Anilladores y asistentes para seguir la migración de rapaces en el río Veracruz (México)

Raptor Banders and Assistants needed to the Veracruz River of Raptors Project Season 2017

The Veracruz River of Raptors (VRR) well known as the project that counts the biggest raptor migration in the planet seeks experienced raptor banders to help with the Raptor Banding Station, positions will be needed from August 15th till November 23rd.

Live one of the greatest raptor migration in the world in the well-known project Veracruz River of Raptors. Travel to this spectacular site and enjoy the wonder of birds and insects´ migration. You will also be able to learn about other resident and local birds. Interact with local people and local biologist´s and naturalist´s. You will also have the opportunity to approach the culture and of course the real Mexican food.

Our banding station is located at the top of a costal sand dunes, in the site locally called as “Dunas de Cansaburro”, in this site we trap around 400 raptors (majority Coopers and Sharp-shinned Hawks), we used to trap Gray Hawks, Aplomado, Peregrine Falcons, Harriers and Swainson’s in less numbers.

All selected applicants will also help setting the banding station, and will help to clean and maintain working and living facilities in good conditions, capture data in our databases if needed. Need to be comfortable working and sharing a room with other people, be flexible, very pro-active, and be comfortable working in small towns and rural conditions. Need to work in team and be collaborative. Willing to help in other activities (like attending visitors during our bird festival or in environmental education activities). Hot temperatures and mosquitoes are expected.

The living site (Chihicaxtle) is located not too far from the ocean and the mountains where birding hot spots are available with more than 250 bird species, endemics such Mexican Sheartail Hummingbird, White-bellied Wren, lots of raptor species are near observation areas, we use to organize trips to the mangroves to get 5 species of King-fishers, Sungrebes, Black-collared Hawks, in the cloud forest we can see 3 species of toucans, Oropendolas, Motmots and many other species (look for info at Ebird.com about hot spots near Chichicaxtle).

Staff will be based in Chichicaxtle and Cardel, small towns of Veracruz. Accommodation in rural conditions will be provided. Monthly salaries: Banders 8000 ($400 USD aprox) to 10000 Mexican Pesos $500 USD aprox), for Assistant $6,000 Mexican pesos (300 USD aprox) to $8,000 Mexican Pesos (400 USD aprox), all according to experience and skills, this is a life experience.

Selected people will cover their own transportation to Veracruz Airport. Medium knowledge of Spanish is required but no necessary upon experience.

Main responsibilities:

· Setting up the banding station
· Fix all traps
· Data entry
· Interact professionally with visitors, conservation agencies, staff, and the general public
· Enjoy migration and birding in Veracruz
· Trapping and banding migratory raptors

What is included?
· Housing equipped (no bed sheets provided).
· Insurance during working period
· Pick up in the airport
· Project orientation
· In country emergency support
· Diploma of Participation
· Several moments with hundreds of birds per minute!
· Pre-season training

To Apply:

Send to rioderapaces@pronaturaveracruz.org a letter of interest and your CV highlighting relevant raptor banding experience for counters and monitoring birds for assistants, include three references with full name, charge, email addresses and if possible phone number, in subject line write: Bander assistant 2017 or Bander 2017.

Once we review your papers and considering that you cover the requirements, we will setup an interview. If you do not receive communication from us means that you were not selected for interview.