Nature Travel Specialists

 

Volunteer & Research Wildlife & Nature Travel Opportunities by Country

 

We don't list opportunities here in the US except Hawaii and Alaska. However, we do list mainland US opportunities on our US wildlife volunteer travel pages, mostly bird jobs/internships for students and recent graduates.

We haven't included specific opportunities from environmental volunteer websites such as Ecovolunteer for the sake of space - go directly to their sites - see our volunteer travel page for these.

We keep these opportunities on the list for longer than they may be available, as we are not told if they are filled, but don't want to eliminate them if they are still open. We apologize if you apply and find it was filled a few weeks earlier.

As the countries & opportunities keep changing you'll need to click on through to check if there's a country you're interested in. There's only 5 or 6 pages so it won't take long.

Please note that due to spammers trolling for email, all email addresses are written with the word AT, rather than with @; they are not live hyperlinks. Web links are live.

 

 

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Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumor Disease         

 

 

Hawaii & Pacific Territories

 

Hawaii

AVIAN DISEASE INTERNSHIP at United States Geological Survey. Website:
http://www.usgs.gov/ecosystems/pierc/research/whzd.html Location:
Volcanoes National Park, HI. Duration: 4 months starting in early January, 2013. Job Type: Intern. Number of Openings: 2. Application
Deadline: 2 Nov 2012. Job Description: We are seeking 2 intern for 4 months starting in early January, 2013 to assist in island-wide field surveys for introduced avian disease (avian malaria and pox virus) on the island of Hawaii in State Forest Reserves and Volcanoes National Park. The internship will be based at Volcanoes National Park in conjunction with research conducted by USGS and the Pacific Islands Ecosystems Research Center. We will be mist-netting native and non-native birds, banding and collecting morphometrics, blood samples, as well as examining birds for ectoparasites. The other field portion will be dedicated to surveying for pig activity, available mosquito habitat, and mosquito prevalence at each site. Housing will be provided within the National Park and a small stipend for food expenses will be provided (roughly $23/day). Qualifications: Previous mist-netting experience is recommended. Recent certification in CPR and Wilderness First Aid training is desirable.Candidates need to be in good physical condition and will be expected to camp in a field setting for up to 4-10 days at a time, hike with packs (40-50 lbs.) over rough terrain, in inclement (at times, very wet and cold) weather. To Apply: To apply, please send a cover letter and your resume to (EM: jgaudioso AT usgs.gov).      posted Oct 7

