The Veracruz River of Raptors (VRR) well known as the project that counts the biggest raptor migration in the planet seeks hard core birders to help with the Fall migration count, Both positions will be needed from August 15th till November 23rd.
Live one of the greatest raptor migration in the world in the well-known project Veracruz River of Raptors. Travel to this spectacular site and enjoy the wonder of birds and insects´ migration. You will also be able to learn about other resident and local birds. Interact with local people and local biologist´s and naturalist´s. You will also have the opportunity to approach the culture and of course the real Mexican food.
We need raptor migration counters (3 positions) and assistants (2 positions) to work during 95 days at the Pronatura´s monitoring stations in the central coast of Veracruz Mexico where birds are funneled by the mountains to make this spectacular event. We are hiring enthusiastic and hard-working people with skills on identification and estimation of huge groups of raptors in stream lines, able to identify song birds and water birds at the two PRONATURA´s count sites (on average we count UP to 4 million raptors each fall plus passerines and water birds that make up to 300 thousands individuals). The peak days have over 200 000 individuals with record years having more than half million raptors in a single day!.
Three counter positions available. Applicants should have a high background identifying and estimating migratory raptors and other groups in both long distance and close flights and have the responsibility of daily data entry in Pronatura´s data bases and Ebird when possible. Skills in raptor ID and other migrants and being able to interact with the public when needed.
Two Assistant positions, they should be good at taking notes (especially numbers) with good hand writing and be capable of identify migratory birds as well and able to learn how to identify raptors in flight, they must be willing to explain/interact with visitors about bird migration and the importance of birds and enter data into Ebird when possible.
We will select applicants that show a big interest on birds and with lot of birding experience, in particular thus that worked with migratory raptors are likely to be chosen.
The work of both (counters and assistants) consists of 2 days work and 1 day off and so on during the 95 day´s period, starting 9 am to 7 pm (10 hours per day) from August 18 to November 22.
All selected applicants will also help setting the count sites, and will help to clean and maintain working and living facilities in good and clean conditions, capture data in our databases and hawk-count when needed. They need to be comfortable working and sharing a room with other people, be flexible, very pro-active, and be comfortable working in small towns and rural conditions. Need to work in teams and be collaborative. Willing to help in other activities (like attending visitors (during our bird festival or in environmental education activities). Hot temperatures and mosquitoes are expected.
The site is located not too far from the ocean and the mountains where birding hot spots are available with more than 250 bird species, endemics such Mexican Sheartail Hummingbird, White-bellied Wren, lots of raptor species are near observation areas, we use to organize trips to the mangroves to get 5 species of King-fishers, Sungrebes, Black-collared Hawks, in the cloud forest we can see 3 species of toucans, Oropendolas, Motmots and many other species (look for info at Ebird.com about hot spots near Chichicaxtle). Also staff members are encourage to visit during their days off the Raptor Banding station where we trapped near 400 raptors each Fall.
The positions will be based in Chichicaxtle and Cardel, small towns of Veracruz. Accommodation in rural conditions will be provided. Monthly salaries:for counter position $8,000 pesos (around 400 USD) to $9,000 Mexican pesos (aprox 450 USD), and for assistant’s $6,000 Mexican pesos (aprox 300 USD) to $8,000 Mexican Pesos (aprox 400 USD), all according to experience and skills, this is a life experience more than a job.
Selected people will cover their own transportation to Veracruz. Medium knowledge of Spanish is required for both positions but we can be flexible according to experience.
Main responsibilities:
· Identify and estimate birds in the 2 sites (Cardel and Chichicaxtle)
· Record daily observations
· Data entry in databases
· Assist with reports and data analysis
· Interact professionally with visitors, conservation agency staff, and the general public
· Enjoy migration and birding in Veracruz
What is included?
· Housing
· Insurance during working period
· Pick up in the airport
· Project orientation
· In country emergency support
· Diploma of Participation
· Several moments with hundreds of birds per minute!
To Apply:
Send letter of interest and your CV outlining relevant experience counting raptors for Counter positions and monitoring birds for assistants all applicants have to include three references (including full name, charge, email addresses and if possible phone number).
Send to: rioderapaces
@pronaturaveracruz.org, in subject line depending to witch positions are you applying write: VRR counter 2017 or VRR assistant 2017.
Once we review your papers and considering that you cover the requirements, we will setup an interview .If you do not receive communication from us, is that you were not selected for interview.
Pronatura México - Veracruz Ignacio Zaragoza 73, Col. Centro, Coatepec, Veracruz: CP 91500. +52. (228) 1865548. www.pronaturaveracruz.org
