Internship in Conservation, Jekyll Island
Author: Maitland Bass
Faculty Supervisor: C. Tate Holbrook, Ph.D.
Abstract:
I completed a service-learning internship with the Conservation Department on Jekyll Island. Jekyll Island Conservation’s mission is to preserve and enhance the island’s natural beauty and biodiversity, while providing the public with educational and recreational opportunities. I was dedicated to three projects. First, I used game cameras to monitor the Common Nighthawk, including its nesting ecology, hatchling success, and local threats. My next project was to identify the different fern species on Jekyll and make a fern field guide. My last project was to do point count surveys at seven different locations on the island for Painted Buntings. I was also able to help with AmeriCorps projects such as Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake tracking with radio telemetry and mark-and-recapture for the American Alligator. Each of these projects are essential in helping with wildlife management to learn more and protect species. Before doing this internship, I was stuck on wanting to become a marine biologist, but after this I believe working in wildlife management is what I want to do. This internship has taught me team work, time management, independence, self-confidence, and many more things.
