Crane Conservation Outreach Internship

The International Crane Foundation (ICF) is seeking to fill two Crane Conservation Outreach Intern positions in 2019.

ICF Background:
ICF is a leader in the conservation of the world’s 15 crane species and is dedicated to providing experience, knowledge and inspiration to involve people in resolving threats to cranes and the ecosystems vital to their long-term survival. Although ICF has projects all around the world, the headquarters is located in Baraboo, Wisconsin, one hour north of Madison, Wisconsin.

Description:
The primary duty of the Crane Conservation Outreach Intern will be to assist the Conservation Education Department and Whooping Crane Outreach program and will:

• Use the principles of interpretation to educate and inspire people of all ages and walks of life by providing crane education and outreach programs in Wisconsin. This includes visits to public and private schools, homeschool groups, civic organizations, hunting groups, gun clubs, birding groups and other organizations. Most of this work will take place in Wisconsin, but there may be opportunities to work in other states.
• Assist staff at the International Crane Foundation in outreach efforts to raise awareness about cranes in Wisconsin, including the endangered Whooping Crane. Outreach efforts include media interviews, assisting in organizing awareness events, and fundraisers and other duties as needed.
• Assist in the completion of one or several projects related to the goals, work plan and objectives of the Conservation Education and outreach program (e.g. updating K-12 Whooping Crane education materials, crane trunk program coordination or on-site special events)
• Work with hunters through hunter education classroom and online courses to raise awareness about crane conservation.
• Interact and assist with the sale of merchandise and annual memberships.
• Help coordinate ICF volunteers for outreach programs and other projects.
• Experience planning, designing and evaluating interpretive programs and written materials, and graphic design.
• Learn about ICF project initiatives related to crane ecology, behavior and husbandry; field conservation and ecology; and ecosystem restoration techniques and processes.
• Gain exposure to wildlife conservation methods and endangered species management.
• Meet and work with a variety of international colleagues and professional staff at ICF.
• Have the opportunity to volunteer with other ICF departments, state, federal and private partners and participate in job shadow experiences at ICF.
• Educate and inspire people of all ages and walks of life about the world’s 15 crane species and the ecosystems on which they depend.

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Crane Research Internship

Background: The International Crane Foundation (ICF) is a leader in the conservation of the world’s 15 crane species and is dedicated to providing experience, knowledge and inspiration to involve people in resolving threats to cranes and the ecosystems vital to their long-term survival. ICF’s world headquarters is located just outside Baraboo, Wisconsin, one hour north of Madison, Wisconsin. ICF exhibits the only collection in the world of all 15 species of crane. For more information about our conservation programs, please visit our website at www.savingcranes.org.

Description: The North America Program at the International Crane Foundation is currently involved in studies of Greater Sandhill Cranes and re-introduced Whooping Cranes in the upper Midwest.  Interns will assist in studying the foraging ecology, movements and social behavior of these breeding and non-breeding cranes throughout central Wisconsin. Current Sandhill Crane projects include the study of nest success and chick survival as it relates to different habitat variables, which will consist of observations of colored banded individuals, capture and banding of adult and juvenile cranes and radio-telemetry.

Whooping Crane work focuses on research of habitat use by breeding pairs and movements and associations of juveniles and adults, particularly associated with the release of captive-reared chicks into the wild. There may also be opportunities to capture Whooping Cranes for banding and transmitter replacement. Radio tracking of free-ranging Whooping Cranes will be required mainly in the central/southeastern part of the state; however, travel into others states may also be necessary.

Other responsibilities include developing and presenting an independent research project, data entry and ecosystem restoration work (prescribed burns, seed collection and invasive species control) on ICF’s site. Opportunities may also be available for volunteering for the conservation education and aviculture staff at ICF. (more…)