PAID INTERNSHIPS available throughout the year for U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service, California Condor Recovery Program. Interns will be required to:
work as a member of a team; use radio telemetry to locate and track
radio-tagged condors; assist in the handling of condors for replacement of
radio-tags and blood collection; lift 60 lb carcasses into vehicles and hike
them out into remote areas; construction and maintenance of trails, condor
release/holding facilities and other structures; work in extreme weather
conditions in remote areas independently; keep accurate records and maintain
a daily field notebook; do routine office work. Knowledge/Experience
required as follows. Essential: a valid drivers license; a strong interest
in wildlife management and related issues. Preferable: experience in remote
field locations; 4WD vehicle experience; ability to drive standard
transmission; ATV driving experience. Interns are required to commit to
full-time work for a minimum of 6 months. Start and finish dates are
flexible throughout the year. Ten days on, four days off in a two week
period is standard. Lodging is provided on refuge in a remote location
during the work shift, must use own vehicle for travel to the Refuge on days
off. Stipend payment for interns is $45.00 per day. Please send cover
letter, resume, dates of availability, and three references to:
Richard_Posey@.... For more information phone (PH: 805-644 5185).


HARPY EAGLE HACK SITE VOLUNTEER, 2004. The Peregrine Fund is a nonprofit
organization working to conserve birds of prey and their habitats worldwide.
Successful applicants will be provided with the rare opportunity to monitor
and look after young Harpy Eagles prior to and after they are released in
the forests of Panama or Belize. Specific Responsibilities: Monitor, feed,
radio track, and ensure the well being of young Harpy Eagles during the
entire process of release; Communicate with Raptor Release Coordinator and
local partners on a regular basis; Keep detailed field notes of the eagles’
behavior, movement patterns, interactions with other species, etc.
Qualifications and Experience: Biologist or biology student with basic
Neotropical flora and fauna knowledge; Knowledge in raptor biology and
ecology desirable; Knowledge of radio tracking techniques, use of GPS,
compass, and maps, and experience with four-wheel-drive vehicles is
desirable; Willingness to live and work in remote, rugged areas with
snakes, biting insects, etc.; Capable of walking long distances in extreme
weather conditions (heat, humidity, and rain); Fluency in written and
spoken English or Spanish; Willing to commit to the release project a
minimum of six months; Understanding of and commitment to The Peregrine
Fund's mission and approach to raptor conservation. Compensation:
Accommodation (may be only a tent) and board will be provided; Training in
behavioral data collection, radio tracking techniques, compass and GPS
usage; Appropriate recognition in scientific papers and personal
references; Volunteer is expected to cover his/her travel costs; Great
field experience and the opportunity to work in pristine Neotropical
rainforest and reintroduce an endangered species into the wild. Send cover
letter, resume, names and contact information of three references and
availability to: RAPTOR RELEASE COORDINATOR, The Peregrine Fund/ Fondo
Peregrino, PTY 3150, 4440 NW 73rd Ave, Miami, FL 33166 USA. Or by E-mail
(EM: fpp@...). EOE

