Nature Travel Specialists

Alaska Wildlife Volunteer & Research Travel

Alaska

AVIAN BIOLOGICAL TECHNICIAN (VOLUNTEER) – Location: Northern Foothills
of the Brooks Range, Alaska. Job Description: I am seeking volunteer
research assistants for a master’s project studying the breeding ecology
of Smith’s Longspurs in northern Alaska. The Smith’s Longspur is an
Arctic-breeding passerine that is identified as a species of
conservation concern. This research aims to understand breeding site
fidelity, nest survival, and life history so that we can better develop
conservation strategies. Volunteers will assist with intensive nest
searches and monitoring at two study sites, Atigun Gorge and Slope
Mountain, in the foothills of the Brooks Range. The study area extends
into the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and is about 350 miles north of
Fairbanks along the Dalton Highway. Depending on experience, duties may
include resighting color banded birds, capturing Smith’s using mist-nets
and other methods, conducting point counts of all avian species, and
recording vegetation data at nest sites. In addition to participating in
the field research, volunteers may have the opportunity to see grizzly
bears, wolves, red fox, musk ox, moose, and other arctic species. I am
looking for enthusiastic volunteers available from the last week of May
through mid-July, 2012. Applicants must be willing to work in a remote
location and be in good physical condition. An appreciation of the
outdoors is essential as is an upbeat attitude because we often spend
10+ hours hiking across rugged terrain in challenging weather with lots
of mosquitoes while carrying heavy field equipment. Housing (either in a
rustic cabin or camping) and food is provided along with transportation
from Fairbanks. Qualifications: Prefer candidates with bird expertise,
especially individuals with banding or nest searching experience. Also
prefer applicants with experience in remote field camps. Some training
is necessary prior to field season including bear safety, firearm use,
and CPR. If interested please contact HEATHER CRAIG, (EM: hrcraig AT alaska.edu).
Please include resume with references, cover letter
(include why you want to spend your summer in the Arctic and what you
think you will gain from working on this project), and any prior DOI
trainings.      posted jan 24

WATERBIRD BREEDING BIOLOGY STUDIES IN THE ARCTIC at USGS - Alaska Science Center Location: northern Alaska Duration: 3-4 months Job Type:
Temporary Number of Openings: 4. Application Deadline: 31 Jan 2012. Job
Description: Hiring 4 people for field work on waterbird breeding biology studies on the arctic coast in northern of Alaska. The work is mainly focused on white-fronted geese and yellow-billed loons, but will include multiple species of waterfowl and loons. Work will include searching for and monitoring nests, trapping females to collect body measurements and tissue samples, and marking birds (some with GPS loggers), tagging young, behavioral observations, and vegetation sampling to assess forage quality. Work will likely begin in early May and likely continue through the end of August or early September. We will provide more detailed information upon request. Qualifications:
Prefer individuals with experience working with waterfowl and loons, work in remote field camps and arctic. To Apply: send email with resume and references to (EM: tfondell AT usgs.gov).     posted jan 11

ARCTIC ALASKA AVIAN FIELD BIOLOGISTS – NEST MONITORING CREWS. Field
Associates (3) and Crew Leader (2) needed from 25 May to 25 July 2012 to
participate in a project with the Wildlife Conservation Society studying
nesting productivity in a suite of tundra-nesting birds (primarily
shorebird and waterfowl species). One 3-person crew will work in an
oil-developed area near Prudhoe Bay and a 2-person crew will work in a
remote region near the Ikpikpuk River in the National Petroleum Reserve
- Alaska. Duties include re-establishing study plots, conducting nest
searches (using both rope drag and behavioral nest search techniques),
monitoring discovered nests for survivorship, floating eggs to determine
age, conducting surveys for potential nest predators, collecting snow
cover and habitat data, and data entry. The Ikpikpuk crew will also
assist another crew trapping and banding shorebirds species, and with
insect sampling. The Prudhoe Bay crew will access study plots in the
oilfields using a vehicle and will interact with oilfield personnel on a
daily basis. One of the Prudhoe Bay field associates will focus on a
separate side-project identifying nest predators at active nests of
tundra-nesting shorebirds and passerines using 15 motion-triggered
cameras. This position will require maintenance of Reconyx® camera
systems and relocating cameras to new nests when the previously
monitored nests are no longer active, and be responsible for managing
the data (downloading predation events, data entry, etc.). Preferred
applicants will have good bird identification skills, solid
nest-searching experience, and be familiar with using a compass, GPS,
and Micro-soft Excel. At the Ikpikpuk site preferred applicants will
also have some banding / bird handling experience, outdoor
camping/wilderness and firearms experience. Applicants must be
enthusiastic, in excellent physical condition and willing to hike many
miles each day in hip boots, and be able to work independently as well
as with others for long hours in, sometimes, difficult field conditions.
Field conditions will often be wet and cold, then buggy later in the
season. Applicants must be comfortable working in bear country. At
Ikpikpuk, employees will be working out of a remote field camp (tent
living) for approximately 7 weeks (with 2-3 other people) and will be
expected to participate in camp set-up and maintenance. Employees will
be paid a monthly stipend of $1200 - 1800 depending on experience.
Travel/hotel costs within Alaska will be provided. For the Prudhoe Bay
crew, room and board (at facilities in the Prudhoe Bay oil field) will
be provided. Essential camping gear will be provided for at the Ikpikpuk
site. Travel to Alaska will be partially covered ($500 voucher) by WCS.
Please send a cover letter, resume and at least three references (with
contact information) by email to JOE LIEBEZEIT (EM: jliebezeit AT
wcs.org). *Please send application materials as a SINGLE MICROSOFT WORD
DOCUMENT*. A valid driver's license is required for the Prudhoe Bay
crew. A B.S. degree in wildlife ecology or a related field is preferred,
but not required. Non-U.S. citizen applicants must have (or obtain) a
social security number. Include in your cover letter any relevant
experience and your interest in applying for this position. Application
deadline: April 15, 2012 although hiring will begin AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.      posted Jan 9

