RESEARCH ASSISTANTS needed for studies of Maui Parrotbill, a critically endangered honeycreeper, as well as other native forest birds, on Haleakala, Maui, Hawaii.
6 positions are available for a period of 20 weeks, starting 8 Feb 2010.
Maui Parrotbill are rare (502+116) and birds and their nests may be extremely difficult to find. This is a field based research position but assistants will be responsible for both field and office duties. Primary field duties will be: (1) locating and re-sighting Maui Parrotbill and other native forest birds; (2) mapping pairs and individuals through the season for each study site; (3) locating nests, collecting field data on nest sites and reproductive behavior and determining nest success or failure; (4) conducting transect counts for Maui Alauahio in each study area; (5) conducting monthly point counts for all native and non-native species. Field duties may also include (6) maintaining alien predator control grids of rodenticide bait stations and mechanical traps; (7) aiding crew leaders with mist-netting and banding of Maui Parrotbill, Akohekohe and other forest birds; (8) invertebrate sampling and sorting; (9) continued trail and field site maintenance; (10) assisting staff with other ongoing projects. Office duties include, but are not limited to office, vehicle and grounds maintenance, data entry, report writing, administrative clerical work, and preparation and maintenance of field equipment. Field duties are extremely physically challenging. Remote research sites require 9-12 hour hike across Haleakala crater at 5,000-9,000 ft elevation, living and working in small teams in extremely wet (annual rainfall up to 400 inches), cold, muddy and steep rainforest conditions at high elevations. Helicopters will be used to re-supply field camps. Basic aviation safety training is available. Work schedule will include 10-14-day field trips with alternating days in the office and re-supplying, as well as staffing an additional hike-in field site that may be accessed on a daily basis. Preference will be given to applicants who have experience with passerine research, re-sighting color-banded forest birds, nest searching and nest studies, and experience and safety training for wilderness settings.
Assistants must be able to work and live in remote field camps under extremely physically demanding conditions, to work independently and responsibly, have a good work ethic, take personal initiative and must have a valid drivers license. Desirable qualifications include a B.S. in ecology, biology, ornithology, botany or similar field; research with endangered birds; passerine re-sighting experience, point count experience, nest searching for forest birds; mist-netting and banding; small mammal trapping; GIS skills; Wilderness First Aid certification.
Benefits include: $1300 a month, housing and most field equipment, limited transportation on Maui and an opportunity to work in pristine native rainforest and gain field experience in avian conservation with a highly endangered species and in ecosystem management. Applicants must provide their own airfare to Kahului, Maui.
To apply, please complete an application online at (URL:http://www.mauiforestbirds.org) and upload a letter of interest and resume with 3 references (with phone numbers and email addresses) by 15 Oct 2009. If you have further questions you can contact us at (EM: employment@mauiforestbirds.org) with “MAPA job 2010” in the subject heading.