ASI’s high school internship program is a unique opportunity for students ages 14-18 who are interested in exploring research, wildlife, and conservation-related career paths. Students receive training in basic field research techniques including nest monitoring, bird banding, and recording and managing data.

Interns work alongside Alaska Songbird Institute biologists, other interns, and our youth volunteers on the Swallow Ecology Project. Together we monitor up to 70 active Tree Swallow nests, from egg laying and hatching through the fledging of chicks. Interns are responsible for checking nest boxes, recording and entering data, and assisting with bird capture and banding. Interns who progress with their skills learn to take morphological measurements and band birds.