Kirtlandia Intern Natural Areas

Mentor Marsh Intern

JobSummary:

TheMentor MarshIntern assistsresearchersona study investigating the density of rare and secretivemarsh birdsas a function of habitat within the greater Mentor Marsh ecosystem. This project now in its second year detectsmarsh birdspecies via several detection internwill downloadaudio files from SD cards in acoustic recording units (ARUs) organizeaudio files onto an external drive andassistwith avian point counts. The intern mayalsoassistwith vegetation surveys and collection of abiotic data. The intern will also be working with partner organizations such as Ornithology Professor Sean Williams Ph.D. at Cuyahoga Community College and the City of Mentor Natural Resources employees.

This is an 8-week program at 40 hours per week (320 hours) with the hopes to start May 18th but the exact dates can be arranged with your direct supervisor. The successful candidate must also have reliable transportation to Mentor Marsh. Interns will present their internship-related activities at the Friends of CMNH annual August luncheon meeting which usually takes place the second Saturday of August but has yet to be confirmed. More information can be found here:Internships Cleveland Museum of Natural History

Eligibility:

Program applicants must be attending an accredited college or university or must have graduated from college within six months prior to application submittal

Required to Apply:

1. Write a brief 1-2 page statement that:
   • Gives a general background of yourself
   • Details your background and research interests
   • Explains why you are a good candidate for this position
   • Describes your previous training and research experience
   • Discusses how you expect to benefit from yourexperience as a Research Intern
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Two letters of recommendation with your application. Alternatively letter writers may email them directly to

Application Deadline: March 13 2026

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Use various detection methods to monitor marsh bird activities including automated recording units (ARUs) motion-detecting trail cameras and timed point counts
• Be up early in the morning to listen for bird calls for the breeding bird survey point counts. Morning surveys begin 30 minutes before sunrise with arrival to the first point count 10 minutes beforehand to get set up.The earliest sunrise will be 5:50 a.m. around the summer solstice in mid-June
• Monitor collect and evaluate data on marsh animals vegetation and abiotic factors
• Using data collected create maps using GIS software

• Perform other related duties as assigned

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to recognize calls of secretive marsh birds and identify birds in flight
• Basic knowledge of wetland flora and fauna
• Ability to use GPS/phone applications to navigate to waypoints
• Proven ability to organize large sets of data
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail
• Ability to communicate effectively both written and orally
• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google Suite applications

Working Conditions:

This position will be working indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions including inclement weather. Must be comfortable working in a wetland environment and uneven footing. Position may require walking or standing for extended periods of time throughout the day. Must be able to lift 50lbs with or without reasonable accommodation.

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is an EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ADA EMPLOYER and a SUBSTANCE-FREE WORKPLACE