Prelude, The Bird Counter

My long weekend ends in skiing down Middle Sister, following the two days of Smith Rock. I'm tired and don't know what to write, so here is a cover letter of a bird counting job I applied for. Better luck next year.

In a single serendipitous stroke, I stumbled upon this job opportunity. Just today during my post-work kayak tour, I was lucky enough to spot a Great Horned Owl, as well as a great number of Belted Kingfishers, Great Blue Herons, Double-crested Cormorants, and even a Rufous Hummingbird. I have loved birds my entire life, ever since I was part of the 4H Canary Club as a child. You can imagine my ecstatic state when I discovered your need for bird counters. My knowledge of birds is just one of many reasons I would be a great fit for this position. I have extensive backcountry experience, love physically demanding work, adore learning, and I am easy to get along with.

My backcountry expertise has developed over thousands of miles, multiple day ski mountaineering tours, and challenging trials that require complicated route finding. Ever since I could drive, I spent my weekends backpacking. I have through-hiked the Whites in New Hampshire, topping out at almost 20 miles a day on the most brutal trails there ever was. I have summited and skied Adams, Baker, and Hood. I rediscovered the William O. Douglas trail with a group of friends in college, the elusive route from Yakima to Rainer.

I am also conditioned to remote and rugged working conditions. It was long before I turned 16 that I worked long hours for my father’s demolition company, long hard hours now come naturally. I have worked as a Geotechnical Engineer at remote mine sites, anywhere from the snowy Utah Wasatch mountains to the deserts of Zacatecas, in central Mexico. This job pushed my boundaries both physically and mentally.

Physically, I have no doubt I will fit in like a glove, but there is more than just showing up and getting the job done. I am also a very positive person, who loves to learn and work with others. I am excited to learn all that I do not know. For instance, I am no expert on bird calls but have recently been using the Merlin app to expand my current call bank. I learn very rapidly, and happily. I also love working with others individually, and a team. Getting to know and understand people is very important to me, and my social nature makes this an enjoyable experience.

I could go on forever on how excited I am to hear back about this position, but I’m sure you have something better to do than read excessive cover letters. I look forward to hearing back from you.