Seeking to Fill Positions: Bird Monitoring Student Volunteer Internships on the Trinity River
Klamath Bird Observatory (www.klamathbird.org) will fill up to five student volunteer internship positions on the Trinity River in northern California. You do not need to be enrolled as a student to apply for this position, however, this student internship is designed to offer an academic learning opportunity. The student volunteer interns will participate in the bird monitoring component of a large restoration project on the Trinity River in northern California from ~April 11 – August 1. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain exposure to an array of ornithological field methods while working on a high profile restoration project in a beautiful part of the world.
EXPECTATIONS: Primary duties are nest searching/monitoring, spot map surveys, re-sighting color-banded birds, target netting and color banding riparian passerine focal species, and vegetation surveys. Additional duties include completing paperwork, entering data, maintaining equipment and housing, participating in riverine float surveys, and other tasks as required. Field training in protocol methodology, bird ID, and orienteering with compass and GPS will be provided early in the field season.
QUALIFICATIONS: All applicants should demonstrate a strong interest in birds, natural history, and field biology, and should be prepared to work long days in the field in hot and inclement weather, follow prescribed protocols, be meticulous in collecting and recording data, be in good physical condition, work well both independently and with others, possess good communication skills, and have a valid Driver’s License; ability to drive a manual vehicle is preferred but not required. Applicants must be willing to work in areas of poison oak, Himalayan blackberry, and biting insects, with the potential to encounter rattlesnakes, black bears, and cougars. It is essential that the applicant be comfortable and capable of working independently both at remote sites and in areas where interaction with the public is likely. Preference will be given to those with previous experience in ornithological field methods and orienteering. Two of the five intern positions require proficiency at banding small passerine birds, and preferably experience with color-banding. The three additional intern positions do not require banding experience, however those interns will have the opportunity to assist in target netting efforts.
COMPENSATION: These are volunteer intern positions, with a monthly stipend of $750 for reimbursement of living expenses, plus field housing in the Weaverville area, provided. Binoculars will be available if needed. We will provide field vehicles, but some personal vehicle use may occasionally be required. If so, you will be reimbursed for per-mile transportation costs.
APPLICATION: Send cover letter (including dates of availability and whether you have a personal vehicle), résumé, and contact information for three references, preferably by email, to Ellie Armstrong (eea@klamathbird.org). Applicants will be reviewed until the positions are filled.
