We are currently accepting internship applications!
Interns selected on a rolling basis
Avian Care Internship: minimum 6-month commitment
Education Internship: minimum 4-month commitment
Avian Care Internship
Interns are invaluable to the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center. We are happy to provide 6-month, paid internships to individuals who are interested and passionate about wildlife rehabilitation and conservation. The unique ecosystem of the Florida Keys creates a great opportunity for interns to gain knowledge and experience working with a wide variety of avian species. From seabirds and shorebirds to raptors and songbirds, interns can expect to work hands-on alongside our Certified Wildlife Rehabilitators at Mission Wild Bird and independently at the Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary.
Our Avian Care internship consists of 5-day, 40-hour (sometimes more) work weeks. The schedule is split up so that individuals will be working 3-4 days a week at our Wild Bird Hospital and 1-2 days a week at our Sanctuary. We provide a $250 bi-weekly stipend and shared intern housing located on-site at our Sanctuary.
Hospital Duties include:
Daily cleaning and feeding of Hospital patients
Maintaining hospital cleanliness (i.e. sweeping, mopping, laundry, etc.)
Keeping detailed and updated records on rehab patients
Administering medication and fluid therapy
Helping rehabilitators with medical procedures including wound care, fecal floats, and X-Rays
Performing bird rescues, intakes, and releases
Being on-call for bird emergency calls at least two nights per week
Performing after-hours bird intakes
Sanctuary Duties include:
Daily husbandry of permanent sanctuary residents (i.e. feeding, cleaning, checking enclosures, cleaning perches)
Picking up donated fish from local marine centers and sorting fish for quality
Feeding and cleaning of rehabilitation patients in medical and flight cages
Occasional weighing of patients, assessing condition, and noting diet changes
Researching, organizing, and providing enrichment for residents
Interacting with visitors
Qualifications:
At least 21 years old
Willing to work 40 hours per week, including weekends and holidays with occasional evenings
6 month commitment
Ability to lift 50 lbs and work in hot, humid, and rainy weather conditions
Capable of multitasking and handling physically and mentally stressful tasks
Ability to interact with the public in a professional manner
Have a strong work ethic, positive attitude, and ability to work well with others
Valid Driver's License and clean driving record
*Start dates are flexible*
To apply, complete the Internship Application and send to careers@keepthemflying.org
Please include your resume and cover letter.
Environmental Education Internship
The Environmental Education Intern is a supporting role and involves participating in all aspects of education programs and outreach efforts for the Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center in Tavernier, FL. Education efforts include field trips, in-classroom visits, afterschool programs, tours of our sanctuary, and all other public educational events. Outreach/community efforts include providing content for social media platforms, attending community festivals, tabling events, and other non-profit related events. This position also includes handling our species ambassadors, which can include a raptor, snake, turtle, and invertebrates.
The Environmental Education Intern position is a part-time, unpaid, seasonal position lasting 4 months and may include some holidays, weekends, evening, and event hours. Typically, the Environmental Education Intern works a 3-day, 24 hour work week with occasional events or programs, not to exceed 30 hours. The goal of this position is to provide well-rounded experience to build towards a career in Environmental Education and Outreach.
Duties include:
Work on an independent project approved and supported by the Education & Outreach Coordinator over the course of the internship
Assist Education & Outreach Coordinator with running and delivering educational programming on and off site
Set up and run educational booths at local festivals and off-site events
Assist with development and implementation of educational programs for visiting groups and local events
Assist with developing programs and workshops to integrate environmental/wildlife concepts into established school curricula. Integrate CPALMS standards with program development
Assist in planning and set up for annual fundraising event
Maintain outreach program log, including program name, dates, type, and participant numbers
Lead guided tours of the hospital and sanctuary to interns, volunteers, and guests as scheduled
Attend public bird releases
Assist in gift shop operations inventory, shipping orders, greeting guests, etc.
Respond to the public’s curiosity and questions about the organization (i.e. the mission, sanctuary information, bird advice, bird injuries, etc.)
