VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED FOR A FINE SCALE FEEDING BEHAVIOUR PROJECT ON HUMPBACK WHALES IN AUSTRALIA
The Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Lab at the University of Queensland is seeking applications from volunteers for a 5 week behaviour study on humpback whales from September 09 to October 15 this year. The study will be conducted at Eden, New South Wales (about 6 hours south of Sydney). The study will examine the fine scale feeding behaviour of humpback whales using D-tags, focal follows, acoustics and land based observations of behaviour. Volunteers are required mainly to conduct land-based observations of the whales as they pass our study site. This area is unique as it represents a supplementary feeding area for humpback whales while on migration to the main feeding grounds in the Antarctic. We will also have a boat based team that will be deploying D-tags to look at the underwater behaviour and acoustics of the feeding whales. Although the volunteers may get the opportunity to go out on the boat, opportunities for the volunteers to participate in boat work are limited and most time will be spent doing the land-based observations. Volunteers will spend approximately six hours daily counting and observing passing whales from the headland and will get at least one day off per week, usually during bad weather. Volunteers will be expected to work and live as part of a team of people with shared cooking and cleaning duties. They must organise and pay for their own transport to the study site (Eden is a 6 hour drive from Sydney, 7.5 hour drive from Melbourne- flights available to Merimbula (20 mins from Eden) from both Sydney and Melbourne airports) but food and accommodation are provided once in Eden. As meals are communal, fussy eaters are discouraged from applying (vegetarians are fine). This project will suit people with a background in science (including recent graduates and graduate students as well as higher level undergraduate students) keen to gain experience in cetacean survey techniques. Applicants should also be highly motivated and able to concentrate for several hours at a time. Those with previous survey experience, particularly of marine mammals, will be preferred. Applicants should reply with an email to Kylie Owen ([email protected]) outlining why they would be suitable for this survey, why they would like to participate, an outline of previous relevant experience, and any other relevant details. The email should include an attached CV and the names and contact details of two professional referees, and should be ccd to Rebecca Dunlop ([email protected]). The closing date for applications is the 1st of July and successful applicants will be notified by the 5th of July.
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