Work with us - Ottenby fågelstation

Work with us!

Are you interested in living, working and having fun in one of the most splendid birding hotspots in Scandinavia? Here at Ottenby Bird Observatory we anually host about 30 volounteers that help us conduct our work.

A few of our posts require deep knowledge of birds, but there are plenty of other assignments where we are happy to accept beginners – we will teach you on site!

Working with birds is fascinating in many ways, and here at Ottenby we will give you the basics that you need.

Staying here is great fun and very educational! A few of our post are specific project employments, but we are also happy to accept volunteers that are given free accommodation and a scolarship to cover other expences.

Below you will find information about our different posts.

In case you are interested in continuing your adventures in other parts of the world, Ottenby has close contacts with several other observatories, stations and institutions that accept volunteer staff for ringing, monitoring and other activities. Have a look here.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?

Here you will find things to do regardless of the level of your bird kowlege!

Ringer

As a bird ringer you are primarily working with trapping and ringing of birds. Other tasks may include data entry, guided tours or other practical things of various nature. Scolarship: Accommodation and 200 SEK (c. 20€)/day. Available between: March 15 to November 15 (or perhaps into December). Your CV should include recommendations from previous ringing duties.

Ringer’s assistant

As an assistant you are primarily working with trapping and extraction of birds from nets and traps. Other tasks may include data entry, guided tours or other practical things of various nature. Scolarship: Accommodation and 180 SEK (c. 18€)/day. Available between: March 15 to November 15 (or perhaps into December).

Duck trapper

As a duck trapper you are primarily working with trapping, ringing, sampling and data entry of ducks. Other tasks may include guided tours or other practical things of various nature. Monthly salary: 15.000 SEK (c. 1.500€). Available between: August 1 to December 15. Your CV should include recommendations from previous ringing duties.

Breeding bird monitor

The monitor is primarily responsible for performing the various parts of our monitoring programs in Ottenby lund (the forest) and on the meadows. Other tasks may include guided tours or other practical things of various nature. Monthly salary: 10.000 SEK (c. 1.000€). Available between: April 20 to June 20. Knowledge of bird songs is required.

Summer guide

As a guide you will take care of visiting tourists, showing them the work of the bird observatory. Available between late June to mid-August. Monthly salary: 7.000 SEK (c. 700€). Basic knowledge of Swedish is required.

Lighthouse keeper

As a lighthouse keeper you will work halfdays with welcoming tourists to Långe Jan, the tallest lighthouse in Sweden. Available between early July to mid-August. Salary: 360 SEK/halfday. Basic knowledge of Swedish is required.

As a ringer’s assistant and as lighthouse keeper you should be at least 15 years old. For the other posts you should be at least 18 years old.
Priority will be given to long-stayers.
The number of available schorships are limited, but please note that it may still be possible for you to volounteer her on self-payed basis.

More information about us and the volouteer life here at Ottenby is found in this PDF (6 MB).

Are you interested in volounteering at Ottenby Bird Observatory? Please fill in your application to us on this page. Applications should preferably arrive before January 1 (for the spring), April 1 (for the summer) or June 1 (for the autumn).

If you have any questions, please contact us on ottenby@ottenby.se.

Welcome to Ottenby!