WILDLIFE TECHNICIAN (SEABIRD CONSERVATION)--Department: Environmental
Permitting & Compliance. Location: Island of Maui, Hawaii. First Wind is
an independent North American wind energy company focused exclusively on
the development, ownership and operation of wind energy projects since
2002. First Wind is committed to the communities it works with to
achieve the most efficient and economic wind generation projects in
North America. Job Purpose: Responsibilities will include assisting with
and coordinating seabird conservation activities at a newly established
mitigation site in West Maui, Hawaii. This project supports the
mitigation requirements for 2 operating wind energy generation
facilities on the island of Maui. Kaheawa Wind Power (KWP) is the first
wind energy project in the United States to implement a Habitat
Conservation Plan (HCP) under state and federal endangered species laws.
A second project planned adjacent to the existing project (KWP II) will
be implementing similar provisions under a new HCP. Key provisions of
both HCPs include developing and implementing management actions that
will promote the survival and reproductive success of Hawaiian petrels
(Pterodroma sandwichensis) and Newell’s shearwaters (Puffinus newelli)
and result in a net conservation benefit for both species. The project
entails the installation of two separate predator-free fenced
enclosures, eradication and control of predators inside the protective
enclosures, installation of artificial nesting burrow structures and
social attraction, and frequent operational and biological monitoring.
Principal Responsibilities **Working alongside the project leader, plan
and perform regular inspections of the fenced enclosures to identify and
repair breaches and/or damaged sections; make repairs as necessary.
**Establish and maintain an intensive trapping grid targeting the
eradication of mongoose, feral cats, and rats inside the protected
enclosures and within buffer zones outside the enclosures;. **Install
artificial nesting burrow structures and social attraction media
(vocalization playback system and decoys) and maintain these in
functional working order. **Monitor and document visitation, prospecting
and breeding activities by the target species and evaluate project
success. **Assist with site rejuvenation as necessary which may include
native plant procurement, layout and installation. **Record detailed
field notes, create and maintain computer data bases, summarize and
analyze monitoring data, and generate periodic and annual reports of
results. **Coordinate with contractors, collaborators, and agency
officials as necessary. Qualifications ** Bachelor’s degree in an
applicable field required (biological science, wildlife
ecology/management, environmental biology, natural resources, or a
closely related discipline). **3-5 years of professional work experience
related to natural resource management, seabird conservation, wildlife
and/or habitat enhancement, and ecological assessment. **Proficient with
GIS and GPS and with the interpretation and use of map and earth imagery
data products. **Prior experience working with colonial nesting seabirds
and habitats, field survey techniques, bird banding and handling, and
knowledge of regulatory provisions associated with threatened and
endangered species is required. **Self-motivated, able to work
independently and in a team setting, and willing to occasionally work
extended hours in the field. **Ability to safely perform field survey
work, operate hand and power tools, and exercise good judgment in remote
locations. Much of the work will be during the day, but frequent night
work and other atypical hours will be required. **Communicate
effectively with supervisors, project staff, contractors, collaborating
scientists, and regulatory agency personnel. **Demonstrate and/or
develop working knowledge of the conservation principles of HCPs, state
and federal regulatory requirements pertaining to threatened and
endangered species, and relevant conservation strategies that are likely
to promote project success. Personal Attributes Essential for Success at
First Wind **Integrity and accountability. **Communicate with honesty
and respectful candor. **Make and honor well thought out commitments.
**A collaborative style and a can-do attitude. **Passionate and
enthusiastic about alternative energy and wildlife conservation. To
submit a resume, please visit First Wind’s career page at
http://www.firstwind.com/about/careers . You may want to bookmark this
page as First Wind will be hiring additional staff in Hawaii for similar
positions throughout the year.     posted feb 2

