January 3, 2010

Channel Islands National Park Internship

posted as a courtesy- Please do not contact me about this opportunity-Dida
Channel Islands National Park's Kelp Forest Monitoring Program has a Student Conservation Association (SCA) internship available from February -November, 2010. The intern will assist with all aspects of the Park's long-term kelp forest monitoring program (KFMP). The KFMP has conducted annual monitoring around the five Park Islands since 1982 and has recently added sites to evaluate new marine reserves. The intern will collect data on population dynamics of up to 70 species of fish, invertebrates and algae.

Most data are collected underwater using scuba and surface-supplied air. The intern will also assist with a three-month terrestrial vegetation monitoring program. Desirable candidates would have a minimum of 50 logged cold water dives, an AAUS-recognized scientific diving certification, some vessel experience, excellent references, the ability and willingness to make up to five dives per day in water temperatures ranging from 50-73°F. Dive depth is typically less than 65 ft, frequently in dense kelp forests and exposed offshore locations. Applicants should be willing and able to hike 10 miles in remote, rugged off-trail terrain. Remuneration includes a stipend of up to $640/month in addition to $650/month for housing, accident and medical insurance, and $2,000 to purchase scuba equipment. A $1,250- $4,725 Americorps Education award may also be available. Background on SCA is available at www.thesca.org. To apply, send a resume with cover letter to David Kushner; 805-658-5773). Diving history and biological experience should be described and references listed. Packages should be submitted immediately since candidate selection is to be made by the end of January.

Posted by Dida at 11:41 AM

July 12, 2007

Monterey Harbor, CA: Volunteers Needed for Undaria Removal

UPDATE: THE NEXT REMOVAL DATE IS AUG. 18, 2007.This is an urgent call for volunteers to help eradicate invasive Undaria in Monterey Harbor. Email or call Rita Bunzel (831-647-4245) to help either dockside or on scuba. Rita will provide a parkign pass. From Rita:
===================
Hello Everyone,
Over the last 2 months we've seen a huge increase in recruitment and growth rates of Undaria in the Monterey Harbor. Althought this is a typically a high growth period, it is a critical time of the year to conduct removals before the reproductive plants have a chance to re-populate the harbor. WE DESPARATELY NEED YOUR HELP! WE NEED VOLUNTEER SCUBA DIVERS and DOCKSIDE WORKERS.

Please consider taking a few hours on Saturday, July 21, 2007 from 9:00 am to approximately 12:00 pm to support your community and the efforts to control Undaria from spreading. Please RSVP if you can make it.

As usually, we will gather at 9:00 am sharp in front of the Monterey Harbormasters office (see directions below). First time volunteers should complete the attached forms base on their volunteer position. Bring the completed form on Saturday. Copies will also be available on site. Volunteers under the age of 18 must have a parent/ guardian signature on file to participate.

The following Word doc forms need to be filled out prior to meeting:
• Volunteer Questionnaire (dockside volunteers)
• SCUBA Medical History (SCUBA volunteers only)
• SCUBA Volunteer Questionnaire (SCUBA volunteers only)

AGENDA
9:00 - 9:30 am Volunteers assemble, safety protocol, program paperwork
9:30 - 10:00 am Introduction to Undaria survey methods, data collection protocol
10:00 - 12:00 pm Undaria surveys and removal

DIRECTIONS
From Del Monte Ave take the Figueroa Street entrance to Wharf #2. Turn left into the wharf parking area. The Monterey Harbormasters office is located on the right. It is a two-story brown building situated dockside between Fisherman's Wharf and Wharf #2.

PARKING
Park closest to the Monterey Harbormasters office in the metered parking spaces only (do not
park in permit parking). The program will distribute temporary parking passes for the day so DO NOT feed the meter with coins.

DATA COLLECTORS and SPECIMEN COLLECTORS (dockside work)
If you are working dockside, comfortable close-toed shoes are a must since you will be standing for several few hours. Do not wear nice clothing since you will be handling marine algae and will get dirty. It is advisable to wear sunscreen and a hat.

SCUBA DIVERS
Divers must provide their own personal dive equipment which includes: mask, snorkel, fins, wetsuit, BC, regulator, weight belt/weights. I can provide tanks for those of you that notified me in advance. If you have a small collecting bag, bring it. First time divers MUST bring their SCUBA certification card for Monterey Harbormaster clearance. We will need to have on file a copy (both front and back) of the certification cards. We can photocopy the C- cards at the Harbormaster's office if necessary. If you have not already completed the medical history form and questionnaire (both attached) please do so and bring the complete the forms with you on Saturday to save time. We will try to conduct (2) dives.

PLEASE RECONFIRM YOUR PARTICIPATION WITH A REPLY EMAIL. Do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions or concerns.

I look forward to seeing everyone on Saturday! Thank you for your continued support and assistance with this program!

Rita Bunzel

Program Manager

Undaria Monitoring Program

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

rita.bunzel @ noaa.gov

831/647-4245

ritabunzel@yahoo.com

831/659-5722 office/fax

831/402-3866 cell

Posted by Dida at 7:07 AM | Comments (1)

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 6:02 PM