I am currently seeking 3-4 volunteers to assist me in tracking toucans for 
movement and home range quantification in a fragmented landscape in 
Turrialba, Costa Rica, as part of my dissertation research on seed dispersal 
at the University of Louisiana Lafayette. 

POSITION: Volunteer (unpaid) field assistants

DURATION: Start dates are flexible and can begin at any time from 
immediately to as late as spring 2013, but a minimum commitment of 6 weeks 
is required. Applications will be considered immediately.

STUDY SITE: The campus and adjacent farm of the Centro Agronómico Tropical 
de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE). CATIE is located at the edge of 
Turrialba, at about 2,000 ft above sea level on the Caribbean slope of the 
central valley in Costa Rica. Additional information can be found at: 
http://www.catie.ac.cr. 

QUALIFICATIONS: Assistants must be in good physical condition and willing to 
work in the field for up to 8 hours a day several days a week, often in hot 
and humid weather. Preference will be given to applicants with the following 
skills and experience, but they are not necessary to apply: radio telemetry, 
mist-netting, tropical seed and plant identification, tropical field 
experience, GPS, Spanish.

LIVING CONDITIONS/EXPENSES: Volunteers must be able to cover their own 
lodging and living expenses, as well as insurance, vaccinations, and 
transportation to and from the study site. However, the cost of living in 
Turrialba is relatively inexpensive and is within 3 km of the field site. 
Temperatures range from the mid 60s (F) to the mid 80s and modern 
conveniences are readily accessible. 

MAIN DUTIES: Assistants will be tracking toucans in a landscape of tropical 
forest fragments and agricultural habitats such as pasture, sugarcane, 
coffee, and chocolate plantations. Additional projects may develop, but 
assistants will gain valuable experience in the following field methods:
-radio telemetry
-mist-netting
-behavioral sampling
-tropical bird identification
-GPS use

Those interested should send a current CV or resume to Landon Jones at 
lrj1...@louisiana.edu with “Volunteer Toucan Assistant” in the subject line. 

Reply via email to