Internships
Piping Plover and Shorebird Outreach Intern (Summer 2026)
Reports to: Chicago Piping Plover leadership (multiple individuals)
Season: Summer – May 13 – July 27 (flexible start and end date)
Number of Openings: 1
Hybrid position: Primarily “onsite” work in outdoor settings, some office work remote
Pay: $20/hour, approximately 30 hours a week
Overview:
Piping Plovers are small shorebirds that nearly became extinct in the Great Lakes in the 1980s and are now designated as an endangered species. While their numbers have started to recover with approximately 75 breeding pairs in the Great Lakes, there is still a long way to go before they can be delisted as an endangered species.
In 2019, two Piping Plovers arrived at Montrose Beach in Chicago and proceeded to nest there. Famously dubbed Monty and Rose, they were the first to successfully raise chicks in Chicago in 71 years. Between 2019 and 2021, they would successfully fledge 7 chicks, a huge milestone in conservation history and the species’ recovery. Along the way a robust volunteer monitoring program was established to protect them and a strong community of supporters emerged. Both Monty and Rose have since passed away but plovers continue to visit and utilize the dune habitat of Montrose Beach including their own offspring and captive-reared chicks rescued by the Great Lakes Piping Plover Recovery Program.
Montrose Beach is one of the busiest beaches in Chicago. During the spring and summer, it is visited by people seeking exercise, dog walkers, birders, participants in park district summer programs, beach goers, kayakers, kite flyers, and much more. Such a mix and intensity of use leads to a variety of human wildlife conflict situations with the birds that rely on Montrose as a place to rest, feed, mate, nest and raise their young. More deliberate education efforts are needed to ensure the beachgoing public is aware of the importance of the habitat present at Montrose Beach, the Piping Plovers that live there, and how to enjoy the park while giving birds space to rest and feed.
Under the direction of the Chicago Piping Plover leadership, the Piping Plover Outreach Intern will work at Montrose Beach to engage with the many park stakeholders to educate park users and the broader public about Piping Plovers, how to ensure their protection and the importance of the Montrose natural areas in general. Work days will primarily involve having a presence at the beach itself to engage with beachgoers, support plover monitor volunteers, implement human and wildlife conflict mitigation strategies, participate in stewardship of the natural area, and other similar duties with the intention of driving literacy of and behavior change toward plovers. This work will require engaging with a wide audience across a range of ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, demographics, and language abilities.
Learning Objectives:
Demonstrate working knowledge of environmental (specifically coastal) issues in Chicago
Learn the intricacies of mixed-use public parks and how human-wildlife conflict can be mitigated
Understand basic principles of community engagement and community building
Responsibilities and Scope:
Maintain a regular physical presence at Montrose Beach and engage with park users on the importance of natural areas, the significance of Piping Plovers and other wildlife present, and how to effectively share the shore with wildlife
Identify gaps in educational resources related to shorebird conservation in urban areas and support the development of new/supplemental materials
Implement different outreach and education strategies directed to dog owners on public beaches about the plovers.
Professionally represent Chicago Piping Plovers and partner organizations by disseminating accurate information about Piping Plovers and the roles the public and partners play in their conservation
Work alongside plover watch volunteers, natural area stewards, park district staff, and other partners where appropriate
Build expertise on Piping Plovers, bird conservation, ecological restoration, urban nature, and other related topics
Assist in cross-training plover watch volunteers on use of educational materials and best practices when engaging with the public
Manage program supplies and program set-up and breakdown
Perform other duties as assigned
Minimum Qualifications:
Strong interest in working with people, the outdoors, and the environment
Comfortable interacting with and presenting in front of diverse audiences
Bilingual skill in Spanish
Positive attitude, sense of humor, and ability to work effectively alone or in a team-based environment
Ability to provide own transportation to Montrose Beach
Experience using Microsoft Office Suite and Google Drive tools
Completion of a background check prior to employment
Desired Qualifications:
Experience identifying native bird and plant species a plus
Experience working across differences such as race, culture, disabilities, socio-economic class, and language group a plus
Aware of current, local, national and international conservation issues
Other Skills/Characteristics:
Must be comfortable working outdoors in natural areas with minimal amenities – including shelter and bathrooms – in all weather conditions
Able to walk/stand/sit for extended periods of time
Ability to lift up to 40 pounds
Locations and Time Commitment:
Principal work locations are:
Montrose Point Beach in Lincoln Park, Chicago
Chicago Bird Alliance office at North Park Village, Chicago
Due to the flexibility required in this position, working from home may be required from time to time
Typical schedule Wednesday through Sunday, 1 pm to 7 pm
Work on weekends is required
Able to work flexible hours including early mornings and evenings, as needed
Minimum of 30hrs/week, maximum of 40hrs/week
Technology Requirements:
A cellular phone
Devices that allow for video conferencing and internet access, such as a smartphone or laptop
Questions about the position can be sent to Matt Igleski.