Audubon manages seven island research stations off the coast of Maine that are nesting sanctuaries for Arctic, Common, Roseate, and Least Terns, Atlantic Puffins, Black Guillemots, Razorbills, Laughing Gulls, Common Eiders, Leach’s Storm-Petrels, and wading birds (species vary by island). Interns will gain direct experience with a variety of field skills, including, but not limited to: monitoring seabird populations, productivity, and growth; conducting seabird diet studies; trapping, banding and resighting birds; removing invasive vegetation; educating island visitors; assisting with predator management; data entry and proofing; and camp maintenance.

Island field teams consist of 2 to 5 people (depending on island and time of year) and are led by an Island Supervisor. All field team members participate in seabird research and camp maintenance duties. Living conditions on the islands are rustic; at each island, a cabin or wall tent serves as the base of field operations, and field team members sleep in their own tents. Island field stations have limited electricity (solar panels power research needs), propane stoves, composting toilets, and no running water.

Field teams will spend the entire field season living on island. Teams working on inshore islands (3 of the 7 islands) may have the ability to go ashore (about every 3 weeks) to assist with procuring food and supplies for the field station. On offshore islands, food and supplies will be delivered approximately every three weeks.

Several positions available. Positions begin on or before May 25 and end on August 15; some flexibility with start and end dates may be possible.