Técnico de investigación ornitólogo en Hawaii

Aviary technician needed (1 position) to study game bird ecology as part of a seed dispersal study on the island of Oahu, Hawaii.

Forest ecosystems of the Hawaiian Islands have increasingly faced threats of species extinction and biological invasion, resulting in novel communities composed of native and non-native species. Although many native Hawaiian plants rely on birds for seed dispersal, nearly all native frugivorous birds are extinct. In the last century, the Kalij Pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos) and Erckel’s Francolin (Pternistis erckelii) were introduced to the Hawaiian Islands for recreational hunting. We are investigating the ecological impacts of these two species on seed dispersal networks.

Technician will primarily be responsible for conducting gut passage experiments with captive birds to assess seed condition (germination rate) after fruit digestion. Additionally, technician will assist with fieldwork, including capture and banding of wild birds, abundance surveys, vegetation surveys, fecal sample collection, camera trap deployment, and data entry. Fieldwork will involve long days of strenuous hiking and heavy lifting in temperamental weather conditions.

This research is a part of the Hawaii VINE Project, a collaborative research effort seeking to determine how well different species of non-native vertebrates disperse native plant species.

Start date is early April, 2018. The duration of this position is at least 4 months, with the potential to extend. We will provide housing, a living stipend of $1,000 per month, and access to vehicles.

REQUIREMENTS: A bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology, zoology, ecology or a related field and at least two years of field experience pertaining to wildlife biology or botany are required. Applicants MUST have experience with captive wildlife research or greenhouse experiments, and be responsible, organized, and comfortable working independently.

TO APPLY: Please email a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references as a single PDF document to Sam Case (Sam.Case.Hawaii@gmail.com) by February 1st, 2018. A phone number and email address must be included for each reference.