1. You'll need to commit at least four months. Transportation to the island is via prop plane or boat. Since travel is expensive and difficult to coordinate, the USFWS cannot accomodate shorter stays. Also, it takes a while to get trained, get comfortable with the work, and then train the next volunteer.

2. It's remote. The island is a tiny speck of land in the middle of a vast ocean. Communications to the outside world are limited and expensive. Most residents enjoy the respite from the frenzied pace of the mainland. Living conditions are basic but reasonable given the remote location.

3. Expect to work hard. Volunteers work 6 days a week, and about 8 to 9 hours per day. Tasks vary depending on the season and immediate needs. In addition to surveying the nesting seabirds, volunteers are asked to perform routine cleaning and maintenance tasks (cleaning barracks, washing and lubing bicycles and tractor, washing solar panels, sweeping walkways, etc), and work on special projects as needed. Volunteers may spend more than half of their time doing projects outside of biology — unloading supply shipments, scrubbing, painting, repairing things underwater, patching roofs, or digging holes.

4. The biology work is not difficult. Anyone with an interest in wildlife and a basic understanding of biology can handle the data collection procedures used on the island. It is an excellent opportunity for a recent college graduate to get experience in the field. More experienced biologists may want to inquire about how their skills might be used to best effect. Someone who is patient and detail-oriented is bound to do well. The nesting seabirds program on the island is one of the longest-running monitoring studies on Pacific seabirds. The USFWS has been collecting data on the island since the late 1970's. The data are used to monitor the breeding effort of seabirds across the Pacific and are made available to scientists worldwide. Volunteers collect detailed nesting information on a subset of the island's nesting seabirds (Red-tailed Tropicbird, White Tern, Black Noddy, and Red-footed Booby), and also do island-wide censuses for all nesting seabirds on the island (excluding Sooty Tern and Wedge-tailed Shearwater).

5. You may be exposed to hazardous chemicals. During its occupation of the island in the mid-1900’s, the U.S. Coast Guard buried transformers, containing PCBs and heavy metals, in an area just north of the barracks building. These transformers leaked, and now, with the breached seawall, the contaminated soil is leaking into the atoll. Because PCBs are not water soluble, and because biological surveys are not conducted in that area of the island, your risk of exposure is probably low. However, if you have concerns about exposure, be sure to discuss the matter with the USFWS staff ahead of time.

6. Make sure your expectations are realistic. It is best to communicate carefully with the USFWS volunteer coordinator. Be honest about your skills and expectations. Are you expecting to work on a particular type or level of project? Ask about it first. Think you might get in some surfing? Think again. There are strict rules and regulations on the island designed to protect the wildlife. Make sure you understand the rules, current conditions, and work projects on the island. The kind of tasks you might be doing can change with refuge management, the biological calendar, and need. Be sure you know what you're getting yourself into before you get out there. Then everyone will be happy.

7. You will have an unforgettable experience.
Tern Island is a gem of a place. The wildlife, the colors, the weather, the sunsets, the snorkeling, the other residents, the pace of life—all add up to a unique and wonderful experience. Go for it!


If you're interested in getting the official scoop on volunteer opportunities on Tern Island, contact Dominique Horvath at the US Fish & Wildlife Service in Honolulu, 808-792-9554 or Dominique_Horvath@fws.gov.