Nature Travel Specialists

Australia / Pacific Wildlife Volunteer & Research Travel

Pacific Area

Birdlife International has Pacific area volunteer opportunities on their website.

Australia

The Tasmanian Devil is currently facing a threat to its existance from Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease. You can volunteer to assist in monitoring the Devil in Tasmania - go to our Tassie Devil Volunteer page.

Pungalina–Seven Emu Sanctuary Bird Survey, Northern Territory

Birds Australia Southern Queensland will be running a 12-day bird survey in the Pungalina–Seven Emu Sanctuary in the Northern Territory Gulf Coastal Bioregion between 25 June and 6 July 2012. The area, in the Calvert and Robinson Rivers catchments, covers more than 3000 square kilometres. Major ecosystems include savannah woodlands, rocky escarpments and freshwater springs, riverine habitats, cypress pine woodlands, grasslands, saline flats, monsoon forests, swamps and dunes. No wonder the Calvert River and its main tributaries are listed as ‘Regionally Important Wetlands’.
The cost of attending this chance-of-a-lifetime survey is $720 per person, which covers on-site fuel or on-site transport, on-site meals, accommodation (though surveyors are encouraged to bring their own camping gear) and covered working and eating areas. Email or call us for more information and to book a place. We can organize air to Australia and getting to the site, and additional touring if wanted.

VOLUNTEER POSITION, Sexual Selection in Satin Bowerbirds, New South Wales, Australia. Field assistants are needed for the study of mate choice in satin bowerbirds (Ptilonorhyncus violaceus) conducted by Dr. Gerald Borgia’s lab at the University of Maryland, College Park (URL:
http://www.life.umd.edu/biology/borgialab/index.html#complex_male_anchor). The Wallaby Creek study site is in southeastern New South Wales, Australia. This is a long term study of mate choice which follows the success of male bower holders and female visitation at bowers.
Assistants are needed for one of two sessions: the first runs from early Sep through mid-Oct, and the second runs from mid-Oct to no later than 23 Dec (specific dates to be determined). Assistants must arrange for travel to and from the field site. This is an unpaid position, though we will provide food and lodging at the site. Tasks assistants will perform for the first session include, but are not limited to, trapping bowerbirds, locating bower sites and clearing trails. For the second session, duties include monitoring the behavior of bowerbirds at bowers with infrared sensing equipment and camcorders, maintaining equipment and direct observation of bowerbirds. The work is physically demanding and assistants must be focused and flexible in their requirements. Contact: Interested applicants should send (via e-mail) a cover letter, CV/resume and e-mail addresses of three references to: JOSHUA KINER, (EM: jkiner001 AT gmail.com), graduate student, Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD.

VOLUNTEER POSITION AUSTRALIA with seabirds - Position Description: We're looking for one field assistant to help with research on short-tailed shearwaters in Victoria, Australia (Griffith Island and Gabo Island).
Our research focuses on resource partitioning and reproductive success in sympatric seabirds at three locations. Volunteers will be involved in the following tasks: 1. Nest searches and monitoring 2. Capturing and measuring seabirds 3. Transmitter deployment. Qualifications/Experience:
We are looking for a volunteer research assistant with the following
experience: 1. A background in biology/zoology/ecology or related field and/or an interest in behavior, ecology and seabirds. 2. Be physically fit, and capable of undertaking fieldwork. 3. Be reliable, responsible and motivated when it comes to following research protocols and methodologies, and an ability to work at unsociable hours when necessary. 4. Relevant experience of the project's field techniques would be appreciated. Salary/funding: No salary is provided. Therefore you will need to cover your own food and accommodation costs while not in the field. All research equipment will be provided. Volunteer research assistant will also be responsible for their own airfare and travel to Australia and medical/travel insurance. Benefits: This position offers excellent opportunities for viewing seabirds and other wildlife. Positions are available from January – April 2012. For more info, contact: (EM: mberlinc AT deakin.edu.au). To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter to MAUD BERLINCOURT (EM: mberlinc AT
deakin.edu.au) outlining relevant experience. There is no specific deadline and applications will be accepted until position is filled. Posted Oct 31

