Description
The California Department of Parks and Recreation is seeking a qualified firm to provide bird‑banding, egg‑floating, and monitoring services for the endangered Western Snowy Plover (WSP) and California Least Tern (CLT) at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. The contractor must staff at least two licensed ornithologists/biologists, maintain 24/7 on‑call availability, and meet rapid‑turnaround banding windows (12 hours for WSP chicks, 24 hours for CLT chicks). The work spans the 2027‑2029 breeding seasons and includes data collection, daily field reporting, training of DPR staff, predator‑hazard mitigation, and final report preparation.
• Provide qualified personnel holding all required USFWS, USGS, and CDFW permits (or demonstrate substantial progress by 1 Mar 2027).
• Perform banding of WSP and CLT chicks, floating of WSP eggs, and optional adult/juvenile banding, with inventory of color‑band combinations.
• Deliver daily field notes, assist with annual biological reports, and conduct training sessions for ODSVRA staff.
• Supply all equipment, high‑clearance 4‑WD vehicle, and communications tools (Zello smartphone) and manage travel/expense reimbursements at State rates.
• Meet strict availability requirements (weekends, holidays, nights) and coordinate with ODSVRA staff for predator‑hazard and injury response.