WATERBIRD RESEARCH ASSISTANT at Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. Website: http://snr.unl.edu/necoopunit/ Location: South Dakota. Duration: 2-3 months. Job Type: Seasonal. Application Deadline: 03/28/2012. Number of Openings: 2-4. Job Description: Field assistants are sought for an ongoing study of the behavioral, demographic, and life history implications of land use and climate change on migratory waterbirds in the prairie pothole region. Field sites are located on refuges and private land holdings in northeast South Dakota. The primary objective of this project is to develop predictive models that will assist in the development of adaptive management actions that ameliorate the impacts of climate change on North American waterbirds. Field assistants will have the opportunity to gain experience in many field techniques used in avian research and have the opportunity to work and interact with graduate students conducting innovative science in the region. The field sites are located in and around rural, agricultural communities and may require tent-living (you must provide your own tent). Field assistants are expected to work a flexible schedule to be determined, which could include early mornings and possible weekends. Workers will be expected to work ~40hrs/week at $9-$11/hr depending on experience. Work will be conducted outdoors in various weather conditions. The project runs from ~15 April and ends ~1 July. The application process has already begun and will continue until positions all positions are filled. Qualifications: Field work and data collection for the project will involve surveying birds and vegetation in different habitat types, requiring considerable time spent in the field with transportation between field sites provided. Successful applicants will be highly motivated, with a strong work ethic, a passion for field work, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work both independently and in collaboration. Familiarity with avian surveys, GPS/GIS technologies, vegetation sampling, and data entry is a plus but not required. State issued drivers license required. TO APPLY: Please send as a PDF or Word attachment a letter of interest describing your experience, your resume/CV and the email addresses of 3 references to (EM: ryanstutzman@hotmail.com).
INTERNSHIPS IN AVIAN ECOLOGY(Island Scrub-Jay) – Three internships are available for an ecological study of the endemic Island Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma insularis) on Santa Cruz Island, California. Current research under the direction of S. Sillett (Smithsonian), L. Angeloni & C. Ghalambor (Colorado State University), and S. Morrison (The Nature Conservancy) focuses on the jay’s life history, population biology, and behavior. The job will involve finding and monitoring jay nests, quantifying jay behavior, mapping jay territories, measuring vegetation, assisting with jay capture and banding, and insect sampling. Qualifications: •Prior experience in finding and monitoring passerine nests necessary; •Good color vision; •Able to work alone and hike long distances in rugged and steep terrain; •Proficiency in netting, banding, and taking blood samples from passerines; •Experience with radio tracking in rugged terrain; •Able to live in a communal setting on an island with limited access to the mainland; •Valid U.S. driver’s license; •Interest in avian behavioral and population ecology; •Ability to drive a standard transmission 4x4 vehicle on steep, unimproved dirt roads a plus. Term of Appointment: Internships will last 12+ weeks, starting in mid-February through mid-March. Stipend: $400 per week. Location: The project is based on Santa Cruz Island, part of Channels Island National Park, off the coast of southern California. Housing, internet access, and utilities will be provided. To Apply: Send cover letter, CV, and the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of two references to (EM: IslandScrubJay@gmail.com).
