual Hawk Watch Festival (Saturday September 27 2025).
Record hourly weather conditions, species, and numbers of migrating raptors in the field using TrekTellen data entry platform via Smartphone or iPad.
At the end of each count day, enter count data to Hawkcount.org.
Prepare and deliver a public program & slide show on the results of the season at the season’s end.
Other duties associated with the Hawk Watch and hawk watching, as needed.
The Seasonal Hawk Counter is expected to conduct hawk watching duties five days a week, 9 am to 5 pm from August 20th to November 30th (start date flexible). They will also be responsible for coordinating volunteers to staff the hawk watch on weekend days. Some work schedule flexibility is required due to weather condition-related changes in anticipated migration activity.
Qualifications and Experience:
Previous seasonal work as a hawk counter at a hawk migration monitoring site and/or experience in identifying Northeastern raptors in flight at a distance is greatly preferred.
Must personally own a pair of binoculars, spotting scope and smartphone for bird observation and data collection.
Interest in bird monitoring and outdoor research work.
Familiarity with computer data spreadsheet analysis and Microsoft PowerPoint.
Self-motivated individual who can work well independently in the field.
Ability to work primarily outside in various weather situations.
Ability to work some early mornings, late evenings, and some weekend days.
Good organizational skills.
Ability to communicate to a variety of audiences: visitors, volunteers, staff, the general public, and others.
EEO Statement: The National Audubon Society is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, inclusion and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in this search.
Accessibility Statement: The National Audubon Society endeavors to keep our careers site accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Accommodations@audubon.org. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.
https://audubon.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Audubon/job/Seasonal-Hawk-Counter_JR658
For questions or additional information please contact brown@hmana.org
