Interpretation/Eider (Sea Duck) Husbandry Intern

Internship will meld two completely separate learning activities. The day is divided into 4 hours of husbandry and 4 hours of interpretation.

The eider husbandry portion is in the morning when they can assist the husbandry staff in all the morning chores. These included: daily cleaning of the enclosures, daily feeding of the ducks, maintaining data records, and assisting with any spontaneous chores that needed completion. (These depended on whether it was egg season or duckling season.) 

 

The 4 hours of interpretation learning activities change daily depending on staff present and activities taking place that day. Interpreters maintain the different stations around the center e.g., touch tank, aviary, and activity desks; give planned and scripted PowerPoint presentations to the public, and lead Behind the Scenes tours. Each day is some combination of the tasks above. The nature of this Internship gives you far more knowledge about the Eiders than other interpreters, the goal is to learn and share with others. In this position you will also become familiar with the other birds, invertebrates and the mammals are housed at the Center. Under the guidance of Eider and Interpretation staff, the intern will be trained and expected to perform the following duties:

 

·        Perform daily animal diet preparations and routine cleaning of animal enclosures, work area, and wet lab.

·        Make daily observations of the breeding behaviors, health, and condition of the research eiders

·        Assist researchers with data collection relevant to the breeding season and current research projects.

·        Maintain records, and photo database.

·        Assist in enclosure maintenance, breeding season set up and take down which will include moderate to strenuous physical activity, lifting up to 50lbs.

·        Assist in the care of breeding pairs, eggs, and duckling rearing. This may entail irregular work hours.