BIO VOLUNTEER – Positions Available: 2 – 3. Duration: 7 – 8 months (mid-February to October). Location: Laysan Island, Hawaiian Islands NWR. Closing Date: 15 January 2012. Description: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking 2 – 3 volunteers for the summer field season on Laysan Island (March-September). Laysan Island is a 1000 acre coralline island located about 900 miles northwest of Oʻahu. The island is frequently referred to as the “jewel” of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. This amazing island hosts ~ 1 million seabirds and endemic avian, plant, and marine species such as the endangered Laysan finch, the Laysan duck and Cyperus pennatiformis var. bryanii (Laysan sedge), Pritchardia remota (Laysan fan palm), Hawaiian green sea turtle, and Hawaiian monk seal. It is considered to be among the most intact terrestrial ecosystems in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and the only island with an inland lake. For more information on Laysan Island see (URL: http://papahanaumokuakea.gov/about/laysan.html). As a volunteer you will have the opportunity to travel to and live in this remote setting. You will be surrounded by birds, sea life, and native vegetation. Laysan is a remote site, only accessible by ship. It is a four day ship ride from Oahu to Laysan. On the island, all transportation is by foot. Living conditions consist of an 8’x10’ weatherport tent for personal use, and several 16’x20’ tents for communal/food storage and prep/working. Personal communications from the field are limited to “text only” e-mail (no internet). Additionally, in an effort to prevent the introduction of non-native species, the USFWS enforces a quarantine procedure for all items to be transported to the island. As part of this quarantine, all “soft” items (clothing, shoes, straps, etc.) must be purchased new and frozen 48 hours prior to departure to Laysan. All “hard” items (cameras, musical instrumental, snorkeling gear, etc.) may either be inspected and cleaned thoroughly and frozen or bug-bombed prior to departure. Volunteers are expected to work 44 hours/week. However, this does not necessarily mean 8-5 M-F, but may also include evenings and weekends. Primary responsibilities of the Summer Tour include: invasive plant monitoring and removal (majority of the time is spent working with invasive), native plant propagation, monitoring the reproductive success of Laysan and black-footed albatross, banding albatross chicks, bird surveys including Laysan duck monitoring and Laysan finch surveys, vegetation surveys, green sea turtle nest monitoring, entomological surveys, data collection and management, and weekly and summary reporting. Volunteers report directly to the lead Biological Technician on Laysan Island. Additionally volunteers will be expected to help with regular camp maintenance and chores. Requirements: Must be able to commit to the entire Tour duration; ability to work well with a small team in a professional and safe manner; be flexible upon work assignments; walk 10 miles per day; lift 50 lbs.; able to swim well in ocean conditions; capable of identifying birds by call; comfortable with herbicide use; and have full color eyesight correctable to 20/20. Prior experience in the following is preferred but not necessarily required: invasive species control and mapping, native plant propagation, waterfowl surveys, monitoring avian reproductive success, color-band resight and spotting scope use, shorebird and seabird monitoring and identification, data management, and familiarity with Word, Excel, ArcGIS, and GPS units. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will provide: housing and a living stipend while in Honolulu, transportation between Honolulu and Laysan, a stipend for quarantine clothes, and food and housing while on Laysan. Applications will be evaluated as they arrive, and these positions may be filled by the closing date. Please submit a cover letter, resume, and at least three references to: MICHELE KUTER (EM: Michele_Kuter@fws.gov).
TROPICAL NEST-SEARCHERS at Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, Costa Rica. Duration: 4 months. Job Type: Volunteer. Application Deadline: 31 Dec 2011. Number of Openings: 3. Job Description: Field assistants are needed from 1 March– 1 July 2012 for a demographic and forest fragmentation study of an understory insectivore, the Chestnut-backed Antbird, in the vicinity of La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. Field duties involve nest searching, monitoring breeding activity, deploying video systems to identify nest predators, capturing/marking/resighting adults, and taking vegetation measurements. Non-field duties include data entry, transcribing video footage, and maintenance. Work involves early morning hiking/biking in a wet and hot environment where you will encounter deep mud, poisonous snakes, and mosquitoes. Expect to be immersed in work 6 days/week. At some sites, food is prepared for us, but at others we cook communally. You will have encounters diverse tropical birds and wildlife at 4 sites, opportunities to network at the La Selva Biological Station, and cultural immersion with a Costa Rican family. Station fees and shared off-site housing and food will be provided, but applicants must cover their airfare to and from San Jose, Costa Rica. Qualifications: You must be available for the entire season to be considered. Assistants must have experience nest searching, banding, and extracting birds from mist nets. No exceptions. I am looking for dependable, hard working, and enthusiastic people. This is PhD research, so flexibility and good sense of humor will be helpful! Applicants who can speak Spanish, identify snakes, have knowledge of digital technology, can drive a standard-transmission car, and can carry heavy (25 lb) batteries without whining will be preferred. To Apply: Please send as one document: your resume or CV with references and a brief cover letter that states your availability, Spanish language skills, and interests/goals to Deborah Visco (EM: dvisco AT tulane.edu). The positions will be filled as soon as suitable applicants are identified.
