Bird Show Intern

Tracy Aviary is seeking an applicant for a six-month Bird Show internship starting April 2024 in our Bird Programs department. The successful candidate will be positive; outgoing; motivated; interested in working in a fast-paced, dynamic department; able to take direction and work as part of a close-knit team. The Tracy Aviary bird show collection consists of approximately 40 birds that are trained for free-flight demonstrations and public programs. The collection includes raptors, vultures, hornbills, corvids, softbills, waterfowl, and more. Tracy Aviary prides itself in providing excellent care and welfare for our birds and an environment for our guests to engage in interactive opportunities that inspire action and devotion to birds, locally and around the world.

The internship will provide education and practical experience in the following skills:
•Care and maintenance of the show bird collection and facilities.
•Observations on health and behavior of the bird show collection.
•Proper handling techniques for all birds in the bird show collection.
•Operant Conditioning skills for training show behaviors as well as husbandry behaviors.
•Providing environmental enrichment for the education collection.

•How all of the above come together to influence avian welfare.
•Public speaking skills in formal shows and informal trainer’s talks and educational presentations.

During this internship, you will work alongside the trainers and will be responsible for habitat cleaning and maintenance, diet prep, and creation of enrichment for our ambassador birds as well as maintaining the bird show facilities. Interns may have the opportunity to assist trainers in the training of new behaviors and the maintenance of already established behaviors as well as participate in both our indoor winter shows and outdoor summer shows.

During the 6-month internship, classes in the following subjects will be held: Medical Procedures, Training, Choice and Control, Artificial Incubation and Egg Development, How to get a job in the Zoo field, Public Speaking, and Perching Essentials. The internship is 40 hours a week, from 7:00am – 3:30pm with two consecutive days off. The Aviary provides housing and a small monthly stipend. Interns receive similar on the job training to any new staff member. This is a great opportunity to gain zoo and exotic animal experience.

Required Competencies

1.       Values Feedback: Ability to graciously accept and provide feedback in an honest and kind manner understanding feedback is necessary for learning and growth.

2.       Lifelong Learner: Has desire to continually learn and grow the skills and competencies necessary for managing birds in human care using the most positive, least intrusive, effective methods.

3.       Flexible: Ability to handle a dynamic workload while also maintaining composure in an environment that can be stressful.

4.       Independent: Must be able to operate independently, exercise initiative, and demonstrate capacity for detail and follow-up.

5.       Positive: Must be a positive, effective team member and be able to establish and maintain professional working relationships.

6.       Communicator: Communicates clearly, both verbal and written. Effective listening skills.

7.       Critical Thinker: Ability to make decisions while under pressure or work through problems that arise daily.

8.       Innovative: Ability to propose solutions to challenges as well as suggestions for overall improvement in efficacy of our work.

9.       Efficient: Ability to complete tasks in a thorough but quick manner.

10.   Team Player: Collaborates with supervisors and team to achieve bird care, welfare, and programming goals.

If you are confident and outgoing, hardworking, and interested to lay a solid foundation for a career in avian care and show presentation, please send cover letter, resume, and work references.

Tracy Aviary’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (JEDAI) Statement:

At Tracy Aviary, the beauty and diversity of birds and nature is valued.

In the same spirit, there is commitment to providing a safe haven for people in all their diversity to engage, learn, and connect with nature at our facilities and through our programs.

All staff should strive to be increasingly respectful and responsive to this broad diversity of people and partner with the community to co-create opportunities to connect with nature and each other.

Diversity, equity, accessibility, inclusion, and justice are requisites for institutional excellence. Tracy Aviary is an environment in which staff can bring their whole selves and are supported through mentoring, growth opportunities, and recognition of their value as part of this organization.

Staff, partners, and volunteers should embrace Tracy Aviary’s core values and extend these values to our guests and community.

*Diversity is defined in this case as the quality of being different or unique at the individual or group level. This definition encompasses all people including but not limited to people of different ages, languages, ethnicities, gender identities, nationalities, immigration statuses, parental statuses, abilities, learning styles, races, religions, sexual orientations, socio-economic statuses, education levels, and more.

To apply, please send resume and cover letter to:

Helen Dishaw
Curator of Bird Programs
helend@tracyaviary.org