Volunteer field assistants in Panama

VOLUNTEER FIELD ASSISTANTS (2): behavioral ecology of lance-tailed manakins in Panama. Two positions are available 15 Feb to 20 Jun 2010 for an ongoing behavioral study of female mate choice in lance-tailed manakins (Chiroxiphia lanceolata) in Panama. Females of this small, lekking bird "shop" among males that display in cooperative pairs on dispersed display territories. The successful applicant will be involved in work investigating questions such as how indirect genetic benefits affect female mate choice, why dominant males tolerate subordinate cooperators, and how male experience affects display performance. Responsibilities will include resighting color-banded birds, daily maintenance of an automated telemetry system, conducting many hour-long behavioral observations at display sites, extensive radio-tracking, nest-searching through dense secondary-growth dry tropical forest, and mistnetting birds for banding and blood sampling, as well as data entry and organizational tasks. Experience in one or more of these areas is strongly preferred. Applicants should have a very strong interest in animal behavior, birds, and field biology. The field crew of four people will live and work on a remote island off of Panama's Pacific coast and share one-room housing, and can expect to have no internet access and poor cell phone reception for up to two weeks at a time: experience working in isolated field settings and/or living in close quarters is highly desirable. Conversational Spanish ability is strongly preferred for this position. Work on this field site is particularly difficult due to steep terrain, extreme heat and humidity, long hours, mentally taxing tasks, poisonous snakes, eccentric locals, and tons of ticks. Applicants should be enthusiastic, physically fit, and emotionally grounded. Expect to work long days (6am-6pm six days a week), be woken at 4 am by howler monkeys on a regular basis, and see some amazing bird behavior. Upon successful completion of the field season, assistants will be reimbursed for round-trip airfare to Panama (max of $1000). Food, housing, and required transportation within Panama will be provided. For more information on the research, see (URL: http://www.bio.fsu.edu/faculty-duval.php). To apply, send: 1) coverletter explaining your motivation and suitability to work on this project, 2) resume, and 3) email and phone numbers of three references familiar with your field skills, personality, and motivation to: DR. EMILY DUVAL, Florida State University Department of Biological Science, (EM: ehduval AT gmail.com), and cc the application to crew leader SAMANTHA LANTZ (EM: samlantz AT gmail.com). Please use the subject line "Lance-tailed Manakin field assistant application." Review of applications will continue until positions are filled.