Field Assistant Volunteer Wanted (Falklands)

We are investigating the breeding ecology of two species of shorebird in the Falkland Islands by monitoring colour-ringed individuals through time. This will be the fourth year of tracking breeding and survival of these populations.

In addition, we are interested in the effects of predation and genetic divergence on several different Falkland Islands bird species; working at a site which has no introduced mammals, we will investigate the importance of avian predation on different prey species, and also collect DNA samples from different species for comparison with related populations in mainland South America.

Lastly, we are designing and trialling a protocol for monitoring the abundance of several different species of landbird at a given site – monitoring which is vitally important for the persistence of vulnerable island populations.

See my webpage here: http://www.bath.ac.uk/bio-sci/biodiversity-lab/stclair.html for a brief (and only slightly out-of-date) description of my PhD.

The study site is on Sea Lion Island in the Falkland Islands (http://www.sealionisland.com/index.php/uk/38/) which is a Ramsar wetland of international importance, an Important Bird Area, an Important Plant Area, and an incipient National Park. Accommodation on the islands is in a Portakabin, with intermittent heating and hot water. The only buildings on the island belong to Sea Lion Lodge, which is a hotel visited mainly by birders and wildlife photographers. The island has colonies of three penguin species, southern giant petrel and other seabirds, a healthy population of striated caracara and large breeding populations of elephant seals; it is a beautiful and inspiring place to work. However, weather can be harsh and a great deal of walking is required to cover the study site.

The job run from mid to late September 2008 to late December 2008. It will consist of a short period of training with me, and then up to three months of independent work with minimal supervision, as I will be working elsewhere in the islands for much of this time. You will be searching for nests (all species) and individual plovers/families and monitoring survival until outcome using re-visits and nest cameras. You will make focal observations on some nests to determine incubation routines and the effects of extreme weather on cooperation between parent birds.

You will capture a number of different landbird species by mist-netting, for blood sampling and biometric measurement.

Lastly, a monitoring protocol for land-bird abundance will be trialled to quantify repeatability and usefulness. The monitoring is planned to be continued by community participation and will involve marking out a transect route and encouraging visitors to collect data.

This is a volunteer post – applicants must be willing to pay for their own tranport to the study site, and to contribute to their expenses once there.

You will be a keen birder with sharp eyes and plenty of experience of mist-netting small passerines. You must be personable and happy to engage with visitors to the island, to explain the project and encourage participation in bird monitoring. You must be physically fit, hard-working and meticulous and have a proven ability to work independently. As you will appreciate from the project description, this is a very diverse project which will involve many different challenges. A proven ability to collect high-quality data is essential (i.e. a good degree in a biological subject or equivalent experience) and you should be prepared to type up your data in the evenings and during stormy weather! You must have a positive attitude and an ability to look after yourself – this means cooking your own meals and being capable of working alone for a substantial period of time, including Thanksgiving and Christmas. There is a payphone and slow internet access at the Lodge, so you will be able to make and receive calls and emails to/from loved ones.

I fly from the UK via the RAF airbridge, which at the reduced rate for researchers costs £1275, although it may be possible to fly through South America on the LanChile airline for less money. I expect that a budget of £2000 would cover your flights and expenses for the whole field season; in reality, expenses should be considerably less. To put this in context, a tourist flying from the UK to Sea Lion Island will pay ~£2,200 for return flights, and £133 per night for accommodation!

Interested?

Please send a current CV with an email stating why you feel you are a strong candidate to me at jjhsc20@bath.ac.uk

I will also need the contact details (email and telephone) of two referees.

If you have any questions, please direct them to me at the same email address or give me a bell on UK 01225 385 437.