​Internship: Avian Care and Education

The ACCA is licensed by the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the USDA to care for twenty non-releasable ambassador birds. These birds, housed at our Outdoor Classroom at Ridge Way Farm in Cheat Lake, help us educate the public about the important role birds play in healthy ecosystems. This internship is appropriate for students interested in learning about animal training; husbandry of captive wild birds; and environmental education and interpretation.

Duties:

• Assist the ACCA’s avian trainers and educators with routine care of ambassador birds
• Prepare bird diets, monitor dietary consumption, and assist weighing birds
• Assist with coping beaks and talons
• Research and construct or modify (if necessary) appropriate perching
• Monitor bird enclosures for cleanliness and safety; repair, clean, and disinfect as necessary
• Assist with on-site and off-site educational presentations
• Cooperate, collaborate, and communicate with other interns and ACCA volunteers and staff
• Education interns typically work 5-hour shifts (12-5pm) on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and/or Saturdays.

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the internship, the intern should know:

• Appropriate housing, dietary, and husbandry requirements of a variety of bird species
• The basics of operant conditioning and positive reinforcement methods for training birds
• Strategies for communicating effectively with colleagues and supervisors
• The basics of interpretation, including strategies for conducting effective and inspiring educational presentations and displays for different audiences

Recommended Resources

Arent, Lori. Raptors in Captivity (book)

Friedman, Susan G. Behavior Works: https://www.behaviorworks.org

International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators Position Statements: www.iaate.org.

Natural Encounters, Inc.: TEC Talks: https://naturalencounters.com/tec-talk-library/
Papers: https://naturalencounters.com/papers/

Pryor, Karen. Don’t Shoot the Dog: The Art of Teaching & Training (book)

To Apply:
Fill out the form below by April 30, 2025, or send by email attachment a resume including a brief objective statement about what you hope to learn from this internship. Make sure you indicate which of the ACCA's internship you're applying for. Also, please send the dates that you would be able to start and finish the internship and include approximately how many hours per week you plan to devote to the internship. (Most undergraduate summer interns work 10-20 hours per week from May until August.) Email application materials to Katie Fallon or submit the form below. Please note that our internships are unpaid at this time.