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Real-life Rockabillies for dream
wildlife work
15.04.14
by Linda McGrory
YOU could call them real-life Rockabillies. Two
people are set to bag dream summer jobs monitoring
seabirds on a remote rocky outcrop off the Irish
coast.
Birdwatch Ireland has advertised for two wardens to
study and protect the stunning roseate tern on
Rockabill Island, seven kilometres off the north
Dublin coast. |
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An island home: Rockabill Island and
its working lighthouse where two wardens will work
this summer. |
The adventurous island
castaways will get a salary of €400 a week and free
accommodation.
But the jobs are not for the faint-hearted and
sleepwalkers need not apply.
The wardens will literally be perched for three
months atop a high rocky outcrop of two tiny islands
holding just a working lighthouse, accommodation and
"just enough room to stretch the legs". They can
forget the pub, the shops and most home comforts and
prepare to enjoy the company of thousands of
seabirds swooping and swirling outside their front
door. The work entails the monitoring and protection
of the migrant roseate, common and Arctic terns
during the May to August breeding season.
Birdwatch Ireland development officer Niall Hatch
admits the work isn't for everyone but says it's a
"feather in the cap" for anyone wishing to advance
their careers in environmental or similar sciences. |
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Star tern: The endangered roseate
tern which breeds each year on Rockabill Island in
the Irish Sea off the coast of Skerries. |
"Rockabill is home to
the majority of the European population of the
roseate tern which is an absolutely stunning
creature. It is one of the most important and most
threatened world species that we have here in
Ireland," said Mr Hatch.
He said the summer scheme which is open to both
students and non-students had been running for some
years with very keen interest again this year.
"It takes a certain kind of person to do this job
because the location really is remote and tiny. Some
people absolutely thrive in that environment but
having screaming seabirds around you for 24-hours a
day and being so isolated and away from home is
tough and not for everyone. They need to have a
hands-on, can-do attitude because it really is quite
hard work."
The successful applicants will be dropped off by
chartered boat with supplies at the start of the
project. They will then be contracted for 42-hours
over six days with two long weekends off the island,
weather permitting. Closing date for applications is
noon today, April 15, with interviews later this
month. Applications can be sent to
mkavanagh@birdwatchireland.ie . |
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