Employment Opportunities

• Maintain cleanliness of all cages, bird Aviaries and other Alaqua Animal Refuge property, as requested, to ensure effective sanitation and operation 
• Adhere to established guidelines and maintain consistency of scheduled feeding times
• Monitor, log, and report observed illness, disease, injury, or changes in any of the birds.
• Communicate observations and/or progress of birds to outside team and adoptions
• Maintain signed logs, boards, and up-to-date pictures on all birds which include the history, health, food guidelines, likes, dislikes, words used, and other general information
• Promote, recruit, interact, train, and monitor bird zone volunteers on all aviary procedures and best practices to ensure safety and continuity
• Create, promote, facilitate, and expand the Aviary enrichment action plan through the daily creation of new toys, habitat environment, food foraging
• Change out substrate/wood/plant materials as needed
• Assist in creating flyer/video/promotions to help raise funds for new aviary
• Conduct other tasks upon request

 Supervisory Duties

• Conduct morning volunteer huddles with volunteer team during each shift
• Supervise volunteers in proper handling, safety procedures, and best practices

Supportive Roles
In addition to performance of the essential functions, this position may be required to perform a combination of the following supportive functions:

• Additional duties as necessary and assigned
• Attending events and educational outreach
• Assisting in animal cruelty cases and/or seminars

• Knowledge and skill in handling individual animal temperament.
• Ability to gain animal confidence when restraining for transport, grooming or treatment.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, handle fluctuating priorities and projects
• General knowledge of common diseases, their symptoms and means of transmission, administration of oral medications, assessment of change in animal status.
• Ability to use appropriate safety equipment for exotic and domestic animals

• High school or equivalent education required
• Minimum of 1 year experience in exotic bird handling, animal care, or human/wildlife conflict resolution

• Weekend and holiday shifts expected
• Typical work hours are between 8:30 AM and 5 P.M; at least 1 weekend shift is required
• Due to the cyclical nature of the industry, employees may be required to work varying schedules to meet the needs of the business
• Attendance at training sessions and meetings is required
• Occasional travel is required to area rescues, Alaqua locations and community clinics

The work environment is outdoors therefore temperatures are decided by mother nature. Noise levels fluctuate in elevation with birds, animals, and other farm tools. Dust, dander, hay and other allergens exist. Upon employment, all employees are required to fully comply with Alaqua Animal Refuge management rules and regulations for safe and effective operation.

Physical Demands

• Ability to stand, bend, or kneel for 8 or more hours
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds repeatedly throughout the day
• Ability to hear and distinguish changes in pitch
• Posses wide range of motion in your back for twisting etc.
• Ability to work in potentially extreme environmental temperatures
• Possess excellent balance, hand-eye coordination
• Must have good vision, including peripheral vision, fine detail, distance, depth perception, and ability to focus

Emotional/Mental Requirements

• Ability to calmly work efficiently and effectively in stressful conditions
• Abilty to cope with death
• Ability to recognize a need for assistance and ask for help
• Ability to work independently and as part of team