Field assistants for a long-term study on extra-pair mating in a passerine

Field assistants are needed from early May to early August to study the extra-pair matings of a medium sized passerine - Hair-crested Drongo (Dicrurus hottentottus) - in central China. We start this project from 2008 with ~70 colour-ringed pairs monitored in each year. This project is focusing on the trade-off for males between providing parental care and pursuing extra-pair matings. We found attractive males decrease incubation attendance only when they have more extra-pair mating opportunities (# nearby fertile females). And their partners incubate more to make a compensation. This year we will test whether sexual selection play a role in this process. The assistants will work with a postdoc from Australian National University & Sun Yat-sen University for the whole breeding season. Duties will include nest searching, mist-netting and banding birds, blood sampling, manipulating the condition of parenting birds, tracking bird movement with GPS tag, behavior observation and record, as well as any other works involved in the field. Previous experience with birds is preferred and basic training such as mist-netting and bird banding will also be provided. Personal study project that under the general project is supported. Volunteers are expected to spend near three months on the work, have strong interest in avian behavior, physically fit and be willing to work for long and irregular time in the field, and share rooms with others. All expenses in China during work period (i.e. housing, foods, and local travels, etc) will be covered, but there is no salary, and the assistants are responsible for their travel to and from China. Volunteers will have opportunities to learn avian field research skills, see many Chinese endemic bird species (for example Reeves's Pheasant), and experience the Chinese tradition and culture.

To Apply:
Please send a cover letter (highlighting the date you could come and the period you could stay) and a resume (including the names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of at least 2 references) to Dr. Lei Lv (EM: lvlei1004@gmail.com). Feel free to contact Lei with any questions you might have.

Number of Openings:
4