Job Postings

Birds Intern (Species Survival Center)

Facility

Audubon Nature Institute

Closing Date
January 18, 2020
Description

The husbandry team at Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center is seeking applicants for a bird internship. Position includes onsite housing.

Location: Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center (FMASSC)

Department: Husbandry

Dates of Position:
Summer: May/June – August
Fall: August/Sept – October
Winter: Nov/Dec – January
Spring: Jan/Feb – April

Application Due Dates:
For Summer 2019 session: March 1, 2019
For Fall 2019 session: May 15, 2019
For Winter 2019 session: August 15, 2019
For Spring 2020 session: October 15, 2019

Time Commitment:
Option 1: 12 weeks (3 Months)
Option 2: 24 weeks (6 months)
Works 5 days per week (40 hours). Including weekends and holidays.

About the Species Survival Center:
The Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center (FMASSC) is one of the facilities run by the Audubon Nature Institute. It is a unique piece of property that expands approximately 1,000 acres in an area south of downtown New Orleans. The FMASSC is historically known for its innovative research in exotic feline reproduction at its research facility, the “Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species (ACRES),” and its endangered Crane Recovery Programs. Currently FMASSC runs several programs, including; the Coastal Wildlife Network, which rehabilitates sea turtles and marine mammals; the Crane Recovery Programs, which breeds and releases endangered whooping crane and Mississippi sandhill cranes; the G.U.L.F. Program, which works with sustainable fishery projects in the Gulf of Mexico; and the most recent, the Alliance for Sustainable Wildlife (ASW). The Alliance for Sustainable Wildlife is the new partnership between Audubon Nature Institute and San Diego Zoo Global; its mission to become a large breeding center for endangered species of hoofstock and birds. Phase II of this new program will be under construction in 2019.

Summary of Position:
Interns will gain valuable hands-on experience working with a collection of about 80 endangered whooping cranes and Mississippi sandhill cranes and other various bird species at this AZA certified facility. Interns will gain experience in husbandry, enrichment, record keeping, diet preparation, monitoring animal behavior, assist in egg processing, costume-rearing of chicks, artificial insemination, pen design and maintenance, and veterinary procedures as they relate to general animal care. This internship is unpaid and free housing is available upon a limited basis.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Daily tasks include, but are not limited to:

Diet preparation
Feeding
Cleaning enclosures (raking, sweeping, mopping, hosing, etc.)
Behavioral observations
Facility maintenance (fence repair, mowing, weed eating, painting, etc.)
Helping maintain and service incubators and the eggs within
Wearing heavy denim costumes while walking, feeding, cleaning around chicks
Preparation and administering of enrichment items
Assist staff with veterinary procedures when required
Requirements:

A sincere interest in birds
Strong interest in animal care, husbandry and conservation
Comprehensive understanding of avian imprinting and it’s relation to costume rearing
Capable of accurately following written and verbal directions, policies and protocols
Good attitude and solid work ethic
Ability to work alone or as part of a team
Ability to work outdoors in physically demanding adverse conditions (heat, humidity, rain, biting insects, poison ivy and snakes, etc), limited visibility, lift 50 lbs.
Up-to-date tetanus vaccination and proof of negative TB skin test prior to work
Must be able to pass a background check and drug test
How to Apply:

Send the following to Richard Dunn, rdunn@auduboninstitute.org by the application deadlines listed at the top of the page.
Cover Letter – please state which internship session you are applying for in your cover letter.
Resumé
3 Reference Contacts

Education and Pre-requisites

Not specified.

Compensation and benefits

Not specified.

Application instructions

Not specified.