ARCTIC ALASKA AVIAN FIELD BIOLOGISTS – ARTIFICIAL NEST EXPERIMENT /
OILFIELD REHAB. Field Associates (1) and Crew Leader (1) needed from 25
May to 25 July 2012 to participate in two projects with the Wildlife
Conservation Society in an oil-developed area near Prudhoe Bay. For
Project 1 we will conduct an artificial nest experiment assessing
predation rates near and far from oil field infrastructure. For Project
2 we will assess breeding bird usage of rehabilitated sites previously
disturbed by oil drilling activity. Duties will include placing
artificial shorebird and duck nests along transects and monitoring them
for nest survivorship. A subset of artificial nests will be monitored
with remote cameras. For the rehab project, duties will include nest
searching and monitoring, floating eggs to determine age, area search
surveys and behavioral observations of all bird species at both rehab
and undisturbed sites. Micro-site habitat characteristics will we be
measured using a bird-centered vegetation sampling approach. Data entry
and proofing will also be required. The crew will access sites in the
oilfields using a vehicle and will interact with oilfield personnel on a
daily basis. Preferred applicants will have excellent bird
identification skills, solid nest-searching experience, and be familiar
with using a compass and GPS. Applicants must be enthusiastic, in
excellent physical condition and willing to hike many miles each day in
hip boots, and be able to work independently as well as with others for
long hours in, sometimes, difficult field conditions. Field conditions
will often be wet and cold, then buggy later in the season. Applicants
must be comfortable working in bear country. Employees will be paid a
monthly stipend of $1200 - 1800 depending on experience. Travel/hotel
costs within Alaska will be provided. Room and board (at facilities in
the Prudhoe Bay oil field) will be provided. Travel to Alaska will be
partially covered ($500 voucher) by WCS. Please send a cover letter,
resume and at least three references (with contact information) by email
to JOE LIEBEZEIT (EM: jliebezeit AT wcs.org). *Please send application
materials as a SINGLE MICROSOFT WORD DOCUMENT*. A valid driver's license
is required. A B.S. degree in wildlife ecology or a related field is
preferred, but not required. Non-U.S. citizen applicants must have (or
obtain) a social security number. Include in your cover letter any
relevant experience and your interest in applying for this position.
Application deadline: April 15, 2012 although hiring will begin AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE.        posted jan 9

