This position is eligible to receive university credit for an undergraduate student in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Tulane University. Housing in Grand Isle, Louisiana will be provided. Audubon’s WINGS internship program invites students to help shape a healthy environment and vibrant future for birds – and all of us who share the planet with them.
The Coastal Bird Intern will learn from experts in the field of conservation and avian ecology, while gaining exposure to research, monitoring, and education techniques. The Coastal Bird Intern will support National Audubon Society’s Coastal Bird Stewardship Program in Grand Isle, Louisiana.
Supervised by Audubon’s Louisiana Stewardship Manager, and working closely with Audubon’s Coastal Bird Technician and a Tulane University Ph.D. Candidate, the Coastal Bird Intern will gain practical skills in field ornithology, outreach, and education, and have opportunities to intimately study and protect charismatic species like Least Terns and Wilson’s Plovers.
Students looking to receive university credit will develop their own independent research project, and work with Dr. Caz Taylor and a Ph.D. student at Tulane University in Fall 2021 to analyze data collected during the summer internship.
The goals of the program are to locate and buffer nesting sites against the threats of human disturbance while incorporating members of the community into bird protection efforts through volunteer opportunities, and by providing outreach and education to visitors.
The program will have a strong bird-monitoring component, which will involve tracking nests, chicks, and their fates to understand the impacts of human disturbance, predation, and other environmental stresses on breeding productivity.
Time, eligibility, and other details
| Expected workload | See site for more details |
| Skills required | Must be working towards a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Tulane University; Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills; Must be willing to work long hours outside under physically demanding conditions (hot, humid, biting insects); Must be comfortable interacting with the public and staff of multiple partner organizations; Must have strong organizational skills and great attention to detail; Valid driver’s license and reliable personal vehicle are strongly recommended; Must be willing to work and stay overnight at provided housing on Grand Isle, LA. |
| Who is eligible | All NTC students |
| Core partners | Audubon Louisiana |
| Sponsoring party | Audubon, Faculty |
| Volunteer, Paid, or Credit-eligible? | credit-eligible |
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