Hi folks,

There's a university position over at Oregon State that some might be =
interested in, working on fish-eating birds. Please direct any =
inquiries to Dr Roby, rather than me.

Jon. Anderson
Olympia, Washington
festuca at olywa.net

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 20:57:58 +0200 (SAST)
From: Daniel Roby <robyd at ccmail.orst.edu>
Subject: [SEABIRD:447] Graduate Student Position at Oregon State =
University

PH.D. STUDENT POSITION AT OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY=20
TO STUDY BIOENERGETICS OF PISCIVOROUS WATERBIRDS

A Graduate Research Assistantship for a Ph.D. candidate is available for =
an=20
individual interested in conducting research on breeding colonial =
waterbirds in=20
the Columbia River Basin. Applicants must be available March 1997 to =
begin=20
preparations for field work. The successful applicant will be enrolled =
in the=20
graduate program in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Oregon =
State=20
University in Corvallis. The Graduate Research Assistantship will =
provide=20
tuition and stipend, in addition to covering costs of conducting field =
research=20
in the lower Columbia River and estuary.
=20
The candidate will be expected to conduct both field and laboratory =
research on=20
bioenergetics of piscivorous waterbirds, with special emphasis on =
colonial=20
species (Caspian terns, double-crested cormorants, California and =
ring-billed=20
gulls) that are known to consume significant numbers of juvenile =
salmonids in=20
the lower Columbia River and estuary. The primary objective of the =
research is=20
to assess the magnitude of predation by piscivorous waterbirds on smolts =
of=20
endangered and threatened salmonids in the Columbia River Basin. The =
approach will be to build a bioenergetics model that can reliably =
estimate the numbers of juvenile salmonids taken by the predominant =
avian predators. This study is a component of a larger cooperative study =
with the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, designed to =
understand the factors influencing the intensity of avian predation on =
juvenile salmonids and the types of mitigation that may be warranted. =
The candidate must be willing to cooperate, coordinate, and=20
collaborate with other scientists in the collection of field data and =
the building of the bioenergetics model. Individuals with a Masters =
degree in biology or related field, previous field experience with =
colonial waterbirds, modeling experience, and/or strong interest in =
using a bioenergetics approach to assessing food requirements of birds =
are especially encouraged to apply.=20

To apply for this position, please send letter of interest, CV, and =
names,=20
addresses, and phone numbers of three references to: Dan Roby, Assistant =
Unit Leader, Oregon Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, 104 Nash Hall, =
Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331-3803 USA;=20
Fax: 541-737-3590; Internet: ROBYD at ccmail.orst.edu