HWC Oʻahu Seabird Aid Internship

Hawaiʻi Wildlife Center Oʻahu Seabird Aid Internship (June-December)

Description:

The HWC Oʻahu Seabird Aid Internship is designed to introduce and prepare recent high school graduates and college students to assist with the response to downed seabirds during the Oʻahu seabird fallout season (Sep-Dec). Interns will spend 2 weeks (80hrs) at the main Hawaiʻi Wildlife Center Facility in Kapaʻau on Hawaiʻi Island to get hands on instruction on avian handling and basic care. These 2 weeks can be done anytime between June and August. Interns will then return to Oʻahu and sign up for 1 weekly shift to be done at the HWC Oʻahu Satellite Clinic located at the Honolulu Zoo starting no later than September. There interns will assist the Oʻahu HWC Wildlife Rehabilitation Manager in the care of birds including Manu o Kū, Uaʻu kani and other native Hawaiian Birds. During peak seabird fallout season (approx. November) the location of the internship will shift to Feather and Fur Animal Hospital in Kailua and interns will be asked to sign up for an additional shift. Interns can do more shifts if they are interested. This will be busiest time of the year and interns will assist the Manager in accepting downed Uaʻu kani from the public, collecting finding information from the finders, assisting in examinations, performing feedings/hydration under the direction of the manager, inputting data into the database and assisting in general upkeep chores (laundry, enclosure cleaning and preparation, pool cleaning, etc). By the completion of the internship interns will be familiar with several species of native Hawaiian seabirds, safe handling of seabirds, how to assist during an examination of a seabird, and how to safely provide nutrition and hydration to a seabird.

Other duties include: meal preparation, feeding of wildlife, assistance with physical therapy and rehabilitation of patients, medical record entry, cleaning and maintenance of enclosures and aviaries, general hospital cleaning duties, assistance with release of patients among other related duties.

The intern is responsible for their own housing both on Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Islands, as well as their own transportation, including getting to the Honolulu Zoo and Feather and Fur Animal Hospital.

Schedule:

• Initial 2 weeks on the Hawaiʻi Island (80hrs) done between June and August.
• Weekly shift* at Oʻahu HWC Satellite Clinic (Honolulu Zoo) during September – December
• Additional weekly shift* during peak fallout season in during November
• Additional shifts* available if intern desires.
• Goal of 160 hours of experience by end of internship

*Shifts are set by the Oʻahu HWC Rehabilitation Manager. Late afternoon/early evening shifts available in November

Qualifications:

Animal experience and a science background is preferred 

High School Diploma or GED

Must be 18 years of age or older. 

Willing to work outdoors in all kinds of weather

Ability to communicate and interact professionally in a team

Ability to follow directions

Ability to do basic math and convert units of measure. 

An interest in learning about native Hawaiian birds and the care that goes into them

An interest in wildlife conservation

Attention to detail

Honesty

A strong work ethic

Compassion and respect for animals

Comfort in cleaning animal enclosures 

Compensation:

This is an unpaid internship and the intern is responsible for their own expenses including housing and transportation. 

Application Process:

Please email your Resume/CV and Letter of Intent to birdhelp@hawaiiwildlifecenter.org.  Please put "Oahu Seabird Aid Internship" and your name on the subject line.

We accept 2-3 interns

Applications are due by August 15th and are reviewed as they are received.