Volunteer Opportunity: Field Assistant (Australia)

Volunteer field assistant for fairy tern (Sternula nereis) fieldwork, Melbourne, Australia, Aug/Sep 2021 – Jan/Feb 2022. Deadline to apply: 5/30/2021.

We are looking for 1 or 2 dedicated volunteer(s) to assist with breeding season monitoring and research on superb fairy-wrens at Lysterfield Park in Melbourne, Australia. This coming season will be the 6th year studying the wrens at Lysterfield! The study site is only a 30min drive from Monash University, Clayton. The park is renowned for their mountain biking trails and kangaroos. Many different species of birds can be spotted throughout the season and snakes and skinks are abundant during the warmer months! Our research lab is studying a wide variety of social and physiological aspects about the wrens; the lab website talks more about some of this research https://sites.google.com/site/petersresearchgroup/ and http://monash.edu/science-stories/story/follow-the-birds/.

Volunteers will be expected to go to the field 5 days a week and must be flexible/willing to work long days. The timing of days off will vary with weather conditions and breeding activity. Primary activities will vary throughout the season, but will included, color-band reading, nest searching, behavioural observations, mist netting, data entry and watching of nest camera footage. The wrens build small, well-hidden, domed nests in thick vegetation, thus experience nest searching under such conditions is preferred. Furthermore, field volunteers must have enthusiasm for early mornings, birds, and full-color vision. Vehicle for transportation to and from field site is helpful but not necessary. Participation in scientific publications is possible and encouraged.

All work for this project will be able to proceed even under any Covid-19 restrictions, should these return, as the work is local and social distancing requirements can easily be met.

Fieldwork will start in early September 2021 (dates can be flexible) and run for ~5 months (end date can also be flexible). For candidates not located in Melbourne, the cost of accommodation and local transport will be covered; subsistence and/or travel to Melbourne may be partially covered, depending on experience and availability. For local applicants, or those not requiring flights or accommodation, equivalent reimbursement will be arranged.

For more information and/or to apply, please send (1) CV and (2) a statement that highlights relevant experience to Jenna Diehl, at Jenna.Diehl@monash.edu, subject; SFW volunteering, by May 30th at the latest; applications will be reviewed as they come in, and positions can be filled earlier. For general enquiries about the research in the group, this or other projects and/or further opportunities (e.g. PhD projects), contact group leader, Anne Peters, anne.peters@monash.edu).