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Working As a Wildlife Conservationist

As a nature and wildlife filmmaker, wildlife conservation is always on my mind.

It seems that the world is hell bent on bulldozing every last sanctuary of wilderness we have. So working to conserve wildlife and its habitat is something that I take very seriously.

wildlife

Working As a Wildlife Conservationist

by Mark Bottell

Anybody with a developed interest in wildlife and nature might want to pursue conservation work opportunities. There are a number of different jobs in the field, such as park ranger, game warden, wildlife biologist and environmental specialist. These types of jobs generally involve spending long periods of time outdoors, surveying the land and ensuring that wildlife habitats are maintained. This article may help you to decide whether jobs in environmental sector are for you.

The Difference Between Conservation and Animal Welfare

There are a wide variety of animal related jobs that fall outside the sphere of conservation. Individuals who work in such occupations may do their level best to ensure the protection of every single animal that they come across. However, people who carry out conservation work generally believe in maintaining natural habitats as a whole, rather than focussing on the needs of specific creatures. They may be prepared to carry out a cull if it will have positive effects for the entire ecosystem. Conservationists may also deem it appropriate to kill foreign species that are harming the environment.

Typical Duties

The work may involve the protection of a wide variety of animals. People employed in this capacity may be required to look after the large and powerful meat eaters in big game reserves. Those workers who specialise in marine conservation may find that much of their time is taken up in the prevention of coastal erosion. There are also opportunities for deep sea diving missions and research on wrecks and coral reefs. Conservationists may also often be invited to meetings regarding the environmental impact of work conducted by major companies.

Personal Qualities Required

When they aren’t working with animals, conservationists are often involved in group activities, such as the clearing of beach litter and coppicing of wooded environments. They should have a friendly disposition towards other team members and the ability communicate and listen effectively. People who do conservation work are generally motivated by a passion to do right by the world, rather than earn large amounts of money. It is quite usual to do this form of work on a voluntary basis.

Qualifications Required

Those individuals who manage to obtain jobs in the conservation work sector have generally achieved a high standard in A level subjects such as biology and chemistry. Some choose to further their employment prospects by taking specialised university courses in marine biology or wildlife sciences. There is a great deal of information about these educational programmes online. For further information you may also want to contact the Wildlife Trust and perhaps even the World Wildlife Fund.

Mark Bottell is the General Manager for Gap Africa Projects an online tour operator which caters to interests such as conservation work and offers other Gap Africa Projects adventure holidays for adults.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

We only have one planet and once we lose a species, it’s gone forever. Extinction rates of wildlife have surpassed all scientific models and is growing exponentially as the human population increases and expands.

Make a Birdhouse Gourd

 

Make a Gourd Birdhouse

Gourds are ready for birdhouse making in late summer or early fall in most places. Gourds make excellent birdhouses when hollowed out and prepared. Here’s how to use gourds to make birdhouses for your backyard birds.

Gourd Selection

Choose gourds that are free of blemishes, the so-called bad or rotten spots. Make sure the gourd has time to dry completely before preparing if for the birdhouse. Make sure the gourds have fully matured before they are picked as this may cause them to dry incorrectly. Remember that gourds are in the pumpkin and squash family and may be confused with pumpkins. Pumpkins and squash would rot before they would dry sufficiently enough to use as a birdhouse. Pick gourds suitable for crafts.

The best way to dry gourds is on the vine. Leave them to dry naturally and they will last longer. If you must harvest gourds early, cut them with a large piece of stem still attached and put them in a protected place so they may dry. Be aware that harvesting them too early increases the chances of rot. Wash the gourds to remove any dirt. Make sure the gourds have plenty of room and aren’t touching each other for best results.

Some gourds take months to cure, or dry. It’s worth the wait because properly dried gourds last much longer than those gourds harvested too early and forced to dry under less natural conditions. Many gourds grow mold on the outside. This is normal if rot doesn’t set in. If the sides of the gourd are still firm, you can use the gourd for the birdhouse. If the gourd has turned mushy, it’s time to find another gourd because this one is rotten.

Prepare the Gourd

Once the gourd has been properly selected, you can start preparing the birdhouse. You may take a mild detergent to wash off the gourd before painting it. Use a vegetable brush gently to brush off any lingering mold or dirt before you start to paint the gourd. Dry off the gourd with a paper towel.

Paint the Gourd

If you choose to paint the gourd birdhouse, choose a paint that can withstand the outside elements. Waterproof paints and a finish are recommended. Start with a latex or oil base primer. Primers are generally white base colors. They help the paint stick to the surface. Then apply the paint that you wish. Allow each coat, including the primer, to dry completely before adding more paint layers.

When you are finished with the painting, spray the gourd with a finish. A common finish to use with gourds is shellac, found at most hobby and craft stores and many home and garden stores. Use any sealant made for an outdoor project.