HABITAT CONSERVATION PROGRAM MANAGER – First Wind, Department:
Environmental Affairs. Location: Honolulu, HI. Job Purpose: First Wind
currently owns and operates two wind energy projects in Hawaii (Kaheawa
Wind Power on Maui and Kahuku Wind Power on Oahu) with two more projects
under construction (Kaheawa Wind Power II on Maui and Kawailoa Wind
Power on Oahu). All four projects are implementing Habitat Conservation
Plans (HCPs) to offset impacts and provide a net conservation benefit to
wildlife and their habitats under state and federal endangered species
programs. We are seeking a Principal Scientist and Program Manager to
oversee the implementation of the HCPs, as well as the potential
development of future HCPs, for all of our Hawaii projects. This
position is based in our Honolulu, HI office, although considerable
in-state travel and off-site work will be required. Implementing the
four existing HCPs includes: on-site monitoring programs to document
fatalities of covered wildlife; monitoring wildlife use of the sites
(mainly birds and bats); evaluating and advising on continued impact
avoidance and minimization measures; and implementing off-site
mitigation and wildlife conservation measures to ensure a net
conservation benefit is realized for all covered species. The HCP
Program Manager will report to First Wind’s Vice President,
Environmental Affairs. Principal Responsibilities: **Principal
responsibilities will be to manage implementation of First Wind’s HCP
program in Hawaii, currently consisting of four HCPs for wind energy
generating facilities located on the islands of Oahu and Maui. Specific
responsibilities will include: **Supervising approximately 15 staff,
including Senior Biologists, Biologists and Technicians at multiple
operating wind energy facilities and off-site mitigation sites around
Hawaii. **Ensuring that all HCP obligations are fulfilled including
monitoring, mitigation, measurements of success, reporting, and adaptive
management. **Planning and overseeing on-site fatality monitoring,
scavenger control and vegetation management programs. **Planning and
overseeing on-site wildlife activity monitoring. **Annual budget
planning and tracking. **Effective coordination with state and federal
wildlife agencies. **Effective coordination with the Operations Manager
and staff at each operating project. **Retaining and managing
contractors and consultants as needed to support HCP obligations in a
cost-effective and scientifically defensible manner. **Participating in
industry conferences, training, and other events. **Supporting community
relations activities and participating in public outreach and education
programs. **The incumbent may also be called upon to support
environmental permitting and compliance for new projects under
development in Hawaii. This may include analysis and siting of
prospective project areas, permitting and compliance activities, and
managing consultant and internal permitting and compliance teams.
Qualifications: **Master’s Degree or PhD in Environmental Science or
Management, Wildlife Biology, Natural Resources Management, or a closely
related technical field. **Minimum of 10 years of experience managing
environmental and biological staff in the implementation of wildlife
monitoring and assessment, data analysis, and reporting, preferably
related to wind energy or renewable energy. **A demonstrated knowledge
of and experience with federal and state endangered species regulations;
ecology and management of Hawaii endangered seabirds, water birds and
bats; wildlife monitoring and assessment principals; NEPA and Hawaii
Chapter 343 processes; and wind energy permitting and compliance issues.
**Experience in the design and efficient execution of wildlife
monitoring, mitigation and management activities. **Experience
supervising wildlife and biological field staff. **Strong proficiency in
the analysis and interpretation of wildlife monitoring data.
**Problem-solver with an ability to work collaboratively with project
teams and regulators. **Experience overseeing third-party consultants,
including contracting, scoping, and managing project budgets and
schedules. **Working knowledge of site management, erosion/sedimentation
control, storm water management, and basic civil engineering concepts.
**General understanding of issues facing renewable energy development in
Hawaii. **Strong organizational and communication skills. **Highly
motivated, enthusiastic and committed team player. **Willingness to
travel frequently within Hawaii, and occasionally to the mainland.
Personal Attributes Essential for Success at First Wind: **A
collaborative style and a can-do attitude. **Comfortable with a
fast-paced, dynamic work environment. **Ability to make informed
decisions quickly. **Passionate and enthusiastic about alternative
energy and wind. **Integrity and accountability. To submit a resume,
please visit First Wind’s career page at
http://www.firstwind.com/about/careers . You may want to bookmark this
page as First Wind will be hiring additional staff in Hawaii for similar
positions throughout the year.       posted feb 2

     

 

 

Ongoing in Hawaii

AVICULTURE INTERNS wanted for the Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Program (HEBCP). The HEBCP operates two captive propagation and research facilities – the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center (KBCC) on the Big Island of Hawaii and the Maui Bird Conservation Center (MBCC) on the island of Maui – with the goal of preventing extinction and promoting recovery of endangered Hawaiian avifauna. Daily duties include: diet preparation, cleaning and maintenance of aviaries and facilities, behavioral observations of breeding birds, record-keeping, grounds-keeping & predator control. Applicants must: **Display enthusiasm for working in aviculture and bird conservation. **Be at least 21 years old and be able to live with several roommates in a remote area. **Have a valid driver's license and health insurance.
Internships last for a 3-6 month period. Interns receive $20/day stipend, plus housing. For more information on internships, please send a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references to: (EM: hebcpinternship AT gmail.com). Please indicate in the subject line which center you are interested in (or both). Or mail application to: JEREMY HODGES at KBCC, P.O. Box 39, Volcano, HI 96785. Amy Poopatanapong at MBCC, 2375 Olinda Road, Makawao, HI 96768.

 

 

 

 

Africa           Alaska         Asia          Australia & South Pacific         Canada 

Central America         Europe         Hawaii & North Pacific         South America         Rest of World

Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumor Disease