Residential on Reserve (More than 4 weeks) (Curlew monitoring at RSPB Geltsdale)

Love Curlew?

Enjoy working outside?

Good observational skills and patience?

We are offering an opportunity for one residential volunteer to spend 3 ½ months in the beautiful North Pennines and be an important member of the RSPB Geltsdale Reserve team. Help is needed to find Curlew nests and putting up nest protection fencing and subsequent monitoring as part of the Curlew Life project https://curlewlife.org/

This role would suit an enthusiastic individual with good bird observation skills and a positive attitude. You will need to work closely with the wardening team and volunteers, as well as being happy working on your own on the fell (hill skills course will be provided). Duties will mainly revolve around Curlew work – finding nests, helping to erect nest protection fences and monitoring using trail cameras and helping with surveys (dependant on experience). There may also be plenty of opportunities to get involved in other work being carried out on the reserve such as Brown and Shepherd surveys, Ring Ouzel and Black Grouse counts and Nightjar surveys as well as Hen Harrier work. Read Andy’s (our 2023 residential volunteer) blogs here:

Volunteering at RSPB Geltsdale 2024 - Geltsdale - Geltsdale - The RSPB Community

Residential volunteer looks back on life with the Curlews - Curlew LIFE

You will need to be self-motivated as spending days on your own in sometimes remote locations will be required, but also work well within a small team where good communication skills will be vital. You will also be working alongside out tenant farmer and volunteers on the reserve.

Training and support would be given throughout, but this post will suit a keen birder/naturalist with an interest in bird behaviour and an aptitude for spending days out in the field. Patience and enthusiasm will be essential for finding Curlew nests (along with not minding early starts).

A driving licence, IT (there will be some data entry…) and good organisational skills will also be essential.

Accommodation will be provided in a shared cottage on the reserve; all bills will be covered apart from food. The cottage is a 40-minute walk from Hallbankgate (closest village – there is a pub!).

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. We look forward to hearing from you!

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 Tindale Tarn.