CARDEN FIELD ASSISTANT – ELOSH Wild Population Monitoring – Wildlife Preservation Canada is seeking one Field Assistant to assist the Carden Shrike Biologist with survey efforts and monitoring of the wild population of Eastern Loggerhead Shrike in Carden, Ontario (east of Orillia). The Eastern Loggerhead Shrike is critically endangered with a total of only 21 known pairs breeding in Ontario in 2011. The Carden Alvar is one of the two core areas where ELOSH continue to breed and the Carden wild population has been monitored since the 1970s. This position also includes assisting with activities at the field breeding and release site (~2 days per week), offering a unique opportunity to work with an endangered species and directly contribute to recovery efforts through captive breeding. Responsibilities: **Road-side and on-site (with prior permission) surveys to locate breeding pairs of Eastern Loggerhead Shrike **Wild population monitoring (nest searching, behavioural monitoring, collection of productivity data) **Vegetation data collection at ELOSH nesting sites **Landowner communication and outreach **Data management and monthly reports **Behavioural monitoring of captive birds at the field breeding site **Daily diet preparation and provision (live food fed twice daily) to captive and released shrikes **Care and maintenance of invertebrate food colonies (crickets and mealworms) and live mice **Soft-release of young; post-release monitoring and supplemental feeding **Breeding site and enclosure preparation and maintenance **Additional tasks as required. The Field Assistant may also have the opportunity to assist with the banding of captive young to be released. Qualifications: Applicants should have prior experience with bird monitoring/surveying and have completed an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline (or possess equivalent knowledge/experience). Experience with nest searching and colour band identification preferred, as is familiarity with call play-back surveys. Previous bird handling and/or banding experience is an asset as is prior experience with animal care/captive breeding. Qualified candidates must also be able to navigate in the field using a map, compass, and GPS, work independently, be willing to work long hours and live in rustic field quarters. Applicants should be physically fit, able to endure working in variable weather conditions with exposure to biting insects and enjoy living and working as part of a small team. A valid driver’s license is required and access to a vehicle for the duration of the contract is preferred. Most Eastern Loggerhead Shrikes breed on private lands, so considerable landowner contact is required. The successful candidate must have good interpersonal skills and the ability to maintain positive relationships with private landowners. Position runs from early April through late August/early September, 2012. Some opportunities for contract extension and/or supervisory positions the following field season may be available. Housing plus Cdn$1100-1500/month is provided depending on experience. To apply please send a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references to: TARA IMLAY, Species Recovery Biologist, (EM: tara@wildlifepreservation.ca) or Wildlife Preservation Canada, RR#5 5420 Highway 6 North, Guelph, Ontario N1H 6J2. Email applications preferred. Please submit your application as a single PDF or MS word file and include the email subject heading “Carden Field Assistant Application”. Please apply ASAP as the position will be filled as soon as a suitable candidate is found (applications will not be considered after March 1, 2012). All applicants must be legally eligible to work in Canada.
