KOKUA ALERT & CHANCE OF A LIFETIME! Volunteer Positions at Kure Atoll Summer 2015
Job Type: Habitat Restoration Worker – Volunteer Positions
Location: Kure Atoll Seabird Sanctuary
Duration: March 2, 2015 to October 2, 2015
Position closed: February 9, 2015
Please send resume, cover letter, and three references to Matthew Saunter: kureatoll@gmail.com
Description:
The State of Hawai’i’s Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife is seeking five volunteers for work at Kure Atoll for the Summer 2015 field camp. Deployment is scheduled to occur on or near March 18, 2015. All personnel must be on O’ahu and available to work at least one week prior to departure. The scheduled return date is on or near September 30, 2015, although this is subject to change. Field workers are not required to stay in Honolulu after the ship has returned and is successfully offloaded.
Kure Atoll is a part of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (PMNM), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kure atoll is located 1,400 miles northwest of O’ahu. Kure Atoll occupies a unique position referred to as the ‘Darwin Point’, which is the northern extent of coral reef development and the atoll is estimated to be 29.8 million years old. Kure is an important breeding site for wildlife, including several rare or endangered species. Eighteen species of seabirds nest on Kure including Black-footed albatross (Phoebastria nigripes) and Christmas shearwaters (Puffinus nativitatus). The endangered Laysan teal (Anas laysanensis) was recently introduced to Kure. There are currently 16 native and 31 non-native plant species known on Green Island, several of which are invasive. Native plants are an integral resource for seabird nesting habitat and dune stabilization. Invasive plants are a significant management concern because they displace native plant habitat and seabird nesting areas, entrap seabirds in dense vegetative mass, and out-compete native plants. This position is a unique opportunity to protect and recover seabird habitat.
Kure Atoll is an extremely remote work location as it is the last atoll in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). Transportation to Kure Atoll is by ship or by plane/ship. The ability to live and work in close quarters with a small group of people for an extended period of time is of the utmost importance. Fieldworkers are given their own 8’ x 10’ room within a 16’ X 32’ wooden bunkhouse, or if necessary within the main building. The main building has shared kitchen and office space, as well as living space. The seasonal field teams consist of 6 to 7 people. There are only 2 field seasons per year (approximately 6 months each). Contact on Kure is limited to text only e-mail (no pictures or attachments) or satellite phone. Calls are limited to 20 minutes/month. There is no internet or cell phone service available.
Strict Quarantine: Ecosystem protection protocols are in place to prevent introduction of alien species. This quarantine requires that all “soft” items (clothing, shoes, straps etc.) must be purchased new and frozen for 48 hours prior to departure to Kure Atoll. All “hard” items (cameras, musical instruments, etc.) must be inspected thoroughly and may be frozen or fumigated prior to departure.
Primary responsibilities include: Invasive plant removal and monitoring; Big-headed ant monitoring and treatments; Laysan duck monitoring; native plant propagation and out-planting; bird surveys, nest counts, and banding; Hawaiian monk seal monitoring; vegetation surveys; marine debris removal; data collection and entry; weekly meetings; management includes weekly and seasonal summary reporting.
*Although the work load is diverse, most of the hours are dedicated to invasive plant removal (75-80%).
*In addition, all staff will be expected to help with regular camp maintenance and chores outside of regular work hours.
Desired Experience: Invasive species control; native plant propagation and out-planting; avian reproductive monitoring; shorebird and seabird monitoring and identification; binocular/spotting scope use; data management; familiarity with Excel and ArcGIS; GPS usage.
Other useful skills include: carpentry, solar equipment maintenance, small boat experience.
Requirements: Excellent physical and mental health with physician’s consent to work; able to walk 10 miles per day with a 40lb pack over uneven terrain, lift 50 lbs, work for long hours in hot/sunny, rainy/cold conditions, and bend or stoop for long periods of time; know how to swim; 20/20 vision or correctable lenses with no visual impairments or deficiencies; knowledge of Hawaiian plant species and plant identification skills.
All field workers are expected to work 40 hours/week. This does not necessarily mean 8 to 5 Monday - Friday, and may include evenings and weekends. DLNR/ DOFAW will provide transportation between Honolulu and Kure Atoll. Travel dates are subject to change due to ship and airplane schedules. Lodging and food while on Kure and in transit between Honolulu and Kure are provided. Most field clothes and gear are provided. ***All other transportation, housing, and personal items must be supplied by applicant***
Please send resume, cover letter, and three references to Matthew Saunter:
For more information about Kure Atoll, please see the Kure Atoll Conservancy website: http://www.kureatollconservancy.org/, Kure Atoll Facebook Page, and the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument website: http://www.papahanaumokuakea.gov/visit/kure.html.
