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Volunteer Opportunities Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex
Location: Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex – stationed at Morton National Wildlife Refuge, Sag Harbor, NY The Long Island NWR Complex, headquartered in Shirley, NY, encompasses nine units, totaling nearly 6,500 acres. The primary purpose for each is to benefit wildlife. These nine units protect many of the Island’s habitat types critical to migratory birds, endangered species and other wildlife. Long Island’s strategic location—situated in the Long Island Pine Barrens and along the Atlantic Flyway—provides important nesting, wintering and migratory stop-over areas for hundreds of bird species. Each unit is unique in wildlife species, habitat and management programs. Morton NWR, a 187-acre peninsula, boasts exceptionally diverse habitats. Sandy and rocky beaches fringe the peninsula, while wooded bluffs overlook the bays. Morton consists of upland forest, ponds, salt marshes, beach, a lagoon and grasslands. These habitats provide for a variety of wildlife including close to 300 species of birds including least terns, osprey and the federally threatened piping plover. Located on the east end of Long Island, the nearby village of Sag Harbor feels more like a New England fishing village than the Hamptons. Amagansett NWR, a 36-acre refuge, graces the shore of the Atlantic Ocean on Long Island's south fork. Its unique double dune system, one of the few coastal beaches remaining undeveloped on Long Island, embodies marine sand beach, primary dunes, secondary dunes, swales, and oak scrub vegetation. In the spring and summer, the secondary dunes and swale complex display an impressive array of wildflowers, grasses, and orchids. ----- Position Title: Piping Plover/Tern Steward Intern Duties: This internship will afford individuals the opportunity to develop research skills and to study wildlife management techniques through actual field research. Interns will help collect data and monitor populations of the threatened piping plover and least terns on Morton National Wildlife Refuge and Amagansett National Wildlife Refuges in western Suffolk County, New York. Duties include: weekly population surveys, nest searches, behavioral observations, nest monitoring, and predator monitoring. There will be many instances where the student will have the opportunity to participate in other ongoing refuge management programs and studies as well as visitor services-related assignments. The intern is expected to work 40 hours/week with minimal supervision. Valid drivers license necessary, government vehicle provided for work hours. Required work schedule will include 5 days/week, including weekends. Shifts will be limited to 8 hours, but will be flexible, sometimes beginning at 6 am and sometimes ending at 8 pm. Position Dates: Start: Mid-May; Ending: Mid-August (Approximately 12 weeks). Qualifications: B. Desired Background: Experience working with shorebirds, waterfowl, and wading birds or a background in ornithology, or general biology; ability to record detailed observations in field notebook. Training: All training will be OJT, (on-the-job-training) with wildlife biologists and management staff. Salary and Housing: Stipend $320/week plus free housing ----- Position Title: Visitor Service Intern Duties: The Visitor Service Intern will be responsible for operating the visitor contact station at the Morton NWR in Sag Harbor, NY as well as conducting outreach activities at Amagansett NWR in Amagansett, NY. In addition, the interns will develop and conduct educational and interpretive programs for the visiting public as well as other informational material. The interns will be responsible for conducting outreach to the local community to advertise the educational and recreational opportunities available at the refuge. These duties provide interns with the opportunity to reach diverse groups of people with a knowledge and appreciation of the environment and the National Wildlife Refuge System. Opportunities to assist with natural resource management activities will be highlighted and encouraged including endangered species management of threatened piping plovers. There will be many instances where the student will have the opportunity to participate in other ongoing refuge management programs and studies as well as visitor services-related assignments. The intern is expected to work 40 hours/week with minimal supervision. Valid drivers license necessary, government vehicle provided for work hours. Required work schedule will include 5 days/week, including weekends. Shifts will be limited to 8 hours, but will be flexible, sometimes beginning at 6 am and sometimes ending at 8 pm. Position Dates: Start: early June; Ending: early September (Approximately 12 weeks). Qualifications: B. Desired Background: Experience speaking in front of groups, knowledge of animal and plant identification. Training: All training will be OJT, (on-the-job-training) with visitor services specialists and management staff. Salary and Housing: Stipend $320/week plus free housing ----- How to Apply: Interested applicants should send a cover letter and resume to: Azucena Ponce, Wildlife Biologist Closing Date: February 15, 2009 Contact Information: Azucena Ponce, email: Azucena_Ponce@fws.gov
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