May 13, 2007
Summer Volunteer Opportunity Studying California Sea Lions at Ano Nuevo Island
Photo by Chris HaugenThis opportunity has nothing to do with diving, at least not in water, but it's too cool not to post. I've also been inspired to post it because a few years ago, while attending a fancy winery luncheon, I met a woman, now a doctor and married to a prominent NY PR agent, who said the best time of her life was spent on Ano Nuevo Island while a grad. student at UCSC. Now here's your chance to create some awesome olfactory-based lifetime memories. Usual Disclaimer: Note that I am posting this as as courtesy to the prinicipal investigators. Please do not contact me re: this volunteer position. Their contact info is toward end of this post.
We are seeking a volunteer to study California Sea Lions on Ao Nuevo Island this summer. This is observational work, re-sighting sea lions that have been tagged and branded at San Miguel Island. The work will begin on June 1st and run through July so you will still have August and September free. Guy Oliver will work with you in June and Pat Morris in July. We know most of you are still in classes but we would expect you to begin the day after your last final. The position is three days per week. In June this will usually be MWF and in most of July it will be M-Tu, staying overnight on the island (we have a bunk house and a kitchen, you need to provide a sleeping bag), and then either Thur. or Fri. You could have a job on the weekends or else with a very, very flexible schedule. Some weeks weather may force us to shift our schedule.
This work requires a medium amount of brute strength (ability to lift about 75 lbs.) since we must move boats and engines to reach the island. It also requires a high level of tolerance for dirty and smelly conditions. During the summer Ao Nuevo Island is home to four species of pinnipeds and a dozen or so species of sea birds. It is a mini-Galapagos in our own back yard, but all these animals produce copious quantities of poop. The work involves crawling through poop on the ground while being bombed with guano from above. The work necessitates great patience as well. Much of the time you will be sitting in a blind scanning a beach full of sea lions who are all sleeping, and you'll have little to do. At other times there will be a frenzy of activity. If you do not enjoy just watching animals, it's not for you. This job is most reminiscent of two kids games - "Where's Waldo?" and "How many jellybeans are in the jar?" so you should like both. You should also know that Ao Nuevo Island is cold, foggy and windy in the summer. We generally wear 3-5 layers of clothes.
A wetsuit and booties or old sneakers are necessary for crossing to the island. If you are of average size we may be able to find a 'loaner' wetsuit for you, otherwise you will need to provide your own and you will almost certainly need to provide footwear (unless your feet happen to be the same size as mine).
During some of the nights that we stay over, you will work all day with us and then you will work during the evening (9-12) catching seabirds (Rhinoceros Auklets) with biologists from Pt. Reyes Bird Observatory.
If you are interested in this volunteer opportunity, please contact both of us, Pat Morris, at pamorris@ucsc.edu 429-5342, and Guy Oliver at oliver@ucsc.edu 458-4121 as soon as possible. We plan to interview in the latter half of next week (May 16-18). Some opportunities for single day volunteers in the first half of June may be available as well.
Pat & Guy
Posted by Dida at May 13, 2007 6:02 PM
