The PMCA accepts volunteer/paid interns to help us conduct our summer field research tasks and/or to work towards the PMCA's goals. In exchange, an intern would gain various experiences related to the conservation of a native songbird species, the Purple Martin, through involvement in scientific research, practical aspects of management, and public education. The intern will learn how to execute, with supervision, the activities of wildlife ecologists focusing attention on all aspects of Purple Martin biology. Such activities may include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Learn the behavior and life history of this unique bird
  • Assist staff with banding birds and the recording of banding data
  • Assist staff with collecting blood samples for genetic testing
  • Learn and practice proper management techniques
  • Conduct nest checks throughout the nesting season
  • Assist with or conduct educational programs in local schools and to the public
  • Take an active role within the organization

For more information regarding internships contact Emily Pifer.

Funding for Internships

Depending on the nature of the internship and the availability of funds, the PMCA may fund internships. Funding may come in the form of grants, written by the PMCA, or a stipend to cover the intern's travel and living expenses. Please contact the PMCA for more information.

How to Apply:

Complete the online application or download the PDF version of our application and mail it to us.

Making arrangements with your university
(for academic credits):

Each institution has its own policies for internships. Qualifications and requirements may also vary. If you wish to earn some academic credits while doing an internship with the PMCA, you will have to take the initiative to make arrangements with your school. The best place to begin is a talk with your academic advisor. Your institution's web page may direct you to your department's internship director or to your school's career services office.

Detailed Internship Descriptions

Three internship options are available, a summer internship that is full time, a part-time independent project, and an educationally-based internship designed to provide outreach to local schools, also part-time.

Summer Internship

A summer intern would travel with PMCA staff to a number of sites in the tri-state region to conduct field research. These sites include private properties hosting Purple Martin colonies, PMCA research sites, and public properties such as Presque Isle State Park. Hours of operation are generally 8 AM to 5 PM weekdays, rarely on weekends. In August our fieldwork follows the birds to Presque Isle State Park for intensive band reading and observation of their migratory roost there. Typically hours of operation will shift to a few hours in the morning and some in the evening with afternoons off.

Every year, the PMCA bands over a thousand nestling Purple Martins. As an intern, you will be banding birds and collecting blood samples under the supervision of staff members. A lot of time is spent reading colored leg bands with spotting scopes at the many colony sites. Nest monitoring, photography, and field observations of behavior are all tasks of a summer intern. Click here to learn more about current projects.

Since Purple Martins prefer open habitats, such as open fields, conditions will be very hot in the summer months and shade will not always be available. Aside from the heat, the work will not be very physically demanding. Rainy days are generally spent indoors catching up on the journals and data entry tasks.

This internship is open to students as well as non-students. If a summer intern must take summer courses, we can work around schedules. We will review each student's situation on an individual basis.

If you're interested in learning more about our summer internships program you may read the following articles written by former PMCA interns published in the Purple Martin Update:

Independent Project-based Internship

This part-time internship is intended for students that are also taking college courses. The specifics of this type of internship will be planned as needed. The projects needing work will vary, but all will have a scientific purpose. The PMCA has a backlog of projects in need of completion.

Educational Outreach Internship

This internship is for education majors specializing in natural sciences and will involve visiting the classrooms of our regional communities. The PMCA will provide the intern with information and materials, from which the intern will have to create a lesson plan or presentation to give to their chosen age groups. The prospective intern should contact the PMCA for availability of this program. The internship period will vary, but is limited to the school year.