This project is part of a larger study of geographic variation in avian life history. Work focuses on locating nests, monitoring nest fate, measuring developmental periods and growth rates, video-monitoring of parental behaviors, and banding and following color-banded pairs through successive reproductive attempts. This work is conducted in Yacambu National Park.

LATIN AMERICAN STUDENTS, especially Venezuelan (but from anywhere in South America), interested in learning to conduct these kinds of field activities are strongly encouraged to apply (we will train). U.S. STUDENTS: please note that nests are difficult to find in this environment and only highly experienced assistants are sought with most of the U.S. assistants hired on this project being ones that gained experience on the Arizona project first. I strive to hire a roughly equal number of Latin American and U.S. assistants.

To APPLY: Please send a letter of interest describing your experience at nest-finding (including descriptions of the kinds of habitats and bird species) and/or mist-netting and banding, plus 2 letters of recommendation to Ania Majewska, field supervisor.

Yacambu National Park (brief description)
Accomodations
Work schedule and conditions
Personal equipment
Vaccinations
Travel tips and communication	Masked Trogon - Photo by James Muir

Accommodations
We live in the center of the Park near the Park Guards. The Park is highly supportive of this work and allows us to rent two small cabins (I cover these costs - the only cost to assistants is food). There are three bedrooms in each cabin with bunk beds in each room, but they are not in the greatest of shape, so be sure to bring a sleeping bag. In the cabin there is also a kitchen, a bathroom (with hot shower), and a living room. Outside the cabin there is a beautiful view of the park and a large open area. Obviously, living in the park has many advantages including close access to study sites, increased security for the equipment, and lots of beautiful scenery right outside our doorway.
There is electricity at the cabin for the evening hours only. This electricity is to run lights and recharge our electronic equipment. There will be a few electrical outlets available for use. The outlets are the same type used in the United States (two flat-prong 110 volts).

A local woman prepares lunch for us each day. This is at a cost to assistants of about the equivalent of 4 USD per day (may change slightly with value of the U.S. dollar). Having someone prepare and cleanup after meals has many advantages including increased time for fun (and work of course) as well as reduced problems associated with twelve people in a small kitchen with one stove and limited counter space. Additionally, in the long run this lessens food expenses because cooking for a large group is generally less expensive. Most of the time the main part of the meals are some different type of beef, chicken or fish and soup; however, the cook is willing to accommodate vegetarian needs. Assistants should expect to spend the equivalent of about 125 - 150 USD per month on food, including money for the cook and personal snacks or breakfast items. Water at the camp is generally unsafe to drink; however, we get our water from a local spring where the water is excellent (still we purify this water). There is no refrigeration at the camp, however a cooler and ice can be purchased in town to keep your food fresh.

Everyone will be responsible for a “domestic task,” which may pertain to their cabin or the group welfare. Some of the duties include fetching drinking water, preparation of filming equipment, generator maintenance and house cleaning.

The weather forecast during the field season is: rain followed by more rain. Plan on GETTING WET EVERY DAY (and bring appropriate rain gear - see Personal Equipment).

TOP

Work Schedule and Conditions

Work schedule consists of a 12-day work period followed by a 2-day break, followed by an 11- day work period followed by a 3-day break During work period one group trip will be made to Sanare in order to purchase groceries and make phone calls. Plan on staying in camp for 6 days at a time.

During breaks, assistants have the option of staying in the park, Sanare, or Barquisimeto. Assistants that choose to leave the site and go to either of these places usually stay in a hotel. In Sanare, there is a really nice place to stay that costs about 15 US dollars per night for two people. There are probably cheaper places to stay in Sanare. In Barquisimeto, be prepared to pay upwards of 30 US dollars per night for a decent place to stay. Many people also choose to go on tourist trips during some breaks and the central location of the field site relative to many of Venezuela’s great tourist spots makes this an excellent choice for break. Buses from Barquisimeto will take assistants to most places they want to visit.

In an effort to test hypotheses we are engaged in descriptive and experimental activities. Descriptive activities include: nest searching and monitoring to determine nesting success and clutch size; videotaping activities at nests to determine parental attentiveness and feeding rates; measuring egg mass, nestling growth and development; banding and recapturing breeding birds to determine renesting rates and adult survival. Assistants are responsible for participation in each of these areas of work. The supervisor or a graduate student will perform experiments on your plot depending on which species you find. Beginning the first day of work, assistants will be trained how to search for and monitor tropical bird nests. Skilled nest searchers will need less instruction. We will also have reviews of nest monitoring methods, accurate data recording, and nest videotaping protocol. See protocols entitled: “Venezuela nest card protocol”, “Nest Searching Techniques in Venezuela” and “Venezuela nest monitoring tips”. PLEASE PRINT THESE OUT AND BRING ALL WITH YOU TO THE SITE, but read them several times BEFORE arriving at the field site.

Soon after the beginning of the field season, each assistant is given their own plot to work on for the remainder of the project. Assistants will be working independently during at least seven hours on their plots. Plots vary in size from 20 to 80 hectares and range in terrain: some are fairly flat, others mountainous. Each nest that is found must be checked every 1 to 2 days to determine if it is still active (with eggs or young) or if it failed. Additionally, nests that are near changes in stages (i.e. incubation day, hatch day, fledge day) MUST be checked every day. Careful attention to nest checking is critical for providing information necessary for successful completion of the project. In addition, detailed notes of nest status at EACH check are vital. Previous studies suggest that humans have little influence on predation probability, but we always want to guard against adding biases, so great care is to be taken near nests. Following daily fieldwork, everyone is expected to spend 1 to 2 hours doing some record-keeping paperwork, such as making copies of your daily nest checks and nestling measurements. Record-keeping work is expected to be completed by 5:00 p.m. daily so that activities for the following day can be prepared. Occasionally you will be asked to return to your plot after lunch for an experiment.

TOP

Vaccinations
There are relatively few problems with insects at the site, but mosquitoes can be a nuisance. I recommend that you bring a mosquito net for sleeping. Because the site is high in elevation it is not home to any of the nasty diseases associated with tropical latitudes such as malaria, dengue fever, or leishmaniasis. We have not encountered any poisonous snakes at the park, and the park guards assure us that the park is not home to any poisonous serpents. There are, however, bees that sting. So, if you know you are allergic to bee stings, please take necessary precautions.

TOP

Travel Tips and communications

While in airports and cities always be aware of your luggage, money, and personal identification. For a ton of useful information on Venezuelan customs, city maps, and more, refer to one of the many travel guides available on the market. One that is particularly good is the Lonely Planet Travel series.

The local currency is the Bolivar (or “Bolivar Fuerte” starting in January 1, 2008) and there are hints on exchanging money, hotels to stay in and how to get around initially here.
The study site is remote and the nearest phone is in Sanare (half hour drive from camp site). Public phone are available at “communication centers,” where you are assigned a phone booth.

There is also Internet access in Sanare. There is no way to receive mail.

TOP