VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED FOR A HUMPBACK WHALE SURVEY IN AUSTRALIA The Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Lab at the University of Queensland is seeking applications from volunteers for a 6 week survey of humpback whales from June 17 to July 29 this year. The survey will be conducted at Point Lookout, North Stradbroke Is, near Brisbane. It will continue the series of surveys of the east Australian migratory population of humpbacks that commenced in the early 1980s and which is one of the longest and most consistent whale surveys in the world. This year the survey will continue the land-based count of passing whales during their northward migration to estimate, using data from previous surveys, relative abundance. During the peak of the migration there will be approximately 40 - 60 groups of whales passing the headland daily. Individual volunteers will spend approximately five hours daily (in two shifts) counting and observing passing whales from the headland and will get at least one day per week off. In addition to this, we will also be conducting some aerial surveys to test some of the assumptions that underpin the land-based surveys. Participation in the aerial surveys is possible for keen volunteers but is not guaranteed and will depend on factors such as demonstrated ability in the field and previous experience with aerial surveys. Volunteers will be expected to work and live as part of a team of 12 people with shared cooking and cleaning duties. Volunteers must organise and pay for their own way to the study site (close to Brisbane international airport) but food and accommodation (beach houses) are provided once there. As meals are communal, fussy eaters are discouraged from applying (normal vegetarians are fine). Volunteers will need to be available for the entire 6 week period. This project will suit recently graduated science students keen to gain experience in cetacean survey techniques and applicants with previous survey experience, particularly aerial survey experience, will be preferred. Applicants with a strong mathematical or modelling background with an interest in distance sampling techniques will also be preferred. Applicants should reply with an email to Michael Noad outlining why they would be suitable for this survey, why they would like to participate, and any other relevant details. The email should include an attached CV and the names and contact details of two professional referees, and should be cc-ed to Rebecca Dunlop (r.dunlop@uq.edu.au). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Michael Noad BVSc PhD Lecturer Veterinary Anatomy Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics Laboratory School of Veterinary Science University of Queensland St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia Ph. +61 7 3365-2088 Mob. +61 416-270567 Fax. +61 7 3365-1255 Email mnoad@uq.edu.au <mailto:mnoad@uq.edu.au> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~