Ornithologists (All Levels)

You will be joining a well-established environmental consultancy with a strong national presence, working alongside a collaborative team of over 100 ecologists across five UK offices. This is a rare opportunity to build your ornithology career within a supportive, growing team that values technical quality, practical insight, and long-term environmental outcomes.

With a strong and expanding project pipeline, we are looking for ornithologists at all levels, from early-career consultants to experienced specialists, to support a wide range of projects across the UK.

The role

You will play a key role in delivering high-quality bird surveys and contributing to ecological assessments for a diverse portfolio of development and conservation projects.

Your work will include:

• Undertaking breeding and wintering bird surveys across a variety of habitats
• Carrying out fieldwork including vantage point surveys, transects, and territory mapping
• Recording bird activity, abundance, behaviour, and habitat use to inform ecological assessments
• Supporting Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA) and Habitat Regulations Assessments (HRA)
• Identifying key features such as nesting sites, breeding territories, flight lines, and roosting locations
• Contributing to survey reporting and technical deliverables

Bird surveys form a critical part of the planning process, helping to identify species presence, population levels, and potential impacts of development, alongside appropriate mitigation measures . Work will span both breeding season surveys and wintering bird surveys, providing a varied and year-round field programme.

Wintering bird surveys

As part of the role, you will be involved in wintering bird survey programmes, typically undertaken between October and March.

These surveys are designed to:

• Record species presence and abundance
• Understand habitat use, behaviour, and movement patterns
• Identify important feeding and roosting areas

They provide essential data for planning and conservation, particularly where sites may support protected or internationally important bird populations .

Survey work may include structured monthly visits, systematic counts, and vantage point observations to assess flight activity and disturbance risk.

About you

You may be at an early stage in your career or already operating at a senior level. What matters most is your interest in ornithology, your attention to detail, and your ability to contribute effectively in the field and as part of a wider team.

You are likely to bring:

• Experience of bird survey methods, or a strong desire to develop these skills
• Ability to identify UK bird species by sight and sound
• Understanding of ecological survey techniques and data collection
• A proactive and organised approach to fieldwork
• Strong communication skills and an interest in producing clear, robust outputs

For more experienced candidates, there will be opportunities to lead surveys, manage projects, and contribute to technical direction.

Why this role

This is a chance to be part of a large, well-connected ecology team where knowledge is shared openly and development is supported. You will gain exposure to a wide variety of projects, develop your field and reporting skills, and contribute to meaningful environmental outcomes across the UK.

The volume and diversity of work ensures consistent opportunities throughout the year, including a strong pipeline of wintering bird surveys alongside breeding season programmes.