RAPTORS OCEAN TO OCEAN. Volunteers are needed to conduct raptor watches in
Panama this coming migratory season. The Panama Audubon Society, in
collaboration with Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and international and local
partners including The Peregrine Fund, Smithsonian Tropical Research
Institute, CEASPA, Metropolitan Nature Park, the Canopy Tower Hotel, and the
Gamboa Rainforest Resort, will conduct the first annual "Raptors Ocean to
Ocean" hawk watch from 4 Oct to 15 Nov 2004 in Panama. Every year several
million raptors, primarily Broad-winged Hawks, Swainson's Hawks, and Turkey
Vultures, pass through Panama on their way to and from wintering grounds in
South America. In 2004 we plan to conduct counts at 10-12 watch sites
stretching across the Isthmus of Panama from the Pacific to the Atlantic
Ocean to assess the main routes of passage through this 50-mile wide
migratory bottleneck. A previous count at three sites in 1998 recorded a
total of more than 1.6 million raptors in six weeks, with the highest
one-day count totaling more than 460,000 birds. Counts will be conducted by
a combination of overseas volunteers and local participants. Overseas
volunteers will be expected to pay their own travel costs to Panama but will
receive free room and board while participating in the count, to the extent
that space is available. The count will include sites in and near Panama
City (which are expected to record the largest number of raptors, with
nearly 700,000 birds counted at Ancon Hill in 1998) as well as sites within
tropical forest in nearby National Parks and in rural communities. Most
watch sites are near the Panama Canal. A limited number of spaces are still
available at Panama's Canopy Tower and Rainforest Resort hotels, two of
Panama's premier birding destinations. Overseas volunteers will be expected
to commit to at least one week of participation, and for a daily count
period of 8 AM to 6 PM. Preference will be given to those with previous
hawk watch experience. Spanish language skills are not essential (but of
course would be helpful). For further information, contact LOYDA SÁNCHEZ,
Executive Director, Panama Audubon Society (EM: lesanch@...) or
GEORGE ANGEHR, Director for Science, Panama Audubon Society (EM:
angehrg@...).

FIELD ASSISTANT NEEDED (1) - Seeking volunteer field assistant from 17 Nov
2004 - 6 Apr 2005 for research on reproductive success and mating skew of
manakins in Tiputini Biological Station, Amazonia Ecuador. Research
addresses hypotheses about variables that are affecting the reproductive
skew of Pipra pipra. Moreover, research will aim to compare difference in
mating success of males using direct (microsatellite markers) and indirect
(observational data) methods of paternal assignment. Fieldwork involves
surveying manakins, use of mist nets to mark and bleed individuals,
behavioral observations, radio tracking, nest searching and territory
mapping. Applicants should have a strong interest in birds, field biology,
and be prepared to work long days. You should be able to follow prescribed
protocols, be meticulous in collecting and recording data, be in good
physical condition, work both independently and closely with others, and
possess good communication skills. Experience with nest searching and
behavioral observations is preferred; a basic knowledge of Spanish is
necessary. If you have radio tracking experience, great! I am seeking a
motivated individual who is able to work a minimum of 2 months. Assistants
must arrange for their own travel to Ecuador; travel within Ecuador, food,
and accommodation will be provided. To apply, please send (via email) a
letter of interest, resume, and contact information for 3 references (please
send in the body of the email; not as an attachment) to: WENDY P. TORI (EM:
wpt7t8@...) Deadline for application: 20 Oct 2004

VOLUNTEER FIELD ASSISTANTS - Chaco, Argentina. Join the on-going long-term
monitoring project of Blue Fronted Parrot (Amazona aestiva) breeding ecology
in the in Gran Chaco, Argentina. Five volunteers needed: four from 20 Nov
through 15 Feb and one from 20 Oct (minimum 1 month stay). The study takes
place in the Dry Chaco, a thick thorny forest known as the "Impenetrable"
which hosts a rich variety of neotropical fauna including over 300 species
of birds and mammals such as the impressive jaguar. Good chances to see
anteaters, brocket deers and armadillos. Besides, a great opportunity to get
to know some of Argentina while gaining experience in a variety of field
ornithology methodologies. Duties include daily nest-checking assistance
(tree-climbing), territory spot mapping, banding, blood and diet sampling,
parrot point counts, conducting behavioral observations, conducting fruit
censuses and data entry. Applicants must be responsible, self-disciplined,
tolerant to extreme weather and insects, willing to work in group and able
to stay at a remote place without long distance communication facilities
such as phones nor internet. Setting at the reserve is basic (rustic
conditions). Bird handling experience and Spanish speaking applicants may be
preferred but not required. Volunteers are met in Castelli – Chaco
Province (buses from Buenos Aires every day) or Buenos Aires (depending on
the date) and are required to pay a US $85 / week fee which covers
accommodation at camping facilities, all meals, required working equipment
and helps defray costs from the project. TO APPLY: Send cover letter and
resume to voluntarios@.... Feel free to contact us for further
information.