Birding doesn’t have to be just a hobby or something for one’s spare time – there are many ways to earn a paycheck with this passion, no matter what level of birding expertise you have or what other skills are on your resume. There is an entire flock of jobs available that incorporate birding, with career choices ranging from care and conservation to sharing birding with others to expressing your love for birds in creative ways. Which would be your best career?
Wildlife Biologist
This professional intimately studies bird populations, migration patterns, conservation threats, and more, using sophisticated techniques including bird banding, high-tech tracking devices, and plentiful data. That knowledge is then used by organizations, governments, and corporations to make decisions regarding environmental legislation and similar policies.
Skills and Education: Degree in wildlife biology, biology, ecology, or a similar field as well as relevant experience. Project flexibility and an understanding of environmental law can be useful.
Research Scientist
Working in a lab, research scientists dedicated to birds may analyze avian DNA, work as paleornithologists with fossil birds, or reconstruct snarge (organic debris from plane collisions) to assist with bird identification. Other work may include analyzing the effects of a changing diet or contaminants on bird populations or working with captive breeding programs.
Skills and Education: Relevant science degree such as biology or chemistry, along with suitable laboratory experience emphasizing birds and bird-related research.
Environmental Consultant
While this type of consulting may be less bird-oriented than other careers, an environmental consultant works with corporations, governments, builders, and other entities to meet environmental guidelines, ensuring that environmental standards and requirements are upheld. Conservation surveys and similar work are often on this consultant’s schedule.
Skills and Education: A degree in environmental science, wildlife biology, or a similar field, as well as study in environmental law or conservation. Working independently, attention to detail, and job flexibility is critical.
Naturalist
A less academically intense but no less valuable position, naturalists often work with nature centers and wildlife refuges providing guide services to visitors, arranging programs or educational outreach, or otherwise working to make nature – including birds – more accessible to the public. Arranging exhibits, directing school groups, or delivering lectures may be part of a naturalist’s regular duties.
Skills and Education: Appropriate degree or suitable experience leading to an expertise in birds, along with essential people skills such as public speaking or leadership qualities.
Zookeeper
Zookeepers with avian experience fill a specialized niche for captive birds and are in high demand as zoos, marine parks, and aviaries create more bird-friendly exhibits and get involved with captive breeding programs for bird conservation. Zookeepers often run shows for the public or may be involved with educational outreach programs, as well as providing care to the captive birds.
Skills and Education: Degree in zoology or similar field, particularly with avian specialization. People skills, public speaking, or education experience can be useful.
Birding Tour Leader
An experienced birder can go birding every day with a career as a tour leader with a private birding tour company or independently offering their services for hire. These guides may also serve as cultural interpreters or otherwise guide groups or individuals on personalized excursions.
Skills and Education: Intimate expertise about local birds and birding hotspots. Travel experience and fluency in different languages are great assets.
Avian Artist
A birder who can translate the beauty of birds into an artistic medium such as paintings, sketches, drawings, or sculptures can blend their art and birding passion into a career creating not only their own artworks, but working on commissions for governments, businesses, and private collectors. Some artists may also work with field guides or other bird-related organizations, such as nature centers.
Skills and Education: Appropriate training, skill, and talent for the chosen artistic medium, along with a bird-specific portfolio. Business acumen can be critical for independent artists.
Nature Photographer
Skilled photographers can turn every picture into a pretty penny with bird photography. Publishers and magazines regularly use bird photographs, particularly of endangered or less common species, and stock photography agencies may be willing to purchase bird photos. Photos can also be sold independently or turned into various commercial products, such as calendars, stationery, or artwork.
Skills and Education: Appropriate training and skills in photography, specifically when photographing birds and wildlife. Expertise with digital techniques and photo editing is essential.
Veterinarian
An avian veterinarian helps not only pet birds, but may also assist with injured wild birds through rehabilitation facilities or rescue centers. Veterinarians will assess birds’ condition and may perform surgeries or other procedures as needed, as well as monitor ongoing treatment and prescribe medications to ensure birds’ recovery and ongoing health.
Skills and Education: Veterinary medical degree with specialization in avian health and medicine, as well as internship experience relating to birds.
Museum Curator
Natural history museums that host bird exhibits rely on curators with birding experience to create realistic scenes and ensure birds are properly posed, labeled, and cared for to keep specimens in display condition. Working with researchers as well as public outreach is an important part of a museum career.
Skills and Education: Degree in history or museum studies with appropriate birding experience. Some art or design training can be useful, and public speaking or people skills are necessary.
Author
A birder who is also passionate about words can write about birds in many ways to make a career as an author. Not only are birding books popular, but authors may also write birding fiction, create text for field guides, or write for magazines, newspapers, or newsletters either independently or with regular columns.
Skills and Education: Appropriate English or journalism degree or relevant writing experience with suitable clips. The ability to work independently and meet deadlines is essential.
Birding Store Owner or Manager
Birding store owners and managers share their love of birding with the community by stocking bird feeders, foods, books, optics, and other supplies for backyard birders. They may also organize local birding walks or be involved with local and regional birding programs.
Skills and Education: Local expertise about birds and backyard birding, as well as appropriate business experience and franchise knowledge if necessary. People skills are critical.
Eco-Resort Owner or Manager
Avitourism is a growing business, and an eco-resort manager or owner can have a fine career providing a bird-friendly hotel for interested tourists. These resorts are usually small and the owner will be intimately involved in many aspects of the property, including organizing tours for guests and creating a bird-friendly property.
Skills and Education: Detailed knowledge of local birds and regional hotspots, as well as business acumen and tourism and hospitality expertise. Working well with people and managing a staff well is essential.
Support Staff
There are hundreds of career opportunities for bird-loving individuals in any field, from marketing and fundraising for birding organizations to landscaping for a nature center, working in the office of a birding magazine, contributing engineering skills for optics development, or developing apps related to birds.
Skills and Education: Appropriate degree, training or experience in a relevant field, as well as demonstrated birding interest or expertise applicable to the position.
Bird Rehabilitator
Though often a volunteer position rather than a paid career, rescuing injured, orphaned, or ill birds can be a very rewarding job for a birder. It is an intense position, however, requiring long hours and often heartbreaking decisions, with a very demanding schedule during bird breeding season when baby birds need additional care.
Skills and Education: A wildlife biology degree is useful, but not required; apprenticeships or training can be arranged with experienced rehabilitators. Solitary work may be required, and other skills such as fundraising and outreach are useful.
With so many career options available to birders who want to combine birding and employment, there is a job available for every birder willing to stretch their wings and take flight with a bird-related career.