Birds Intern

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium • Omaha, NE

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is seeking an intern for the Birds department to assist with daily feeding, cleaning, and general care of birds throughout the Zoo. This position reports directly to the Bird Supervisor. This is a seasonal position with a maximum duration of six months, based on individual performance and business operations. The exact end date will be determined by the official start date. Each internship session (spring, summer, and fall) is 12 weeks long. The spring internship session runs January 19, 2027 – April 12, 2027. All interns must be available during this time. Orientation: First day of each semester from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. All interns must be available to attend orientation in-person. Weekly Schedule: Must be available to work up to 24 hours per week and attend one weekly afternoon professional development session starting the second week of their internship. Must be willing to work weekends and holidays. Schedules will be determined before internships begin by working with the Intern Coordinator and animal area supervisors.

Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must follow safety guidelines and always demonstrate safe working practices.
• Must have effective time management skills for working in a fast-paced and flexible work environment.
• Must possess strong communication skills; Communicate frequently and in a professional manner with supervisor and team members.
• Must work well with others and have the ability to work independently.
• Must be team-oriented and willing to work with other interns, volunteers, and staff members to further not only the goals of the Department but also of the Zoo’s Mission Statement.
• Must attend shifts on time and as scheduled.
• Must have the ability to follow detailed instructions.
• Offered candidates are required to pass a pre-employment background check and drug screening.

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience working with birds or at an AZA institution is preferred, but not required.
• A minimum of one year of coursework in a major field of study to be applied during the internship (e.g. biology, zoology, animal behavior, etc.) is preferred.
• Knowledge of bird natural history, biology, captive husbandry, and conservation issues preferred.
• Must be motivated to continue expanding knowledge base as it applies to birds.

Responsibilities

• Develop, work on, and present an internship project aligned with the research needs of the Birds department.
• Attend weekly professional development sessions.
• Complete learning goals on internship checklist.
• Participate in and complete a mid-point and final evaluation.
• Assist in and complete tasks as assigned, including but not limited to: Cleaning and general maintenance of the exhibits and building.
• Daily care of animal collection.
• Assistance in minor medical procedures and administering medications.
• Recordkeeping.
• Animal enrichment.
• Monitoring behavior and changes in animal health.
• Diet preparation and feeding.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Benefits

• Interns will interact with the public frequently throughout their internship and are expected to always exhibit professionalism and exceptional customer service.
• Interns may be asked to engage in public speaking opportunities, including but not limited to informal educational presentations for the public.
• We will do everything possible to accommodate school requirements for those seeking to earn class credit.
• We do our best to accommodate the schedules of interns with full or part-time job requirements.
• Please note this position does not provide any medical coverage.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: Associate degree