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Positions

Volunteers Needed: volunteers to help with our brown kiwi (Apteryx mantelli) project
Other
Posted May 15
I am looking for volunteers to help with our brown kiwi (Apteryx mantelli) project for periods of about 6 months (or more). This is a unique opportunity to work with a fantastic species, contribute to its conservation and acquire/refine field, lab and office skills needed in a career as a biologist/ecologist/conservationist. 
   
I lead a long term project studying many aspects of kiwi biology and behaviour. A great deal of this research is carried out at one location where brown kiwi are present at high density. The volunteer will do field, lab, and/or office duties. I am open to the background of the volunteer, but a degree in an area of biology and/or experience doing this type of work will be favourable. The brown kiwi programme may involve a number of students and other people at various times, but it is conducted in an isolated area. Therefore, the volunteer needs to be able to relate to others and be a team player but also be able to work on its own, be self-reliant and self-motivated, and be able to cope with periods of time alone in the field. The work will involve night work from June-January each year, so the volunteers need to consider whether s/he is comfortable with working in the dark. The volunteers will be fully trained to perform all required activities (especially those involving direct contact with birds as per New Zealand’s regulations), but past experience will be beneficial. The candidate must be fit as we work on hilly terrain, and able to walk up to 20km+ per day at times. An enthusiastic attitude and good work ethic is essential. I will cover costs of accommodation/transport and basic food needs at the study site, but volunteers will need to cover all other costs. I am happy to discuss possible research projects that the volunteers may want to do while with us if those can lead to publications. 
    
Field duties include several types of monitoring of kiwi depending on time of the year, and work will include marking new shelter, nests, and various other sites, and other field related activities as needed (possibly including bird handling). Study birds (50) are monitored via ‘smart’ radio transmitters (VHF technology), also through motion activated cameras and autonomous recorders. During the breeding season nests and later chicks are also monitored using a range of techniques from radio telemetry to egg candling to direct observation. In the office the volunteer will organise videos and extract some data from them, and will be able to perform other lab or computer work depending on what is happening in the field. 
    
 If you are interested please write directly to me [email protected] explaining your interest and circumstances, providing a CV and the contacts of two referees that can give me a verbal opinion regarding your abilities and personality.