SEASONAL AVIAN CONSERVATION FIELD ASSISTANTS (1) needed for work with the Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project. Our project focuses on a variety of work with three endemic Hawaiian songbirds, the Akikiki, Akeke’e and Puaiohi that all inhabit the extremely wet, beautiful and rugged montane rainforest at located at ~4500ft on the island of Kauai. The position will focus on conducting surveys for endangered Hawaiian birds, vegetation and habitat sampling, mist-netting and banding birds, and checking and maintaining artificial nest boxes. This is a rare opportunity to work on endangered tropical species in the U.S while gaining valuable research skills. The work is physically challenging, requiring a 4 to 8 mile hike to the main field camps by way of steep slopes, tangled forest and stream crossings. Daily field activities include conducting ornithological fieldwork while hiking through dense forest, in and along streams, often in rainy and chilly weather. Positions will last approximately from mid-February 2014 through mid-June 2014. Qualifications: Applicants must be able to detect and identify birds by color-bands and sounds, physically fit and able to navigate rugged and complex terrain using GPS, compass, and maps. Experience with nest searching and abundance surveys (e.g., line transects or point counts) is required. Experience with songbird re-sighting, behavioral observation, territory mapping, radio-telemetry, small mammal trapping, and mist-netting/banding is strongly desired. Mechanical and electronics skills and current First Aid and CPR certifications are a plus. Abundant enthusiasm for conserving Hawaii’s native species (including the ability to control invasive species along the way) is essential, as are self-motivation, the ability to work well in a small team, a positive attitude, and willingness to live in a remote field camps for more than a week at a time. Careful data collection is a must, and when not in the field, office duties will include data entry and management, both supervised and independent research projects, maintenance of field equipment and living quarters, and other work around the office. Compensation is ~$1700/mo with limited use of project vehicles. Housing when not in the field will NOT be provided, but the Project will help coordinate a housing search among temporary field assistants and interns. Successful applicants must provide own travel to Lihue, Kauai and have a valid drivers’ license, and be legally eligible to work in the U.S.
Get Involved. Join Conservation Connections.
