PARC research projects involve hands-on experience in studies of avian ecology. Interns for PARC will not only have an opportunity to engage in meaningful research activities but will also have the satisfaction of knowing they played a key role in enable PARC to expand their existing program in the future. Interns may participate in any of the research projects listed under Research Projects.
Requirements: Interns need no prior experience with birds, but should have an interest in learning songs and in-hand identification. Interns will be required to develop an educational project associated with the work they did for PARC.
PARC internships are volunteer positions.
SPRING INTERNSHIP INFORMATION: 1. Program training: view bluebird nest box program slideshow and review mission of the project. 2. Build nest boxes, make necessary repairs and clean all current boxes in the field. 3. Classroom visits to fifth grade classrooms and other community organizations as scheduled. 4. Habitat Survey: Perform one habitat survey at a nest box location. Habitat surveys include vegetation description and spatial analysis. 5. Maintain a daily log of natural history notes, lunar phases and weather conditions for each work day. 6. Assist with banding of nestlings and data entry for Band Manager (USGS data file) 7. Create a new resource for the PARC website
SUMMER INTERNSHIP INFORMATION: MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) is a constant effort banding project developed by the Institute for Bird Populations. In this effort, breeding birds are monitored on their summer nesting areas using bird banding techniques to enable researchers to track birds from year to year. Habitat surveys are a very important tool also in tracking population changes. PARC has been involved in this continent wide effort since 2000. 1. Program training: Intern will attend training on the use of mist nets, banding techniques, handling of live birds, and the protocol of the study. 2. Intern will help run four constant effort mist netting stations during the summer. The season is broken down into ten day periods, and each station will be visited at least once in every period. 3. Time commitment for each station runs from 6-8 hours including station set-up, tear down, banding and data entry. 4. Habitat Survey: Intern will propare a habitat survey for each station during the last week of July. Habitat surveys include vegetation description and spatial analysis. 5. Maintain a daily log of natural history notes and weather conditions for each work day in the field. Breeding bird surveys will be completed for each station. 6. Intern will assist with the data entry for Bandit (USGS data file) 7. Intern will create a project of her/his choosing. PARC naturalists must approve the project. Project ideas may include a written paper, exhibit, display, slide show or any other format.
AUTUMN INTERNSHIP INFORMATION: Project Owlnet is a continent wide study of the fall migration patterns for the Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus). In the past decade, a loose knit band of researchers has formed the Project Owlnet research team, created a web site with information (www.projectowlnet.org) and shared their findings in the current literature. In our six week season, we will capture, band and release saw-whet owls along their yearly migratory pathway. We hold a variety of education classes for the public at our research station, and we endeavor to share as much as we can about these and other nocturnal creatures. PARC has been involved in this continent wide effort since 2000. 1. Program training: Intern will attend training on the use of mist nets, banding techniques, handling of live birds, and the protocol of the study. 2. Intern will help run one northern saw-whet owl mist netting station from 1 October – 15 November. 3. Time commitment for each night of effort runs from 4-6 hours (from 7-11 p.m.) including station set-up, close down, banding and data entry. 4. Habitat Survey: Intern will prepare a habitat survey for the station during October. Habitat surveys include vegetation description and spatial analysis. 5. Maintain a daily log of natural history notes and weather conditions for each work day in the field. Vocalizing birds will be listed on the daily journal sheet will be completed for each station. 6. Intern will assist with the data entry for Bandit (USGS data file)
Interns will create a project of her/his choosing. PARC naturalists must approve the project. Project ideas may include a written paper, photo exhibit, display, slide show or any other format