LDWF INTERNSHIP (Part time)- Dove banding

Location: Baton Rouge, with occasional fieldwork statewide as needed.

Supervisor: Jeff Duguay, Ph.D.

Application Deadline: April 3, 2020

# of positions available: 2

Background: The mission of the Office of Wildlife is to provide wise stewardship of the state’s wildlife and habitats, to maintain bio-diversity, including plant and animal species of special concern, and to provide outdoor opportunities for present and future generations to produce a greater appreciation of the natural environment.  The Upland Migratory Bird Program is charged with the management and research of native dove species, one of the most popular and harvested game birds in North America. One of the most important tools for managing doves is the annual banding project.  Banding doves gives insight into migration, harvest and survival rates.  These are critical data for establishing hunting seasons and bag limits.

Project Scope: The student intern will work part time to assist the Upland Migratory Study Leader in attaining local and statewide banding goals for mourning and other dove species. The student will assist with baiting field sites, maintain equipment, banding, sexing and ageing doves, and assisting in other capacities as needed. The intern must be able to work irregular hour’s (pre-dawn and post-dusk daily). The intern must be able to lift 50 pounds, work in extreme heat and humidity and be able to tolerate mosquitoes and other biting insects while working in the field. The intern must be able to take detailed notes for data collection and be proficient with Microsoft Office Excel program. At the end of the summer, the student intern will compose a research paper outlining dove banding activities including age and sex ratios of doves banded as well as how these data are used in determining vital rates of doves, movement patterns, and the role of banding data in establishing annual harvest rates of mourning doves.

Timing: June 01 – August 31(flexible beginning and end dates)

Compensation: College credit will be contingent upon university approval. Students will be paid $10/hr. 

Housing: None provided

Applications: Email resume with references and cover letter. Questions can be addressed to Jeff Duguay, 225-765-2353

Send resumes and cover letter to:

Jeff Duguay, Ph.D.

jduguay@wlf.la.gov