Thanks so much! Here's one of my cover letters: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0umPUhGmq8EeTVrMmRENGNPM0k/view?usp=sharing

And here's the link to the job description: http://www.osnabirds.org/Jobs/SEASONAL-AVIAN-FIELD-TECHNICIAN-(1).aspx

Further questions about this position, specifically:

• 1. I've added sentences 3 and 4 in my second paragraph but I'm afraid it's a little too much. Is this appropriate detail/does it sound too braggy? I really don't know if bussing 2-3 hours to and from work shows tenacity to the recruiter but I think it does...
• 1. Should I include my lab experience? It's not quite relevant to this position, but it's bird research. It'll show up on my resume either way.
• 1. I'm applying to the nestling measurer rather than the nest-searcher position since I feel more qualified for that (handling experience and all), but there's only 2 openings as opposed to 6. What do? I suppose I will ask if I can apply for another position when I mail this in.

Further general questions:

• 1. I've been really struggling with "show, not tell". I could say on my cover letter "I am really eager to learn and super excited and I'll sacrifice my first-born if it means I can get this job" but I feel like it turns out to be just fluff. Also feels like bragging. How can I master showing/not telling as well as accurately depicting my strengths, without making it sound arrogant?
• 1. I think maybe a problem I've had with previous cover letters is not being specific enough - I mostly included a brief overview of what I did in each relevant experience, and that's not memorable (something similar to my third paragraph in this letter). Is this accurate?
• 1. Is it appropriate to use more exclamation marks? How can I convey my excitement and passion while sounding professional?!
• 1. A question about resumes: what is the sweet spot for describing your experience? Right now I have bullet points and sentence fragments, but I can't help but feel that makes everything sound very generic and reductive.
• 1. At what point does contacting/re-contacting someone become annoying/weird? I've sent at most one follow-up e-mail a few weeks later (like "Hey, I'm just wondering if you've received my application because I haven't heard back from you"), because I don't want to feel like I'm being pesky.

Again, thank you so much for offering to look over my cover letter. And for fielding many noob questions!