Jobs, internships and volunteer positions for ornithologists (I)

Angry indigo bunting spotted while hiking Hickory Run State Park (PA, USA)

Offers compiled by The OSNA Society <http://osnabirds.org/Jobs.aspx>. Contact Cheryl Trine (EM: ctrine AT andrews.edu) for posting.


AVICULTURE & ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PAID INTERNSHIP AVAILABLE – The Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy (LRWC) is accepting applications for a unique internship opportunity in the combined disciplines of aviculture and environmental education. Interns receive on- the-job training alongside our internationally known staff in all aspects of aviculture and environmental education programs. Position Description: Internships are 24 weeks in duration (six months) with the potential for renewal. This position has dual responsibilities in the aviculture and environmental education programs. There is overlap in responsibilities and some days have more emphasis on one program than the other. Aviculture responsibilities include feeding and maintenance of the captive waterfowl collection, assistance with bird capture/restraint/transport, veterinary staff support, and record keeping. Environmental education responsibilities include interacting with LRWC visitors, guiding tour groups, presenting avian related programs, training/working with education birds, and representing the organization at community events. Successful applicants will also assist with the supervision of volunteers and student work groups, and assist with special events and fundraising. This is a demanding position that sometimes requires long hours and extended periods outside in adverse weather conditions. Applicants must be willing to put in the time and effort to complete projects as needed. Qualifications: Applicants must have prior experience in animal care and an interest in environmental education. Undergraduates and graduate students in the fields of education, science or biology are encouraged to apply. Students with college degrees in related fields may also be considered. Experience in animal care is required and knowledge and/or experience with avian husbandry is highly desirable. The position requires exceptional attention to detail, the ability to manage multiple and diverse tasks simultaneously, excellent writing ability, a high level of professionalism with strong interpersonal skills and a cordial attitude. Applicants must be able to lift at least 50 pounds, climb a ladder 20 feet or higher and perform overhead work. Applicants must also be available to work any of the seven days of the week and holidays with the possibility of late evenings as needed. A valid driver license is required. Compensation: Interns receive housing and a bi-weekly stipend of $200.00 ($400.00 per month). About the Conservancy: The Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy is a not for-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of waterfowl and wetland habitats through research, education, and conservation action. An integral part of our conservation and education programs are the aviaries, where over seventy species of waterfowl, as well as cranes and screamers, are housed. Conservancy staff conducts on-site and off-site environmental education programs relating to biodiversity and waterfowl and wetland conservation, often utilizing the aviaries and imprinted education birds. LRWC is located in a small town with 8,000 residents in northwestern Connecticut. Applicants should be aware of the opportunities and limitations of living in a quaint New England community. Litchfield is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise and LRWC itself has access to several hundred acres of wetland and upland habitats. To Apply: Qualified applicants should email a letter of inquiry, resume, and at least three references to JESSICA CATON, LRWC Director of Education (EM: jcaton AT lrwc.net). Resumes will be reviewed as they are received, with application deadline of September 15, 2014. Intern start date last week of October. Selected candidates will be interviewed shortly thereafter. No calls please.

INTERPRETIVE NATURALISTS (2) for fall migration monitoring project at New Jersey Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory, Cape May, NJ. Sep. 1 - Oct. 31. Cape May is renowned as one of the world's great hot spots for bird migration. Successful applicants will work at the Cape May Hawkwatch. Duties include teaching visitors bird identification and natural history, offering general assistance, conducting workshops, and assisting counter when needed. Applicants should have experience interacting with the public and excellent interpersonal skills. Familiarity with bird migration and experience identifying birds, especially raptors, is preferred. All applicants must have their own vehicles and a valid, clean driver’s license. Salary for positions $900/month; housing and reimbursement for gas is provided. Send cover letter indicating position of interest, resume outlining relevant experience, and three references (including email addresses and phone numbers) to MIKE CREWE, Cape May Bird Observatory, PO Box 3, 701 East Lake Drive, Cape May Point, NJ 08212 or email: (EM: mike.crewe AT njaudubon.org). Application deadline 30 August 2014.

