Wildlife Conservation Society
Aviculture Intern - Fall 2025
Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York, United States, 10458
Aviculture Intern - Fall 2025
The Bronx Zoo's Ornithology Department is seeking an intern with a desire to learn aviculture and the care of a variety of birds within the zoo's avian collection. Interns will learn the professional and technical work skills involved in the daily care of animals, mainly birds, but also include mammals, reptiles, fish, and invertebrates. Interns will support the keepers in the Ornithology Department and will learn to conduct a comprehensive range of zoo activities including animal husbandry, learning about diets, nutrition, exhibit repair, assistance with animal transfers and record keeping duties. Interns will report directly to a supervisor or manager but will at times assist Senior Keepers and/or Wild Animal Keepers in an assigned section. By the conclusion of their session, interns will complete a research project or written paper about an aspect of Aviculture that they selected to further explore. While many learning outcomes overlap, there are two different tracks available for the internship: Daily Care and Husbandry- Interns will focus on learning the feeding, behaviors, training, and handling of animals with an emphasis on avian enclosures and the physical husbandry and care in the day to day operations of the ornithology collection. Data Collection & Management- Interns will learn the professional and technical work skills involved in the office management and logging data including behaviors, incubation and natal records, daily reports, information systems including ZIMS as well as internal ID cards. Interns will learn about writing protocols and gathering collection information as well as the importance of logging the information for records as well as preserving zoo history. This position will offer a unique chance to learn and understand the information and technical side of the care and maintenance of the avian collection. Learning Outcomes: You will learn the daily aviculture routine including how to prepare and follow prescribed diets and feeding procedures for the animal collection. You will learn to observe general animal health and behavior, on a daily basis, and report any abnormal circumstances to a supervisor. You will learn to maintain records of health, behavior, enrichment, operant conditioning and visitor engagement issues in avian collection including how to log data including behaviors, incubation and natal records, daily reports, information systems including ZIMS as well as internal ID cards. You will learn how to assist with any behavior modification, training and enrichment care in avian areas. You will learn how to assist any visitor engagement programs that are included in avian areas and interact with the public and Bronx Zoo staff in a professional and courteous manner. You will collaborate with an assigned avian Zoo staff person to identify a potential project to be completed by the end of your internship experience; a portion of your daily experience will be spent on your developed project. Qualification Requirements: Important Information about the Application: To be fully considered for this role, applicants must upload both a resume and cover letter. Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Current college student enrolled in a degree granting program Ability to access animal areas and perform physical work, including bending, climbing and the lifting of objects up to 50 pounds. Ability to maintain a set schedule that may include weekends, evenings, and holidays. Desire to learn the care, basic medical procedures, feeding, behaviors, training, and handling of zoo and domestic animals, with an emphasis on avian taxa. Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions, including routine procedures for the care and maintenance of animals, displays, grounds, and safety/emergency procedures. Ability to provide quality customer service to both internal and external customers and engage with the public and fellow interns, staff and volunteers in a professional and courteous manner. Ability to exercise sound judgment in the recognition, evaluation, and reporting of abnormal behavior, attitude, or appearance of collection or native animals. Ability to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills including working in a team environment or on an individual basis. Must be eligible to work in the United States. Salary Range: Stipend: $760- $1340
The Bronx Zoo's Ornithology Department is seeking an intern with a desire to learn aviculture and the care of a variety of birds within the zoo's avian collection. Interns will learn the professional and technical work skills involved in the daily care of animals, mainly birds, but also include mammals, reptiles, fish, and invertebrates. Interns will support the keepers in the Ornithology Department and will learn to conduct a comprehensive range of zoo activities including animal husbandry, learning about diets, nutrition, exhibit repair, assistance with animal transfers and record keeping duties. Interns will report directly to a supervisor or manager but will at times assist Senior Keepers and/or Wild Animal Keepers in an assigned section. By the conclusion of their session, interns will complete a research project or written paper about an aspect of Aviculture that they selected to further explore. While many learning outcomes overlap, there are two different tracks available for the internship: Daily Care and Husbandry- Interns will focus on learning the feeding, behaviors, training, and handling of animals with an emphasis on avian enclosures and the physical husbandry and care in the day to day operations of the ornithology collection. Data Collection & Management- Interns will learn the professional and technical work skills involved in the office management and logging data including behaviors, incubation and natal records, daily reports, information systems including ZIMS as well as internal ID cards. Interns will learn about writing protocols and gathering collection information as well as the importance of logging the information for records as well as preserving zoo history. This position will offer a unique chance to learn and understand the information and technical side of the care and maintenance of the avian collection. Learning Outcomes: You will learn the daily aviculture routine including how to prepare and follow prescribed diets and feeding procedures for the animal collection. You will learn to observe general animal health and behavior, on a daily basis, and report any abnormal circumstances to a supervisor. You will learn to maintain records of health, behavior, enrichment, operant conditioning and visitor engagement issues in avian collection including how to log data including behaviors, incubation and natal records, daily reports, information systems including ZIMS as well as internal ID cards. You will learn how to assist with any behavior modification, training and enrichment care in avian areas. You will learn how to assist any visitor engagement programs that are included in avian areas and interact with the public and Bronx Zoo staff in a professional and courteous manner. You will collaborate with an assigned avian Zoo staff person to identify a potential project to be completed by the end of your internship experience; a portion of your daily experience will be spent on your developed project. Qualification Requirements: Important Information about the Application: To be fully considered for this role, applicants must upload both a resume and cover letter. Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Current college student enrolled in a degree granting program Ability to access animal areas and perform physical work, including bending, climbing and the lifting of objects up to 50 pounds. Ability to maintain a set schedule that may include weekends, evenings, and holidays. Desire to learn the care, basic medical procedures, feeding, behaviors, training, and handling of zoo and domestic animals, with an emphasis on avian taxa. Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions, including routine procedures for the care and maintenance of animals, displays, grounds, and safety/emergency procedures. Ability to provide quality customer service to both internal and external customers and engage with the public and fellow interns, staff and volunteers in a professional and courteous manner. Ability to exercise sound judgment in the recognition, evaluation, and reporting of abnormal behavior, attitude, or appearance of collection or native animals. Ability to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills including working in a team environment or on an individual basis. Must be eligible to work in the United States. Salary Range: Stipend: $760- $1340