Field volunteer for avian behavioral ecology in north-eastern China

We are looking for volunteer field assistants for our study of behavioral ecology in Daurian redstarts in north-eastern China. Daurian redstarts, a common host of the common cuckoo, normally breed near human residence. In previous studies, we found that redstarts are more likely to be parasitized by cuckoos with increasing distance to the nearest building. By a combination of field observations and manipulations, we showed that redstarts actively choose to place their nest in the vicinity of a human residence as a defense against cuckoos. However, breeding proximity to humans means increased level of human disturbance. How the redstarts respond to such a variation in human disturbance? Whether bold individuals are more likely to breed closer to humans? Whether smarter females are more likely to reject the parasitic egg? We will try to answer these questions in this breeding season.

The volunteers will be working with a crew of 6-9 people, including students and other volunteers. Duties include identifying color-ring-banded individuals, searching for and checking nests, catching and banding birds, deploying a tag on some adults, observing behaviors and conducting experiments (such as sound playback, exploratory behavior, neophobia, and flight initial distance) etc.

The field work will be conducted from 1 April to 1 August, 2024. The volunteers can join the project at any time, but those with a minimum stay of two or more months are preferred.

The projects will cover all work-related expenses during the volunteering period (i.e. housing, foods, and traffics, etc.), but there is no salary, and the assistants are responsible for their travel to and from China. Volunteers will have opportunities to learn field skills of ornithological research, see many Chinese birds, and experience Chinese food, tradition and culture.

Qualifications:

1. Strong interest in wildlife research, especially birds and animal behaviors;

2. A background in biology, ecology or a related field. Previous experience with birds is preferred, but not essential (basic training, such as mist-netting, behavioral observation and motorbike driving, will be provided).

3. The field work is mainly conducted in a village (sometimes in surrounding forests), so the working condition might be not so hard, but we still need you to be physically fit for field work and willing to work for long and irregular time in the field.

4. We rent a house in the village. We hope can get used to it and Chinese diet, and be willing to share rooms with other crew members.

To apply:

If you are interested, please contact Dr. Jinggang Zhang (jgzhang2015@gmail.com). The application should include (1) a short resume or CV, (2) the dates you will be available for the project and (3) the names and contact information of at least two references.