RESEARCH PROJECT (SUITABLE FOR EXTERNAL MSC THESIS) -The influence of age and social structure on a sexually selected ornament. The Evolutionary Biology Group at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Seewiesen, Bayern, Germany (URL: http://www.orn.mpg.de/218798/Forschungsgruppe-Schroeder) is offering two research projects (suitable for external MSc thesis) during the winter semester 2014/2015. The projects aim at disentangling the short---term and long---term correlates of a sexually selected ornament in a passerine bird, the house sparrow, Passer domesticus. You will learn or improve your skills in: design of behavioral experiments, collection of behavioral and morphological data working with captive birds, DNA sampling, data management and analysis, as well as scientific writing and presentation. Candidates should have an interest in Evolution and Behavioural Ecology, a strong work ethic, and be able to work independently and as part of a team. The working language at the Institute is English, so good knowledge of the language is required. Previous experience in handling small animals, as well as experience in analyzing videos and image data is preferable, but not necessary. The successful candidate will be part of a young dynamic team in which scientific exchange is fostered. The Max Planck Institute for Ornithology employs a dedicated and international group of researchers who are focused on exploring the fields of evolution, ecology, genetics, and neurobiology. Review of applications will start immediately until the positions are filled. If you are interested in applying for one of the research projects please write to (including your CV and name and addresses of at least one person who could give you a reference) ALFREDO SÁNCHEZ-TÓJAR (EM: asanchez AT orn.mpg.de) or ANTJE GIRNDT (EM: agirndt AT orn.mpg.de) latest by September 7th.

RESEARCH PROJECT (SUITABLE FOR EXTERNAL MSC THESIS): Sperm and age in house sparrows - The Evolutionary Biology Group at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Seewiesen, Bayern, Germany (URL: http://www.orn.mpg.de/218798/Forschungsgruppe-Schroeder) is offering one student research project (suitable for MSc thesis) starting in November 2014. This project will investigate reproductive senescence and its evolutionary consequences using data from a captive and wild population of house sparrows, Passer domesticus. You will learn or improve your skills in: microscopy, sperm quality and quantity measurements, data management and analysis, scientific presentation and writing. Candidates should have an interest in Evolution and Behavioural Ecology, a strong work ethic, and be able to work independently and as part of a team. Furthermore, experience in cell biology and microscopy is desired. The working language at the Institute is English, so good knowledge of the language is required. The successful candidate will be part of a young dynamic team in which scientific exchange is fostered. The Max Planck Institute for Ornithology employs a dedicated and international group of researchers who are focused on exploring the fields of evolution, ecology, genetics, and neurobiology. Review of applications will start immediately until the position is filled. If you are interested in applying for the research project please write to (including your CV and name and addresses of at least one person who could give you a reference) to ANTJE GIRNDT (EM: agirndt AT orn.mpg.de) latest by September 30th.

