The Intern will assist Audubon Mississippi staff with stewardship and monitoring of Least Terns and other breeding bird species on the sandy beaches of mainland and nearshore islands in coastal Mississippi. Interns will be responsible for collecting data relating to courtship and nesting, predation, and other threats. Interns will also be expected to interact with beach visitors on occasion. The ideal candidate will be adaptable to long days on the beach.
This is a full-time, 40-hour per week paid position that runs from early to mid-May through early August, 2018.
Housing is not provided – the intern must live in Jackson, Harrison, or Hancock County area or be willing to relocate there for the duration of the internship at his or her own expense. Interns must also have reliable transportation to and from assigned beach sites as well as the Audubon office in Moss Point as required.
- Assist in setting up study areas. This may include roping and posting off an area, setting out decoys, setting up camera traps, and placing audio playback systems.
- Conduct surveys of predators and human disturbance daily at assigned sites.
- Conduct surveys to count adults, nests, and chicks at tern and skimmer colonies.
- Assist staff with finding and monitoring nests of colonial breeders and plovers.
- Assist with management of volunteer crews and scheduling across multiple survey locations as needed.
- Proof and enter data into Audubon systems.
- The ability to identify common gull and tern species of coastal Mississippi is required.
- Experience in bird monitoring including point counts and nest searches is a plus.
- Working knowledge of coastal and estuarine habitats including coastal wetlands, dredge-spoil islands, sandy beaches, etc. on the Northern Gulf Coast is a plus.
- Willingness to work long hours in harsh field conditions (sun, heat, biting insects), sometimes alone.
- Ability to perform tasks requiring physical exertion, outdoors, in all weather conditions and on difficult terrain while maintaining a positive attitude.
- Ability to lift and carry equipment (e.g. wood posts, rope, etc.) while walking on sand.
- Flexibility in schedule that accommodates weather conditions, with ability to work occasional weekends or holidays.
- Possess a valid driver’s license and a safe driving record.