ARCTIC ALASKA SHOREBIRD DEMOGRAPHICS PROJECT – Field Associates (2) and
Crew Leader (1) – needed from 25 May to 25 July 2012 to participate in a
study with the Wildlife Conservation Society and the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service on a project assessing breeding population demography
of shorebird species nesting in tundra habitat in Arctic Alaska. We will
target two species (Semipalmated Sandpipers and Dunlin) although other
species may be studied. The main duties will include conducting nest
searches (using both rope-drag and behavioral techniques), floating eggs
to determine age, monitoring nests for survivorship, trapping birds
using bow nets or mist nets, placing both color-bands and USFWS metal
bands on birds, collecting basic morphometric information, and
resighting color-banded birds (using both binoculars and spotting
scopes). We will also collect feather and blood samples from all
captured birds for future genetic studies. Other duties will include
insect sampling (using terrestrial pitfall traps and aquatic sweep net
sampling), setting up a weather station for automated climate data
collection, categorizing nesting habitat type, and data entry. One of
the field associates will work ½ time on a separate side-project
identifying nest predators at active nests of tundra-nesting shorebirds
and passerines using 15 motion-triggered cameras. This position will
require maintenance of the Reconyx® camera systems and relocating
cameras to new nests when the previously monitored nests are no longer
active, and be responsible for managing the data (downloading predation
events, data entry, etc.). The crew will be located at a field site in a
remote location accessed by bush plane (near the Ikpikpuk River).
Another crew of 2 working on a separate project will also be stationed
at this camp. Employees at this site will be working out of a remote
field camp (tent living) for approximately 7 weeks and will be expected
to participate in camp set-up and maintenance. Preferred applicants will
have outdoor camping/wilderness and firearms experience. Preferred
applicants will have excellent nest-searching ability and bird
handling/trapping experience, and be familiar with using a compass, GPS,
and Micro-soft Excel. Applicants must be enthusiastic, in excellent
physical condition and willing to hike many miles each day in hip boots,
and be able to work independently as well as with others for long hours
in, sometimes, difficult field conditions. Field conditions will often
be wet and cold, then buggy later in the season. Applicants must be
comfortable working in bear country. Employees will be paid a monthly
stipend of $1200-1800 depending on experience. Lodging and travel within
Alaska will be provided and food costs will be covered upon arrival to
the field site. Essential camping gear will be provided for. Travel to
Alaska will be partially covered ($500 voucher) by WCS. A B.S. degree in
wildlife ecology or a related field is preferred, but not required.
Non-U.S. citizen applicants must have (or obtain) a social security
number. Please send a cover letter, resume and at least three references
(with contact information) by email to JOE LIEBEZEIT (EM: jliebezeit AT
wcs.org) in a SINGLE MICROSOFT WORD DOCUMENT. Include in your cover
letter any relevant experience and your interest in applying for this
position. Application deadline: April 15, 2012 although hiring will
begin AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.        posted jan 9

Revised Application Procedure – ALASKA WATERBIRD TECHNICIANS at
Location: Fairbanks and Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska.
Duration: May 15 – flexible end date of August 31 to September 30, 2012.
Job Type: Seasonal. Number of Openings: 2. Application Deadline: 31 Jan 2012. Job Description: Seeking 2 technicians with an interest in wetland and avian ecology to assist with a research project examining effects of climate change on boreal wetlands. Technicians will be based in Fairbanks, Alaska and employed by the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Yukon Flats is one of the most remote and pristine areas in interior Alaska, offering a wilderness experience with a great diversity of nesting waterfowl and other bird species. These positions offer an excellent opportunity to experience a remote Alaska wilderness setting, learn bird and aquatic invertebrate identification, and gain knowledge of ecological sampling techniques.
Technician time will be split amongst two major tasks: 1) field work in the refuge, and 2) lab work in Fairbanks. Field work will be conducted on the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska. Major field duties
include: waterbird surveys, water quality sampling, aquatic invertebrate sampling, collecting waterfowl young, and setup and maintenance of a remote field camp. Personnel are required to carry firearms in the field for bear protection. Camp life is primitive and refuge access is by float plane. Lab duties include the identification and quantification of aquatic invertebrate samples. The wetlands contain a high diversity of invertebrate taxa and will thus provide technicians with extensive experience identifying aquatic invertebrates. Technicians will be trained in invertebrate identification, including the use of dichotomous keys and basic invertebrate ecology. Qualifications: Applicants are sought with a strong interest in waterfowl/wetland ecology, a desire to live in a remote field camp for extended periods, and the ability to maintain a positive attitude under difficult field conditions including hot and cold temperatures, long days hiking through wet heavily wooded and brushy habitats occupied by mosquitoes, flies, and brown and black bears. We are also looking for personnel whom enjoy hiking and paddling and are in good physical shape. Waterfowl identification skills and remote camping experience are desired. Lodging, transportation and pertinent field gear will be provided by the refuge. Fairbanks, located in the heart of Alaska, is well-situated to provide technicians with ample opportunities to explore Alaska’s wilderness during their off-time. Watercraft, aircraft, firearms, first aid and bear safety courses are provided. To apply: Applications must be submitted through the Student Conservation Association (SCA). You do not need to be a student to apply - all are welcome. Please review the SCA website to learn how to apply for SCA internships. SCA will provide interns with roundtrip airfare to Alaska, $110 per week, and $1415 - $5350 of credit towards student loans or future tuition. We will provide all lodging for your stay in Alaska and all food when we are in the field. Our posting at SCA can be found by going to the home page (www.thesca.org), clicking on the link for 'search internships', and then simply restricting the state field to 'AK' and clicking search. The position reference number
is: PO-00070063. Applications should be submitted no later than Jan 31,
2012 and early applications are strongly encouraged. Interested applicants are also encouraged to contact the supervisor, TYLER LEWIS, to express their interest (EM: tllewis AT alaska.edu. PH: 907-699-8008). posted jan 2

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