NEW ZEALAND

VOLUNTEER FIELD ASSISTANT – I am looking for a volunteer from now to the end of December 2011 to help in my study on Tui breeding biology and mating systems at Tawharanui Regional Park, one hour north of Auckland, New Zealand, on the east coast. I will need help with catching Tui using mist-nets, but mainly to help find Tui nests and record nest observations. This would suit someone who could be based at Tawharanui five days a week. Accommodation will be provided for this time.
Alternatively you could be based at the park full-time with free accommodation in the park bunkhouse provided. However in this case you must be willing to volunteer for the park rangers helping out in their duties of looking after the park and its wildlife when not working on this project in order to make up for your stay. This would involve traplines, weeding, interaction with the public etc. I am not able to be at Tawharanui the whole time, therefore the volunteer will be expected to sometimes work by themselves, and therefore must be motivated. Food costs on the days that you work on this project will be provided. The rest of the time it is the volunteer’s responsibility. Due to the reasonably remote location of Tawharanui, your own transport is advised.
Bird handling/mist-netting experience is preferable, although not essential, as all training will be given. Tawharanui Regional Park is one of the few New Zealand mainland “islands” from which all introduced mammalian predators have been eradicated thanks to the building of a predator-proof fence around the peninsula and an intense trapping regime. It is a unique place which is home to many bird species that are threatened elsewhere in New Zealand and are difficult to see such as, North Island brown kiwi, kaka, kakariki, brown teal, North Island robin, whiteheads, and New Zealand dotterels. This is a unique opportunity to see the value of conservation in New Zealand and to learn important practical ecological techniques such as behavioral observations, mist-netting, bird handling, and blood sample collection, as well as conservation management techniques. Please contact me via email at (EM:
s.j.wells AT massey.ac.nz) to know more if you are interested. Please include a CV with any relevant experience. posted oct 20

VOLUNTEER FIELD RESEARCH ASSISTANTS needed for research project on breeding biology and behavior of communally-nesting Pukeko (family Rallidae) on the North Island of New Zealand. One volunteer needed from around Jan 3 2012 to March 30 2012 (dates are flexible).
General Description: Successful applicants will primarily assist with
trapping, marking and conducting behavioral observations (using radio-telemetry, telescope or binoculars). Qualifications: Most importantly must be interested, self-motivated, independent, and willing to work seven days a week, early mornings and long hours in hot, cold, dry and wet field conditions. We will fit time off according to interest/data timing. Other assets include being able to distinguish colored leg bands at a distance in the field and ability to learn new skills quickly. Prior experience with birds preferred but not required. A good sense of humour is also an asset, as we will be spending a great deal of time 1 on 1.
Travel to, and within New Zealand will provided. Accommodation will be provided, but will likely be basic (ranger’s cabin in wildlife refuge). Food may be provided. Email: deycj [at] mcmaster [dot] ca. Please include a summary of your background (CV), your reasons for applying for this position and the names and email addresses of 2 references who can fairly evaluate your qualifications. Applicants must be highly motivated and in good physical condition. This is an excellent opportunity for recent undergraduates considering graduate school or anyone interested in building skills in avian behavioral research. Posted Oct 4.

VOLUNTEER POSITIONS AVAILABLE in New Zealand (Sep/Oct 2011 – Mar 2012; dates somewhat flexible as they will depend on the birds). Our field site is located on an ISOLATED island in the Hauraki Gulf (near Auckland, New Zealand ). We are looking for 2 people to help us study the behavior of wild North Island Brown Kiwi chicks. The accommodations are relatively basic, however we usually have the use of a cabin with running water and electricity, but no heat. The work will primarily involve locating birds using radio telemetry (note Kiwi are a shy, nocturnal, burrowing bird so you rarely see them walking about), nest checks, setting up equipment (mostly cameras) to observe the birds, invertebrate sampling, and habitat surveys. Experience is not necessary but you will need to be fit with a strong back and knees as the terrain is VERY steep and willing to work at night and in cold, wet conditions. Because kiwi have such a long breeding season (8 months+) we will not be in the field the entire time. Trips to the field will usually be between ~2-3 weeks long (sometimes longer again, it will depend on what the birds) with ~1 week break in between. When we are not on the island you are encouraged to explore New Zealand. It is an amazing place and traveling by bus and using hostels/campground means you can do it rather cheaply. If interested please send (1) your CV, (2) the dates you are available (we require a minimum 3 month commitment, but would love it if we could have the same crew for the entire season), (3) contact info for 2-3 references, one of which that can attest to your abilities in the field/outdoors. Please put all this information in the BODY of an email addressed to ALEX WILSON, M.Sc. candidate (EM: lexii_w AT hotmail.com), and DR. SARAH JAMIESON, Post-doctoral Fellow, Massey University (EM: sarah.emily.jamieson AT gmail.com). Please put KIWI VOLUNTEER in the subject line. If you are applying with a friend(s) please send a single group email including everyone’s info and cc your co-applicants. Please note, that these are strictly volunteer positions and we are unable to provide funding for any travel, accommodation, or food costs. The cabin costs $6/night.

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Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumor Disease    

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