NAPANEE FIELD ASSISTANT – ELOSH Wild Population Monitoring – Wildlife Preservation Canada is seeking one Field Assistant to assist the Napanee Shrike Biologist with survey efforts and monitoring of the wild population of Eastern Loggerhead Shrike in Napanee, Ontario. Some work may also occur in Smiths Falls, Pembroke and Renfrew. The Eastern Loggerhead Shrike is critically endangered with a total of only 21 known pairs breeding in Ontario in 2011. The greater Napanee area is one of the two core areas where ELOSH continue to breed, while ELOSH sightings in Smiths Falls and Pembroke/Renfrew have been increasing in recent years. This position also includes an opportunity to assist with the care and soft-release of groups of captive young (transferred to Napanee from one of WPC’s field breeding sites). Responsibilities: **Road-side and on-site (with prior permission) surveys to locate breeding pairs of Eastern Loggerhead Shrike **Wild population monitoring (nest searching, behavioural monitoring, collection of productivity data) **Vegetation data collection at ELOSH nesting sites **Landowner communication and outreach **Data management and monthly reports **Co-ordination of volunteers for releases of captive-reared young **Daily care and husbandry of captive young prior to release (behavioural observations and provision of live food) **Soft-release of young and post-release monitoring **Banding of young for release **Additional tasks as required. Qualifications: Applicants should have prior experience with bird monitoring/surveying and have completed an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline (or possess equivalent knowledge/experience). Experience with nest searching and colour band identification preferred, as is familiarity with call play-back surveys. Previous experience with animal care and/or captive breeding is ideal. Bird rehabilitation experience is a major asset. Qualified candidates must also be able to navigate in the field using a map, compass, and GPS, work independently, and be willing to work long hours. Applicants should be physically fit and able to endure working in variable weather conditions with exposure to biting insects. A valid driver’s license is required and access to a vehicle and local accommodation for the duration of the contract is preferred. Most Eastern Loggerhead Shrikes breed on private lands, so considerable landowner contact is required. The successful candidate must have good interpersonal skills and the ability to maintain positive relationships with private landowners. Position runs from early April through late August/early September, 2012. Some opportunities for contract extension and/or supervisory positions the following field season may be available. Compensation is Cdn$1100-1500/month, depending on experience. WPC may also be able to subsidize housing costs if the successful candidate does not have access to local accommodation. To apply please send a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references to: Tara Imlay, tara@wildlifepreservation.ca or Wildlife Preservation Canada, RR#5 5420 Highway 6 North, Guelph, Ontario N1H 6J2. Email applications preferred. Please submit your application as a single PDF or MS word file and include the email subject heading “Napanee Field Assistant Application”. Please apply ASAP as the position will be filled as soon as a suitable candidate is found (applications will not be considered after March 1, 2012). All applicants must be legally eligible to work in Canada.
AQUATIC WARBLER NEST MONITORING VOLUNTEER (3) needed from 15 May to 31 August 2012, to help with nest finding and monitoring of the globally threatened Aquatic Warbler in the Biebrza National Park in eastern Poland. The Aquatic Warbler is threatened by overgrowing of sedge marshes on breeding grounds, and the work will assess the benefit of a landscape-scale conservation project to increase the productivity of Aquatic Warblers. The Biebrza National Park offers amazing birding with >180 breeding species. Duties include nest finding, nest monitoring, transect counts and data entry. Aquatic Warblers have a peculiar breeding system, and nests are difficult to find as males do not visit nests. The work requires long hours of walking, waiting, and observing birds in wet, boggy environments with a high density of biting insects. Applicants must be in good physical condition, must have good bird identification skills (both visual and aural), must be able to navigate through open swamps, and should have previous nest monitoring experience. Supervision will be provided by Polish and Belarussian field experts, and either Polish or Russian language skills would be beneficial (but not mandatory). Accommodation and a daily allowance for subsistence will be provided, rail travel from Central Europe may be provided if applicant is highly qualified. For more information on the project contact MAGDALENA ZADRAG (EM: Magdalena.Zadrag@otop.org.pl), at the Polish BirdLife partner OTOP in Warszaw, Poland. To apply, send a statement of interest, CV with previous experience, and contact information of 2 references to Magdalena Zadrag. Position is open until filled.