CONDOR BREEDING & CONSERVATION INTERNSHIP – Foundation Galo Plaza Lasso. Condor Huasi Program - http://www.idealist.org/view/internship/PDd6j5tc2B3p/ The Foundation is a part of the Grupo Nacional de Trabajo del Condor Andino which is the government licensed reproduction and liberation organization for the Andean Condor in Ecuador. Condors are critically endangered in Ecuador with only 50 wild condors and almost 20 of them living in Zuleta. Therefore, the Conservation of the Andean Condor in Ecuador project was started in 2009 in collaboration with FGLP, Hacienda Zuleta, and the Zuleta community. FGPL & Hacienda Zuleta operate the project Condor Huasi on land belonging to the Hacienda. Zuleta's seven captive condors and four condors in the Quito Zoo, are part of a program to breed condors with the aim of returning the chicks to the wild. The project aims to understand more about wild and captive condors through ethograms, making detailed observation of the behavior of wild and captive condors, and identifying factors impacting their behavior, breeding, survival, and the actions needed to save the species from extinction. Project components include captive breeding working towards reintroduction, recording sightings of wild condors, community education, interpretive services for tourists, and raising awareness in the hope of saving this species from extinction. Depending on the time of year, interns may help with maintaining the camera trap or registering wildlife sightings in the area. The aim is to understand more about other wildlife in the area. Spectacled bears are often seen, but we also see paramo foxes, puma, mountain tapir, opossums, and more in the wider area, though one would need to be incredibly lucky to see them. There is no guarantee what wildlife you will see. Binoculars and/or a camera with a good zoom will give you more opportunities. Condor Huasi Intern positions are available all year round for 30 or 37 day periods. Requirements: Applicants must be studying or have studied biology, zoology, wildlife conservation or a similar subject at the university level. The minimum age is 18. Interns need to be reasonably fit and will need to walk for 45 minutes or so from their house to the work site and occasionally to walk higher up to the cage and observation point on the páramo and to help with manual work such as repairing cages. The hacienda is at an altitude of around 2,900m (9,500ft) and the highest observation point at around 3,780m (12,401ft). The interns tasks and working hours will depend on the needs of the project so we are looking for practical, enthusiastic people who will adapt to the current situation. Interns must have good attention to detail because data collection, in the form of detailed observations of condor behavior, is vital to the project and makes up the majority of the work. This opportunity is not suitable for anyone with an allergy to domestic animals (such as rabbits and dogs) or fur or anyone unwilling to handle raw me at. How to Apply: Email (EM: info AT haciendazuleta.com) with your CV and a cover letter explaining why you wish to be a Condor Huasi Intern, why you think you would make an excellent intern, and what you expect to gain from the experience. Note any relevant volunteer or work experience. Let us know your level of Spanish language skills, and any travel experience in Spanish-speaking countries. Please, place your cover letter on the header provided for you at the end of the web page (URL: http://www.idealist.org/view/internship/PDd6j5tc2B3p/). We recommend applying well in advance if possible, as the number of intern opportunities available is limited. Applicants should note that if they are accepted, they will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of $150 to reserve their place.

