Job announcement
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University of Freiburg

application deadline: not specified
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Field assistant to study a cooperative breeding system in South America

We are looking for a highly motivated field assistant to join us working on the breeding system of the endangered El Oro parakeet (Pyrrhura orcesi).
The apparently cooperative breeding system is studied for the first time in this species. Until now cooperative behaviour has been seldom observed in parakeets and our work focuses on the factors underlying the development of delayed dispersal and cooperative breeding.

More details about the project can be looked up at:
www.biologie.uni-freiburg.de/data/bio1/schaefer/

Fieldwork will take place at Buenaventura reserve (www.fjocotoco.org) near Pinas, southwest Ecuador.

Fieldwork includes capturing birds with mist nets and inside artificial nest boxes, taking morphometric measurements and blood samples, banding of birds and field observation of parakeet flocks. The parakeet flocks are distributed throughout the whole reserve and adjacent areas, therefore long and exhausting daily treks across the foothills of the Andes are unavoidable. Fieldwork will be done during rainy season and we will work 5-6 days a week. Moreover, batteries (~3kg) for nest cameras have to be changed every two days. The project will cover the costs for flight and accommodation at the reserve. If required, a letter of recommendation will be draw up.

The position is available from January until end of April 2010.

If interested please send an email with a short CV and application letter (why you are interested) to:
nadine.klauke@biologie.uni-freiburg.de