The Netherlands: A volunteers is needed from 15 March to 15 May 2009 for an ongoing capture-recapture program on the Ruffs, Philomachus pugnax. The project is under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Theunis Piersma, head of the Animal Ecology Group of the University of Groningen. The fieldwork consists in the monitoring colour-banded birds in Southwest Friesland, a characteristic Dutch meadow area in the north of The Netherlands.  We collect data on the timing of migration, habitat use, phenotype characteristics, feeding and reproductive behaviour of the birds; but you will also assist with the banding of the birds, blood sampling, and data entry.

Volunteers and students involved will live together in an old church in a small and rustic village below the old sea dyke of Lake IJsselmeer. Applicants need to have good social skills, a driver licence, experience with handling birds and colour-ring reading is preferred but command of Dutch or Frisian is not necessary ;-). We provide housing and field equipment. Volunteers must pay own airfare and living expenses (3-4 Euro per day). A small refund of these costs might be possible (depending on pending grant applications). As the beginning of the field season is approaching, there is of course the possibility to adjust the starting date.

TO APPLY: Please send a resume/CV, a cover letter addressing any relevant experience, time available and two references with e-mail addresses to

Lucie SCHMALTZ [lucie.schmaltz@gmail.coml]

Rosemarie Kentie [R.Kentie@rug.nl]

Jos Hooimeijer [j.c.hooijmeijer@rug.nl]

Animal Ecology Group, Center for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, University of Groningen, PO Box 14, 9750 AA Haren, The Netherlands. For further info see: http://www.rug.nl/biologie/onderzoek/onderzoekgroepen/dieroecologie/onderzoek/researchstudies/