Overview

Description:

The State of Hawai’i’s Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) is seeking volunteers for work at Kure Atoll Wildlife Sanctuary in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

Kure Atoll is a part of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is located 1,400 miles northwest of O’ahu. Kure Atoll occupies a unique position referred to as the “Darwin Point”, which is the northern extent of coral reef development and the atoll is estimated to be 29.8 million years old.

Kure is an important breeding site for wildlife, including several rare or endangered species. Eighteen species of seabirds nest on Kure including Black-footed albatross (Phoebastria nigripes) and Christmas shearwaters (Puffinus nativitatus). The endangered Laysan teal (Anas laysanensis) was recently introduced to Kure. There are currently 16 native and 31 non-native plant species on Kure Atoll’s only vegetated island, Green Island. Several plant species are invasive and are being removed to improve seabird nesting habitat. DLNR is committed to eradicating the invasive plant Golden crown-beard (Verbesina encelioides) from the atoll. Invasive plants are a significant management concern because they displace native plant habitat and seabird nesting areas, and may entrap seabirds in a dense vegetative mass. Native plants are an integral resource for seabird nesting habitat and dune stabilization.

This position is a unique opportunity to protect and recover seabird habitat while living in a wildlife sanctuary!

Kure Atoll is an extremely remote work location. Transportation to/from Kure Atoll is by ship and is infrequent. The ability to live and work in close quarters with a small group of people for an extended period of time is of the utmost importance. The seasonal field teams consist of 6 to 8 people. Due to limited transportation, there are only 2 field seasons per year (approximately 6 months each). Contact on Kure is limited to text only e-mail (no pictures or attachments) through the field station’s satellite phone. There is no internet or cell phone service available.

Strict Quarantine: Biosecurity protocols are in place to prevent introduction of alien species. This quarantine requires that all “soft” items (clothing, shoes, straps etc.) must be purchased new and frozen for 48 hours prior to departure to Kure Atoll. All “hard” items (cameras, musical instruments, etc.) must be inspected thoroughly and may need to be frozen or fumigated prior to departure.

Primary responsibilities include: Invasive plant removal; Big-headed ant monitoring; Laysan duck monitoring; native plant propagation and out-planting; vegetation surveys; seabird surveys and assisting with banding events; Hawaiian monk seal monitoring; marine debris removal; data collection and entry; weekly meetings. Additionally, all staff will help with regular camp maintenance and chores outside of regular work hours.

**Although the work load is diverse, most of the hours are dedicated to invasive plant removal (75-80%)**

Desired Experience: Invasive species control; Hawaiian plant identification; native plant propagation and out-planting; avian reproductive monitoring; shorebird and/or seabird monitoring and identification; binocular/spotting scope use; data management; familiarity with Excel and ArcGIS; GPS usage. Other useful skills include: carpentry, solar equipment maintenance, small boat experience.

Requirements: Excellent physical and mental health; able to walk 10 miles per day with a 40lb pack over uneven terrain, lift 50 lbs, work for long hours in hot/sunny, rainy/cold conditions, and bend or stoop for long periods of time; must know how to swim; and have 20/20 color vision or correctable lenses. Must be comfortable with herbicide use.

Personnel can expect to work 40+ hrs/wk. Although most weeks are Monday-Friday, work hours are project dependent and may include early mornings, evenings, and weekends. DLNR/ DOFAW will provide transportation between Honolulu and Kure Atoll. Travel dates are subject to change. Lodging and food while on Kure and in transit between Honolulu and Kure are provided. Most field clothes and gear are provided. All other transportation, housing, and personal items must be supplied by applicant. Kure Atoll Conservancy will award $1000 at the end of the field season to help offset these costs.

Physical Requirements for work at Kure Atoll Wildlife Sanctuary: Example activities/repetitions are listed above. Weather conditions may be sunny, hot, cold, windy, and/or rainy

 

Task	Physical description	Weight  (lbs)	Repetition	Distance	Duration	Physical conditions
Lift/Carry supplies in 5 gallon buckets, haul to camp	Lift/Carry, transfer to boat/ wheelbarrow	20-30 lbs	100 per offload/ transfer from truck to ship, etc	Carry up to 100 feet, plus hauling 700 ft	4+ hours per offload, plus several times per season	Uneven surface, soft sand, hills, wave action
Lift/Carry 5-6 gallon water jugs, haul water to shore/camp	Lift/Carry, transfer to boat/ wheelbarrow	50 lbs	30 jugs per offload, plus  2-4 jugs/week, as needed	Carry up to 100 feet, plus hauling 700 ft	1 hour per offload, plus several times per season	Uneven surface, soft sand, hills, wave action
Pushing/pulling  wheel barrows	Pushing/pulling	100 lbs	15  trips per offload and as needed	700 feet	6 hrs per offload, as needed	Uneven surface, soft sand,  hills
Back pack / Spray herbicide	Carrying, walking, lifting	20-40lbs	5 days/week	4+  miles	4-8 hours/day	Uneven surface, soft sand, up and down hills
Lift/Carry nursery trays	Lift/Carry, transfer to wheelbarrow	50 lbs	2 times a week/ as needed	Up to 40 feet	Up to 5  minutes	Uneven surface, soft sand
Marine Debris	Lifting/hauling/ carrying, using hand tools	Variable, can be heavy, cumbersome	As needed to collect debris	10-300 feet	8+hrs per month	Uneven surface,  soft sand, hills, wave action
Boating	Standing, sitting, swimming, loading supplies		Up to 4-6 times per season		1-6 hours, during offloads and surveys	Bouncing, jarring, jolting, sun/wind/cold
Painting	Repetitive motion		5 times a season		4-6 hours	Standing, reaching
Tin can crushing for recycling/trash	Swinging /pounding sledge hammer, Squatting	3 lb sledge hammer	Continuous pounding/ 3-4 times week		1-2 hours per month	Squatting, repetitive motion
Restraining albatross	Holding birds, repetitive motion	4-5 lbs	200 squats /kneeling + restraint		4 hours/day during banding events	Uneven or hard surface
Albatross counting	Squeezing hand triggers	Pack weight 10+ lbs	800 /day		10 hrs/day, 5-7 days	Uneven surface, hills, soft sand
Shearwater Survey	Squatting, kneeling, capturing, restraining	Pack weight 10+ lbs	60/ survey		3-4 hours, 3-4 times a year	After dark, uneven /hard substrate

Job Type: Habitat Restoration Worker – Volunteer Positions
Location: Kure Atoll Wildlife Sanctuary, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI)
Duration: 7 months (Approximately mid-August 2019 to March/April 2020)
Position closed: Applications reviewed upon receipt until positions are filled
Deadline to apply is July 31, 2019

Please send resume, cover letter, and three references to Andy Sullivan-Haskins: kureatoll@gmail.com

For more information visit the Kure Atoll Conservancy website: https://www.kureatollconservancy.org/
Kure Atoll Blog: https://kureatollconservancy.org/explore/kure-blog/
Kure Atoll Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Kure-Atoll-Conservancy-138668706143905/?ref=hl
Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument: https://www.papahanaumokuakea.gov/visit/kure.html