Make the Birdhouse

After the paint has completely dried, wait another day to be sure the paint and finish is dried. If you decide to leave the gourd in a natural state, skip the painting part and make the birdhouse. You can use a special drill bit, called a holesaw, to drill the holes or you can use a knife to cut out a hole. This is where the birds will enter the gourd to make their nest. Scoop out any leftover flesh and seeds with a spoon or stick. Do this carefully so you don’t damage the gourd or paint job.

Attach a strong wire to the stem of the gourd. You can run the wire through the stem nearest the gourd for better results. Hang the gourd birdhouse in a place where birds will find it safe and easy to reach.

When Congress Plays God, Wolves Lose

The Endangered Species list has always been monitored and managed by an apolitical scientific group. This changed for the first time in history in April 2011 when the United States Congress removed the wolf from the Endangered Species list. The proposal to declare the wolf as not at risk was included in a section of the infamous budget-balancing act, which has made more than a few people scratch their heads: what do endangered species have to do with sound financial planning? The deed was done by Senators from Idaho and Montana where commercial hunting is popular. Coincidentally, the Montana Senator is up for re-election.

The wolf is an apex predator, which means that it has no predators of its own. In short, nothing hunts wolves, although, thanks to politicking, humans are now allowed to. Apex predators are an important part of the natural cycle of life in the wild. Prey species, those animals that have natural predators, are keep from over-populating. In turn, they are kept from devastating ecologies by their vast numbers. A good example is the rabbit in Australia. In 1859, a man released 12 rabbits into the wild. Rabbits are not native to Australia and the environment was not prepared to handle this invasive species. In 1950, there were 600 million rabbits in Australia. Apex predators keep this from happening.

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 was made into law to protect species from extinction because of “…economic growth and development untempered by adequate concern and conservation.” Yet that is exactly what wolves have fallen prey to. The decision to remove them from the Endangered Species list (or rather, to allow commercial hunting of them) was not made by scientists, wildlife experts, or conservationists, it was made by politicians, who were very conveniently benefited by the decision. Furthermore, it was not openly proposed and discussed, but rather hidden away in a bill so important that those involved would have no choice but to pass it. This is clearly a case of political maneuvering. Everyone has seen the movie where, to save the sinking ship, the captain must seal off the leaking rooms, dooming the men inside. To do a greater good, a wrong must be done as well. The only reason it was done in this situation is that Senator Jon Tester and Representative Mike Simpson forced it to be so. If they had legitimate evidence of the species’ safety from nature and wildlife experts, they could have presented the unprecedented idea to Congress (remember that Congress has never, in 235 years, taken authority to remove an animal from protected capacity) in its own bill, instead of squirreling it away in the Congressional Budget Act which had to be passed immediately to avoid a government shutdown.

When politics are allowed to influence the treatment of ecosystems, the natural world is in serious danger. The good of species and life forms is no longer dictated by conservation measures, but by the agenda of individuals. We may as well add the planet to the Endangered Species List, although it would probably just be removed by some Senator looking for votes.

Nature And Wildlife Is Under Attack

Whether the results of the human population are intentional or not, the fact remains that nature and wildlife is under attack. Much of global population has lost sight of how important the natural world is to the quality of life for people and the sustainability of the world that we inhabit. There are many signs that the behavior of man is causing great damage to the planet and if allowed to continue, the world could become a much different place for all life on Earth to exist.

The root cause of this colossal problem is the unnecessary consumption enjoyed by man. When things are taken from the world that cannot easily be replaced, the world suffers a great loss. Much of what is taken to benefit people is at great expense to the other animals we share this planet with. For example, when people take on massive building projects that require newly produced materials, wildlife experiences habitat loss. Through deforestation, civilization is constructing a world for man to live in, while taking away the environment that animals depend upon.

Filmmakers are the first line of defense in this war for the world’s resources. They have the daunting task of showing the damage being created to the rest of the world. Without these efforts, people would never become aware of the effects of human behavior. Hearing or reading about the possible effects of some action is not as powerful as seeing the actual damage. Discussions without evidence and images do little to improve this situation.

Sometimes the damage done to wildlife comes in the form of a direct assault on the animals themselves. Poaching is the illegal killing of large numbers of animals for some unnecessary luxury. Taking buffalo for their skins or elephants for their tusk and leaving the remaining parts of these animals to waste is the cost of this action. Other times the assault on animals comes from accidental events. Oil spills that occur in the process of acquiring and transporting resources people need to maintain their quality of life, have devastating effects on the animal populations in these areas.

When someone is able to film nature following one of these catastrophic events, people are able to see the damage as it happened. Other larger more complex situations may not be as easy to record. Climate change cannot be displayed in any one event. This requires that the symptoms that lead us to the greater problem be gathered together. This makes a puzzle that must be constructed one piece at a time until the entire picture becomes visible.

All of these examples combined with the endless lists of humans destructive behaviors, display a picture of what irresponsible action looks like. Much of the luxury enjoyed by civilization directly affects nature and wildlife. Some of these results are easily visible and require little debate as to the cause and possible solution. Others are much more complicated and a different approach is required. Finding a way to responsibly deal with human wants and the planets needs is the challenge for all people.