Location: Marin County, CA
To Apply: Check our Available Positions section!
At Point Blue Conservation Science, we have been dedicated to the study and preservation of Northern Spotted Owls in Marin County, California, since 1997. Each year, we conduct critical monitoring to assess population trends, reproductive success, and habitat use to support informed conservation strategies. Our efforts focus primarily on lands managed by Marin County Parks and the Marin Municipal Water District, where we track population dynamics and nesting outcomes. The presence of invasive Barred Owls, a competitive threat to Northern Spotted Owls, is also closely monitored to understand its impact and to develop strategies for mitigating competition between the two species. Through this rigorous approach, our long-term data collection has shown that, unlike Northern Spotted Owls populations in other areas, those in Marin County have remained relatively stable—thanks in large part to effective habitat management and evidence-based conservation informed by our research.
Our seasonal apprentices play an essential role in this work. Their field responsibilities include determining site occupancy, nesting status, and reproductive success of Northern Spotted Owls. Apprentices are involved in fieldwork approximately four days per week, with an additional office day each week dedicated to data entry. On occasion, our schedule may require a six-day workweek. Fieldwork schedules vary and include both daytime and nighttime observations, allowing apprentices to gain proficiency in our monitoring protocols, orienteering, and identification of Spotted Owls and other local bird species by sight and sound.
Additionally, apprentices participate in discussions and presentations on current conservation topics, including climate-smart conservation principles. Through these sessions, they deepen their understanding of the issues facing Northern Spotted Owls and broader environmental concerns.
Apprentices are needed from March 6 to July 5 for the full season, and housing is provided. We also reimburse apprentices for fieldwork travel at the current federal mileage rate when they use personal vehicles.
This hands-on experience is invaluable for those interested in avian conservation and field biology, and the work of our apprentices is vital to ensuring the continued stability of Northern Spotted Owl populations in Marin County.