Residential on Reserve (More than 4 weeks) (Curlew monitoring at Geltsdale and Curlew Life Project)

Volunteer to help with Curlew monitoring at RSPB Geltsdale and the Curlew Life Project!

Love Curlew?

Enjoy working outside?

Good observational skills and patience?

We are offering an opportunity to volunteer with the Geltsdale Reserve team and the Curlew Life Project Officer along Hadrian’s Wall helping the team finding Curlew nests and putting up nest protection fencing and subsequent monitoring. The placement is for 4 months this breeding season.

This role would suit an enthusiastic individual with good bird observation skills, in need of some experience working in the field. Does this sound like you?

You would need to be happy and self-motivated, spending days on your own in sometimes remote locations, but also within a small team where good communication skills will be vital. You will also be working alongside out tenant farmer on the reserve and speaking to farmers in the wider project area along Hadrian's Wall, tactfully and with passion about breeding Curlew and the aims of the Curlew Life Project.

Training and support would be given throughout, but an initial interest in bird behaviour, and enthusiasm will be essential to help with finding Curlew nests (along with not minding early starts).

A driving licence and good IT and organisational skills will also be essential.

A car and fuel will be provided (for work purposes only), allowing you to travel between project/nesting sites along with accommodation in a cottage on the reserve. There may be other people sharing the house at the same time. However, it may also be that you are on your own and it can feel isolated. All bills at the accommodation covered apart from food. The cottage is a 40 minute walk from the closest village (Hallbankgate).

You will also take part in a hills-skills course.

This volunteer post will run from 17th April – 17th July (these dates may be flexible).

If you are interested in this post, please contact Jen Selvidge jen.selvidge@rspb.org.uk
07703 749724

We are looking to fill the post by the end of February, so please get in touch as soon as possible if you are interested and think this the role is for you.

For further information on the Life Project see: https://curlewlife.org/

Geltsdale Reserve:

Straddling the border between Northumberland and Cumbria, Getlsdale is a large and remote site, internationally important for breeding moorland birds and upland habitats, primarily blanket bog. Geltsdale forms the north-western fells of the North Pennines AONB, and is part of the North Pennines Special Protection Area and Special Area of Conservation. Almost 100 species of birds breed on the reserve every year, important species are hen harrier, Merlin, short-eared owl, black grouse, ring ouzel and breeding waders. About 10,000 people visit the reserve annually, visitor facilities include a visitor centre, toilet block, and a screen hide overlooking a lake (tarn).