Closing Date: 06/02/2019
Facility: Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Program — San Diego Zoo Global Makawao (Maui)
Description:
The San Diego Zoo Global’s Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Program operates two conservation breeding facilities – the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center (KBCC) on the Big Island of Hawaii and the Maui Bird Conservation Center (MBCC) on the island of Maui – with the goal of preventing extinction and promoting recovery of endangered Hawaiian avifauna through captive propagation. Currently, the HEBCP’s focal species include the alala, palila, kiwikiu, akikiki, and the Akekee.

Volunteers for the HEBCP learn the basics of the endangered bird-breeding program while providing essential assistance to facility and program operations. The primary responsibilities of HEBCP volunteers consist of daily bird husbandry and facility projects. Daily bird husbandry duties include morning feeding, aviary cleaning, diet preparation, aviary maintenance, afternoon bird checks, observing birds for breeding behaviors and health concerns, and record-keeping. Facility projects include perching aviaries, gathering browse and nesting material, grounds-keeping, building maintenance, and predator control.