Natural Resources Job Board

 Aviculturist or Aviculture Technician at George Miksch Sutton Avian Research Center 

 
Immediate, urgent opening for a full-time, permanent aviculturist with prior bird husbandry experience within the Attwater's prairie-chicken breeding program.

Background: The George Miksch Sutton Avian Research Center (Sutton Center) was founded in 1984 with the mission of finding cooperative conservation solutions for birds and the natural world through science and education. The Sutton Center is a private, nonprofit organization located in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and has become a leader in avian research and conservation through its successes with conservation-oriented, ecological field research on declining grassland birds, development of techniques for the reintroduction and monitoring of southern bald eagles, management of successful captive breeding of endangered species, and bird surveying across the world. For more information please visit www.suttoncenter.org. 

 

The Sutton Center has partnered with other organizations in a recovery effort focused on the captive breeding and release of the critically endangered Attwater’s prairie-chicken, a grassland grouse native to Coastal Texas and Louisiana.  The Sutton Center is expanding the program with a larger breeding flock and increased chick production. There is an immediate opening for a full-time, permanent aviculturist, preference for candidates with prior bird husbandry experience.  Time is currently divided between managing our captive flock, incubating eggs and raising chicks, preparing and transferring birds for release, raising colonies of insects for food constructing bird enclosures, and maintaining the facilities. Aviculturists will be required to participate in all day to day responsibilities. 

 

Description: Daily tasks includes avian husbandry, diet preparation, basic veterinary care including administering oral and injectable medications and gavage feedings, maintenance of accurate animal records and an online database system, maintenance of breeding colonies of mealworms and crickets, and construction and repair of netted bird enclosures. During the breeding season, aviculturists oversee artificial egg incubation including following protocols for egg handling and addressing egg incubation problems, manage incubator machinery, hand raise chicks and assist in fostering chicks to Attwater’s hens, supervise and train seasonal staff, review camera footage to monitor flock health and breeding success, and help find creative solutions to improve recovery challenges. Aviculturists also assist with property upkeep and repair, volunteer training, nuisance pest control and any additional tasks as needed for the program. Smoking, vaping, and illicit drug use are prohibited on Sutton Center premises. The Sutton Avian Research Center is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and encourages diversity in the workplace.  

 

Qualifications: Applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree; must have the ability to lift over 50lbs and work in inclement weather conditions around ticks, chiggers, and mosquitos; must be able to work independently as well as in small group settings; and must have a valid driver’s license and maintain a good driving record. Applicants must be capable of working long hours in a fast paced and changeable environment and must be detail-oriented and able to follow instructions and established protocols. Supervisory experience is desirable. The ability to operate machinery (electric tools, mowers etc.) is a plus but not required.  Prior bird handling and husbandry experience is required for the aviculturist position.  Applicants without prior bird husbandry experience will be considered for an aviculture technician position with the potential to move to an aviculturist position in time based on job performance.

 

Salary: Base pay starts at $14.75-$16 per hour dependent on husbandry experience and comes with benefits including contributions towards health insurance, retirement account, and paid time off (PTO). There is a 90 day probationary period, after which accrued PTO is vested. 

 

Please email cover letter, resume and three references, including one reference from a prior employer, to apcsutton@gmail.com.  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.