RSPB has "exciting" post in Scotland for someone to keep tabs on breeding sites of uncommon species of duck

                                              

                                                     

Common Scoter - declining breeding population in Britain

A BIRDING job with a difference is being offered by the RSPB.

The charity has a 12-month vacancy in Scotland for a . . . Common Scoter Manager.

Since the 1970s, the UK breeding population of Common Scoter has plummeted in both numbers and range.

It is classified as Critically Endangered  and listed on the Scottish Biodiversity List as one of the country's  rarest breeding species an d at risk of extinction.

Says the job description: "This exciting role within our North Highland and Hebrides area team will lead on operational management and day-to-day coordination of external contractors and staff to undertake a suite of investigative studies and prepare a delivery project aimed at halting the decline and restoring breeding populations.  

"The successful applicant will be working across six Common Scoter breeding locations in Scotland in the Highlands, Perth & Kinross and Argyll & Bute areas."

It continues: "We are looking for a highly competent individual to oversee the development phase of our ambitious Saving Scotland's Scoters work programme. 

"The project includes but is not limited to: 

* Designing and testing management measures such as feeding area buffers

* Pike removal trials

* Aquatic invertebrate and thermal drone surveys

* Predator and competitor assessments

* Investigating, planning, costing and seeking approvals for site specific management solutions for individual lochs.

The salary is in the range £33,027 - £35,259 per annum, and the deadline for applications is midnight next Thursday April 2.

For more information, contact:  Alison.MacLennan@rspb.org.uk