RSPB NI Biosecurity Incursion Volunteer (Rathlin Island)

Rathlin Island is home to Northern Ireland’s largest seabird colony, with over 200,000 birds, including the largest Guillemot colony in the UK and Ireland and over 1,000 Puffins. However, these populations are under serious threat from invasive non-native predators—rats and ferrets—which prey on seabird eggs, chicks, and adults.

An incursion is when a non-native invasive mammal has recently spread to the island but has not yet established a population. As part of the shared protection plans, we are building a network of trained volunteers to respond to an incursion and react rapidly to any reported invasive predator and remove this threat as quickly as possible.

What you will be doing

• Assist with practical on-the-ground incursion conservation work. This will involve the active control of invasive predators, by use of traps or rodenticide if there is an incursion.
• You will be involved in setting out and checking equipment (monitoring/poisoning/trapping equipment) in the first 48hrs of any incursion response.

If you are not a Rathlin resident it will be possible to carry out day trips, you may also be required to stay on island, if necessary, accommodation will be provided. You will be working alongside other volunteers, RSPB NI staff and key stakeholders as a team.

The skills you need and the skills you can bring

The Island incursion role is varied, and the list below is an example of the type of skills required but not all are necessary, there are other aspects to the role which may be more suited to you. Everyone will bring a range of valuable skills so come and have a chat with our Biosecurity Manager to see if this role is for you.

• Follow procedures required for the removal of invasive predators and learn necessary monitoring skills required.
• Able to attend required training and follow health and safety requirements. Work as part of a team of 3-8 people to carry out the main tasks.
• Be flexible and adaptable to change.
• Have a friendly nature and be able to communicate effectively with people.
• Physically able to embark and disembark boats– including small tenders and where no hard slipway is present.
• Comfortable moving across rugged terrain in all weathers, including slippery rocks, steep slopes and at a safe distance from cliff edges.
• Be able to camp and carry equipment across rugged terrain – as a minimum 5 – 10kgs (this would include personal equipment, food/drink, and incursion response materials).

What's in it for you

Biosecurity on Rathlin is a shared sense of responsibility to ensure the island remains invasive predator free long after the LIFE Raft project is completed, by being involved you will:

• Be helping to save some of our most iconic seabirds in one of the most spectacular locations in Northern Ireland and enable some ground nesting birds to breed and increase in numbers.
• Be part of a team to help maintain the legacy and socio-economic benefits of maintaining an invasive predator free status along with the residents of Rathlin
• Gain valuable experience and training in implementation of biosecurity measures
• Meet and work with other passionate volunteers and staff expert in the biosecurity field

If you volunteer for LIFE Raft, the RSPB will reimburse you for travel and subsistence expenses, we will provide you with the equipment, training and any PPE needed for you to complete the role.