applications are CLOSED
estimated opening date : unknown
The Sociable Weaver Project is offering a position for a motivated field assistant with a keen interest in animal behaviour that will be in charge of conducting field observations related to nest building and record vigilance behaviour. If you are interested, please find more information below.
Context
The Sociable weaver research program is a long-term project that uses the sociable weaver population at Benfontein Nature Reserve as a model to study the evolution and maintenance of cooperation. Monitoring of sociable weavers on the reserve goes back to 1993.
Benfontein Nature Reserve (property of De Beers mining company) is situated ca. 15 minutes’ drive from Kimberley (South Africa) and is a 12000 ha reserve on the edge of the Kalahari ecosystem. There is very good birding in the reserve (check ebird ) and several antelopes and some iconic mammals (aartvark, aardwolf, bat-eared foxes), but there are no large carnivores and hence the reserve is safe for fieldworkers. There are, however, venomous snakes (Cape cobras, Boomslangs and Puff adders) especially in and around the sociable weaver colonies! Therefore, to work at Benfontein it is important not to have a snake phobia and also to respect strict safety rules to prevent any accidents.
People in our research group reside at the Research Station within the reserve in a spacious house that includes an office area and a garage/workshop and is shared by all the field team. The project has its own field vehicles that are used to reach the study area (located 15-20 minutes away in the South of the reserve) and to access the nests.
Job description
This position is part of a project that focuses on nest building behaviour and will consist essentially of conducting observations on a daily basis (typically 2h early in the morning and again in the evening, plus data entry when back from the field). The work also involves recordings of the vigilance behaviour.
To conduct these observations, a strong interest in animal behaviour, patience and determination are essential. Specifically, the work requires (1) a strong motivation to conduct behavioural observations; (2) patience and willingness to sit for long periods of time in a hide (3) being able to read colour combinations and identify individuals by their colour rings, (4) setting up and managing remote field equipment, (5) interacting with the other team members in the field and at distance, (6) being able to live in isolated field conditions and sharing a house with a small group of people, contributing to communal living tasks (cleaning, cooking, etc), (7) not being afraid of snakes or heights and (8) be comfortable using a computer.
In addition, you will set up cameras to record vigilance behaviour 3 days per week and be in charge of charging and downloading data.
Duration : We aim to record feeding association all year long. We are seeking for someone starting in October 2025 and can stay for 3-4 months (extendable period).
Living conditions: The team lives and works together in a remote place. It is important to be able to endure long working hours and the intensive field work rhythm while sharing communal tasks and life at the house. The number of people in the field team can vary typically between 8-10 people between August and September down to 3-5 from November to July. Usually the team is international and a good English knowledge is essential.
Snake and heights: Given the frequency of encounters with snakes, fieldworkers should not have a snake phobia. In addition, the work often requires working on an elevated platform (on top of a vehicle) and sometimes using a step-ladder (if assisting the breeding monitoring team). As a consequence, the work is not well suited for people that suffer from vertigo or are afraid of heights.
Driving: All fieldwork at the project requires the use of vehicles in dirt roads. The roads do not require using 4×4 vehicles, but good driving skills are important. In addition, general vehicle checks and basic maintenance are part of the duties of anyone in the field team.
Required:
- Driver’s license
- Not having a snake phobia or fear of heights
- Being available for 3-4 months
- Not being colour blind (as all fieldwork involves working with colour rings)
Desired skills:
- Previous field experience with fieldwork and bird reproduction monitoring
- Previous experience observing birds or other animals and associated data collection
- Team work experience
- Being familiar with computers and electronics
- Good aptitude for troubleshooting
Covered by the project:
- Accommodation
- Travelling to and from Benfontein
- Insurance
- Stipend (variable, depending on job and experience)
Visa application:
Non South African citizens have to apply for a visa if their stay is longer than 90 days. We encourage you to check that your passport is valid for no less than 30 days after the expiry of you intended visit and it contains 2 unused page for entry/departure endorsements. You shall also not have been banned from South Africa. These conditions are essential to obtain a visa. It is a long process but we make it our priority. As an alternative, it is possible to apply for a 90 days renewal of a 90 days free tourist visa. Please visit South African home affairs website and the South African embassy of your residence country.
The project will DISCARD ANY application outside opening dates. We recommend you to regularly check for changes.
In order to be complete your application must include the following form with your CV and motivation letter. Please use “Nestbuilding assistant application YOURNAME” as the subject of your email and send them to us (as an alternative, you can select ‘copy email address’ using right clic). If your application is selected, we will contact you for an interview.