Network with other environmental education organizations to form collaborative efforts
Assist with content for social media including pictures, videos and captions
Assist with volunteer group programming
Represent the FKWBC at events as scheduled
Qualifications:
At least 21 years old
Currently pursuing or recent graduate with an environmental or education focused degree or a related field
A 4 month commitment
Ability to lift 50 lbs and work in hot, humid, and rainy weather conditions
Ability to adapt to a changing work schedule to accommodate events that occur on weekends
Comfortable with handling animals, including birds and reptiles
Knowledge of basic biological principles and ability to quickly master Florida Keys ecology.
Ability to teach to people of all ages
Public speaking experience
Possess strong communication and interpersonal skills
Ability to interact with the public in a professional manner
Have a strong work ethic, positive attitude, and ability to work well with others
Valid Driver's License and clean driving record
To apply, please email your resume and cover letter to outreach@keepthemflying.org
with the subject line "Education Intern - Your Name".
Meet Our Interns!
Apprentice Rehabilitator
Allie Pydynowski
Allie is from Charlotte, North Carolina. She attended college in the mountains of NC at Appalachian State University where she pursued her Bachelors in biology with a concentration in ecology, environmental biology, and evolution. Following graduation she worked as a field technician studying birds in Southern California and then in Franklin NC, the following summer. Now she is very excited to be here in the Keys, pursuing her dream of working in wildlife rehab! In her free time she enjoys hiking, reading, and baking. Her favorite birds are Carolina Chickadees and Piping Plovers.
Avian Care Intern
Marilyn Duncan
Marilyn is from Three Rivers, California, where she grew up immersed in the nature of the Sierra Nevada mountains. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Portland State University, gaining research experience as a lab technician studying the effects of microplastics on aquatic species. She later worked as a Marine Technician aboard research vessels in the Pacific Ocean, monitoring endangered seabirds. Most recently, she completed an apprenticeship in the San Juan Islands, where she investigated microplastic ingestion in salmon from the Arctic Ocean, Bering Sea, and Salish Sea. Marilyn is excited to gain hands-on skills in wildlife rehabilitation through this internship, which she plans to build on in graduate school as she continues researching the impacts of pollutants on wildlife. In her free time, she enjoys reading, scientific illustration, and hiking. Her favorite bird is the Marbled Murrelet.
Avian Care Intern
Gabby Mormino
Gabby was born and raised in Arizona. She has always had a deep love for animals, and her desire to help them sparked from a young age. Recently, she earned her bachelors degree in Conservation Biology and Ecology.
While working at the Phoenix Zoo and volunteering at Liberty Wildlife, she discovered a passion for birds and wildlife rehabilitation, ultimately leading her to the FKWBC. During her internship, she hopes to learn more about wildlife rehabilitation and what it contributes to the conservation of wildlife. In her free time, Gabby enjoys bird watching, playing video games, listening to music, and drinking lots of coffee. Her favorite birds are the American Kestrel and the Cactus Wren.
Avian Care Intern
Cheyenne Cope
Cheyenne is from Detroit, MI. She attended Michigan State University where she earned a bachelor’s in Environmental Biology/Zoology. While there she was able to work with insects, arachnids, and birds. During these jobs she was able to realize her excitement and passion for birds! In her free time she likes to do aerial arts, boulder, and read. Her favorite bird is an American Kestrel.
Avian Care Intern
Grace Carey
Grace was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, but always knew she wanted to work along the coast. She recently earned a Bachelors degree in Fisheries and Wildlife along with minors in Biology and Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She has since been earning experience working hands on with wildlife through conservation and education positions. Grace’s passion for wildlife conservation led her to the FKWBC, where she’s very excited to work in wildlife rehab! In her free time, Grace loves to scuba dive, read, and go beach combing.
Environmental Education Intern
Madison Thayer
Madison is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she earned a Bachelors in Conservation Biology and Spanish. She has completed fieldwork in Panama and Ecuador and enjoys working in diverse ecosystems. Some of her favorite coursework has included tropical ecology and mammalogy. She recently worked as a research technician at an Entomology lab studying pesticide impacts on southern Wisconsin fields. She is passionate about connecting people to wildlife and the outdoors and is excited to share her interests with others. She hopes to continue working in environmental nonprofit settings and hopes to learn more about different career paths in this field. In her free time she enjoys hiking, paddleboarding, going to coffee shops, baking, and listening to live music.