Whooping Crane Chick Rearing Internship

The International Crane Foundation (ICF) is looking to fill four Whooping Crane Chick Rearing Internship positions for 2019.

Positions are between 6-8 months in duration pending funding; with preferred start dates in April.

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. ICF’s world headquarters is located just outside Baraboo, Wisconsin, one hour north of Madison. ICF participates in captive breeding and rearing of Whooping cranes for release in the two reintroduction programs.

Description: Whooping Crane Chick Rearing Interns will receive training and assist in the intensive care and management of raising endangered crane chicks, specifically Whooping Cranes for captivity and release. Primary duties include:

• Facilities set up, daily maintenance and end of year clean-up
• Following strict isolation chick rearing protocols at all times
• Maintaining equipment in good working order including costumes, boots, puppet heads, recorded brood calls, speakers, brood models, heaters, thermometers, fences and wooden dividers
• Daily cleaning of runs, carpets and food and water bowls.
• Providing clean, dry food and appropriate treats as learning opportunities for chicks to develop necessary foraging skills in runs and yards
•  Providing fresh water in runs and yards
• Wearing costumes when interacting with chicks, encouraging them to eat, drink, forage and teaching crane life skills
• Remembering and recording chick behaviors, feeding sessions and management changes
• Caring for adult crane role models
• Weighing and recording chick weights
• Entering and reading daily records
• Expect to spend between 1-6+ hours wearing a costume while exercising and socializing chicks without talking
• Communicating with staff and other members of the team by participating in morning meetings, using whiteboards and daily log

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Aviculture Internship

The International Crane Foundation (ICF) is seeking to fill four Aviculture Internship position for spring 2019.

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. ICF’s world headquarters is located just outside Baraboo, Wisconsin, one hour north of Madison. ICF exhibits the only collection in the world of all 15 species of crane; however, due to exhibit renovations ICF is closed to the public in 2019. The Crane Conservation Department is responsible for the care and management of approximately 120 birds year-round. CCD Aviculture interns assist the full-time staff in the day to day management of the collection. For more information, please visit our website at www.savingcranes.org.

Duration:  Six-month internship; two positions starting in March, two positions starting in April.

Description: Aviculture Interns will gain valuable hands-on experience working with the ICF Crane Conservation Department and will:

• Develop husbandry skills related to daily cleaning and feeding of the flock
• Learn and practice safe crane handling and restraint techniques
• Conduct breeding behavior observations and learn to identify crane behaviors and vocalizations
• Acquire an understanding of captive propagation including participation in artificial insemination, egg incubation and chick rearing
• Achieve experience planning, designing, implementing and evaluating a behavioral modification program (enrichment or training based)
• Assist with routine crane facility maintenance activities
• Learn about ICF project initiatives related to crane ecology, behavior and husbandry, field conservation and ecology, and ecosystem restoration techniques and processes.
• Have the opportunity to volunteer with other departments at ICF.
• Assist in the completion of one or several projects related to the goals, work plan and objectives of the ICF Crane Conservation Department as time allows (e.g. help with behavioral monitoring; data entry and analysis; research related projects, etc.).

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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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