Bird Banding Technician Internship

Location: Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society
Open Period: CURRENTLY CLOSED – Next scheduled session is Fall 2026, inquire for more info.
Duration: Sessions may be 2 to 5 weeks, with 4 weeks recommended.
Hours per Week: 35 – 40
Cost: $389 USD per week

The Toucan Ridge Bird Observatory, located at the T.R.E.E.S Research Center in the Maya Mountains of Belize, offers a Bird Banding Apprenticeship Program. This internship focuses primarily on setting up mist‑nets, extracting passerine birds, learning proper bird banding techniques, identifying, aging, and sexing tropical resident birds as well as Neotropical migrants, and mastering data entry and database management. Interns will also conduct bird transect surveys, point counts, nest searching, and other wildlife sampling techniques.

Field work takes place primarily in the mornings, with smaller side projects in the afternoons. Opportunities for community development and farming projects such as fruit orchard maintenance, livestock care, and composting are also available.

The program provides hands‑on experience with diverse research protocols, fostering versatility for future careers in ornithology.

• Set up mist‑nets under the guidance of trained field staff and biologists.
• Extract birds from nets, process the birds at the station, and collect data under professional supervision.
• Assist in data collection during banding sessions.
• Wash cotton bird bags for the next banding session.
• Enter data systematically after each banding session.
• Maintain and update the database in Microsoft Excel.
• Conduct weekly band inventory.
• Replenish and clean hummingbird feeders.
• Work on other avian projects throughout the day at regular business hours.
• Create captions for social media posts to engage and update followers on station activities.
• Repair mist‑nets damaged by birds during the banding season.

The internship fee includes room and board (meals Monday–Friday), full access to lab equipment, and training by professional on‑site biologists. Food consists of self‑catering in a communal kitchen with provided ingredients as well as prepared meals. Lodging is at shared dormitory‑style rustic cabins with other same‑sex interns, providing access to showers, restrooms, and a kitchen.

Citizens from Latin America and the Caribbean receive a 50% discount, and Belizeans receive an additional discount. For more information, email Scandia Cruz at the provided address.

Banding runs Monday through Friday, from 5:30 am until 11:00 am. Weekends are free for interns to travel, hike, or relax. No refunds on food and lodging will be available if the apprentice leaves the station. The intern supervisor(s) will design a weekly schedule that balances the various projects and is reasonable for the intern.

For more information on our organization and facilities, visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..
For any questions, contact jmartinez.

We seek individuals with an interest in birds and wildlife ecology. Prior experience in bird banding is not mandatory, but candidates with previous exposure or a strong desire to gain experience will be given preference. This internship is ideal for budding biologists/ecologists and birders at any level who wish to pursue a career or education in the field.

Candidates must be able to work well in groups, follow protocols, and pay attention to detail when collecting and entering data to maintain the integrity of long‑term datasets.