INDEPENDENT RESEARCH INTERNS – The Fundación Galo Plaza Lasso. Condors share their páramo habitat with spectacled bears, pumas, páramo foxes and a wide variety of other animals and birdlife. In order to save the condor, we must save the páramo, the Andean forest and ensure that there are healthy populations of other wildlife. As Zuleta is located in the Andean Páramo and in the Andean Forest, both of which still require a great deal of exploration, the Foundation is interested in promoting research and investigation of the local ecosystems. The Foundation aims to catalogue wildlife in the area, to study and understand the roles of other species living in the páramo and Andean forest, and how the ecosystems, flora, fauna, and humans impact each other. There is particular interest in studying two critically endangered species - the Andean marsupial tree frog and the spectacled bear. The spectacled bear is the only surviving bear native to South America and the foundation is planning to began genetic testing of the bears. Therefore, the Foundation hosts students and researchers who are at least in their final years of undergraduate studies, in a masters program, doing postgraduate work or somewhere in between. We are looking for people with energy and initiative to conduct independent research on topics of their choice. Due to the multidisciplinary approach of the Foundation's work it makes the perfect site for students with multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary interests to do research. Here are a few potential areas of research: *Cataloging frog species; *Cataloging any set of species; *Studying any of the frog species; *Studying the endangered Andean marsupial tree frog; *Studying the endangered spectacled bear; *Studying Zuleta's impact on the watershed and its importance to the surrounding cities. While developing an idea for the research proposal please feel free to contact us (EM: info AT haciendazuleta.com) and discuss your interests and potential research ideas. Intern Activities: Interns will be supported in their day to day research by two on-site biologists and will be mentored by a faculty member from either Universidad San Francisco de Quito (URL: http://www.usfq.edu.ec/) or La Católica (http://www.puce.edu.ec). Interns can meet with their faculty mentor via Skype or they can take the three hour bus trip to Quito. Interns will be responsible for designing their own research and work schedule. Each intern will therefore have a different daily and weekly schedule. It is estimated that most projects will last between three and six months, but we expect each project to have its own timeframe. By the end of the intern’s time with us they will be expected to have produced a poster presentation and a paper/article. Interns will be asked to leave a copy of their work with the Foundation so guests of the Hacienda can review their work and so future interns can build on what has already been discovered. Interns will also deliver at least one presentation on their findings at a venue appropriate to their project. The presentations may be at a university, in the community, etc. Management skills can be acquired if interns decide to enlist the help of local students or Condor Huasi Interns. Condor Huasi Interns are mostly undergraduate students who stay with the Foundation for about a month working with our captive condor breeding program. Independent Research Interns are welcome to help with the condor program and may be asked to participate in community service, such as, helping the after-school program put on special events. Background: The Fundación Galo Plaza Lasso (FGPL) is a part of the Grupo Nacional de Trabajo del Condor Andino which is the government licensed reproduction and liberation organization for the Andean Condor in Ecuador. It was established in 1995 to continue the legacy of former President Galo Plaza. We are a nonprofit which sponsors projects benefitting the community of Zuleta and communities in the surrounding area. Zuleta is a village of about 1,550 and the majority of the residents are indigenous. Zuleta was once a remote village and for generations Hacienda Zuleta employed the majority of the community members, but the era of haciendas has ended and Hacienda Zuleta is no exception. While Hacienda Zuleta is still a working hacienda it can only support 60 families. Therefore, Hacienda Zuleta started the foundation to support, develop and implement programs and activities which improve the quality of life for the local communities through education, socioeconomic development, and conservation. The Foundation is based at Hacienda Zuleta (http://zuleta.com/), in Imbabura Province about 2 hours journey from Quito, around 30 minutes from the city of Ibarra and about an hour from Otavalo. Requirements: Applicants must be studying or have studied biology, zoology, wildlife conservation, sustainability or a similar subject at the university level. The minimum age is 20. Interns need to be reasonably fit and will need to walk for 45 minutes or longer depending on their research. The hacienda is at an altitude of around 2,900m (9,500ft) and the highest observation point at around 3,780m (12,401ft). The interns tasks and working hours will depend on the needs of the project. We are looking for practical, adaptable, and enthusiastic people who are looking to learn and have a good time. Availability: Independent Research Intern positions are available year round. Depending on the proposed project interns typically stay between three and six months. There are only two beds set aside for Independent Research Interns who are accepted into the program on a rolling admissions basis. For more information and to apply, please visit (URL: http://www.idealist.org/view/internship/t3fdN5Xgjh8d/). How to Apply: The application process happens in three steps. Step 1 - Email info AT haciendazuleta.com with your CV and a cover letter explaining why you wish to be a intern, why you think you would make an excellent intern, and what you expect to gain from the experience. Please, note any relevant volunteer or work experience and any travel experience in Spanish-speaking countries. Most importantly please provide a one paragraph abstract describing your research proposal. Please, place your cover letter and abstract on the header provided at the bottom of the web page (URL: http://www.idealist.org/view/internship/t3fdN5Xgjh8d/). After the Foundation reviews your CV, cover letter, and abstract you will be notified if we would like you to proceed to Step 2. Step 2 - You will be asked to submit your research proposal which will first be reviewed by the on-site biologists to assess the academic and research abilities of the intern and the feasibility of the proposal. If, it meets the standards of the Foundation we will move to Step 3. Step 3 - During Step 3 the Foundation will match the intern with a faculty mentor. Once a professor agrees to mentor the intern, the intern will be officially accepted into the program. We recommend applying well in advance, as we can only host two Independent Research Interns at one time. Applicants should note that if they are accepted, they will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of $150 to reserve their place.