Skokholm Island lies 2 miles from the Pembrokeshire mainland. The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales is looking for a very special person to look after the island.
The previous Warden, Jerry Gillham, has been the warden for the last 3 years. “I have always said that this is a great job and it will take something special to drag me away, and when I saw the advert for Zoological Field Assistant with the British Antarctic Survey I knew this was the one”. Jerry will go from monitoring Manx Shearwaters, with a wing span of around 80cm to monitoring Wandering Albatross with the largest wingspan of any bird – 3m.
Skokholm has been through a big renovation project over the last few years and the next few will be aimed driving forward the re-establishment of Skokholm Bird Observatory. Skokholm will be placed back on the map with an organised approach to bird recording – including observations by eye, ringing and research projects. The island was originally a bird observatory in 1933 until ringing ceased in the 1970s.
The Warden will have to be person of many talents, everything from cleaning toilets, to carrying out through seabird recording, to giving guided walks, general DIY on the buildings and supervising other volunteers. With overnight guests staying on the island they will be a good people person – able to chat about birds from dawn till dusk.
Chris Taylor, Skomer Warden, will be short-listing for the position. He says “he is looking for someone with exceptional bird identification skills but also someone who is willing to share their passion with visitors to the island. I also need to make sure they will be able to maintain water pumps, paint walls and fix bird hides. All these skills are quite unique but I am sure we will find a suitable candidate”.
Chris, who has also lived on Skokholm says “Living on the Pembrokeshire Islands is very rewarding – you are submerged in the wildlife 24 hours a day. Being able to live and breathe the season on the islands is very special and an opportunity only a handful of people will have”
Accommodation is provided on the island. You will have to share you back garden with around 45,000 pairs of Manx Shearwaters – birds that come ashore only at night making cries that can sometimes keep you awake. Just a short 5 minute walk from the kitchen and you will be on the coastal slopes where Puffins breed from April – July.
The closing date for applicants is the middle of September. More information can be found at www.welshwildlife.org
