April through mid June work will involve boat electrofishing for river herring assessments in river (e.g., gear prep, netting of fish, fish processing in field – length etc., data recording) and laboratory work with sub-sampled river herring (e.g., fish dissection for ear bones and scales) for structure to age and determine spawning history. Lab processed fish scales will be cleaned and mounted on slides for reading. An acoustic tagging study with adult Blueback Herring will also be conducted April through July (recovery of receivers). Interns will rotate with staff among competing activities with other staff, partners, and volunteers. Some trap and transfer of fishes, using 900 gal. tank truck, for restoration or for cooperating researchers will occur throughout May – June, that interns typically operate independently. Some limited effort on fish health tissue sampling (shad herring) will occur as well as assistance with researchers we are cooperating with for their studies (UMASS Juvenile River Herring Recruitment). Other fieldwork will include Sea Lamprey nest counts in late June and July. July and August work will include completing scale cleaning and mounting and the start of scale reading for spawning marks with more limited time spend in any field related work. The first three months will be primarily field and lab work, with final two month more inside preparing field samples (scales) reading scales and dealing with data and data summaries from spring field work and the acoustic tagging study. Good eye hand coordination (netting), attention to detail (data records, lab processing) and physical ability to work on boats is required.
$600 weekly Living Allowance (pre-tax)
Eligible for an AmeriCorps Education Award valued at $2,626.
For SCA’s COVID guidance, please refer to www.thesca.org/covid.
Position ID: PO-00735643
Expected Dates: April 1, 2024 - September 1, 2024
Location:
USFWS 103 East Plumtree Rd
Sunderland, MA 01375
US
Training Provided: Electrofishing (boat). Otolith/scale extraction, and reading. Processing of fish for data, data entry. Surveys of lamprey nests. Capture and restoration transfer of river herring. & shad Fish care - oxygen etc with transport. Data software training.
Educational/Recreational Opportunities: All outdoor activities can be enjoyed nearby. There are fields, woods, river and streams, music venues, night life, 5 college area (Amherst and Northampton MA).
Handicap Accessible?: Yes
Main Area of Focus: Wildlife Mgmt
Further Details
AmeriCorps Eligible: Eligible
Driving Logistics: Required
to get to and from work
Housing or Stipend Provided?
D. No housing is available
Indoor/Outdoor: Combination
US Citizenship: No