HIGHLIGHTS
August 2014
• Spotlight: US Forest Service Hummingbird Monitoring Network
Partnership Interns
• Disaster Assistance Abroad
• What’s New:
New Insurance Policy Available to
IVP Participants
• Culture Corner: American
English - Telephone Phrasal Verbs
• On the Horizon
For more information on the
International Visitor Program,
please contact Brenda Dean:
(email) bdean@fs.fed.us
(tel) +1-202-644-4600
The US Forest Service International Visitor Program (IVP) facilitates participation
in a wide variety of professional and educational exchanges, which encourage scientific collaboration and discovery, increase intercultural understanding, and promote
cooperation among people of many cultures and countries.
SPOTLIGHT:
US FOREST SERVICE - HUMMINGBIRD MONITORING
NETWORK PARTNERSHIP INTERNS
The US Forest Service
(USFS) partners with
many organizations to
conduct collaborative
research and coordinate conservation
and natural resource
management efforts
across the United
States. One of those
partners, the Hummingbird Monitoring
Photo credit: Carlos Soberanes-Gonzalez
Network (HMN), is
a group of scientists,
citizens, land managers, and property owners who are committed to maintaining the diversity and abundance of hummingbirds. In cooperation with the
US Forest Service Office of International Programs, HMN hosts a number of
interns each year who work on hummingbird research and habitat improvement projects.
Susan Wethington, co-founder of HMN, is a wildlife biologist and well-known
expert on hummingbirds and their migration between the United States and
Mexico. Under her guidance, USFS-HMN interns learn about hummingbird
species, population sizes, and the breeding and migration stopover habitats
that support healthy populations, which are widespread on US Forest Service
lands and throughout the Southwest.
This year, six interns representing four countries, had much to say
about their experiences and reasons for coming to the USA to assist
with Hummingbird Monitoring Network research:
Daniela Morales Moreno, Bolivia:
My name is Daniela Morales Moreno, I’m from La Paz, Bolivia and I study
Biology at the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés. My interest in working with
hummingbirds started in 2009 with my background in plant-animal interactions
From left to right: Andres, Daniela, Gaby, Denisse, Eugenia and Joel. Photo Credit: Susan Wethington
and territorial behavior. Since then, I started doing
small projects with the species present in my hometown. When I learned about the internship in Arizona
I was very interested to know how hummingbirds
can survive in extreme environments like the desert.
Also, I wanted to learn how to band hummingbirds.
about the opportunity to discover a new country, new
culture and language. I was also looking forward to the
professional aspect. Working with HMN is definitely a
great opportunity to get experience in and be a part of
a research project.
Andres Sebastian Marcayata Fajardo, Ecuador:
I was excited about the opportunity to learn new
techniques and new experiences on wildlife management. Wildlife research with birds is my specialty. As an
independent consultant back in Ecuador, the experiences and field training I am receiving is invaluable and
compliments my educational background.
Gabriela Regalado, Ecuador:
Almost two months have passed since I came to the
US. So far, I have no doubt that my internship at HMN
is one of the most enriching experiences that I have
ever had. I remember my surprised reaction when I
learned that hummingbirds can survive in the desert. I
always thought that Arizona was a dry and lonely desert. When I decided to come to Arizona I was excited
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experience to improve my field techniques, my knowledge about research and conservation, and certainly
has nourished my career. I trust that this experience
is helping me a lot, because with the training that I
am receiving, it will help me develop my ideas into
scientific research. From a personal view point, I am
excited to have the opportunity to visit a lot of new
places, where I have met people who understand,
teach and love the same things that I do. Furthermore, being here it has been a chance to improve
my English with the help of my friends and with the
people I conduct research with.
Eugenia Maria Senties Aguilar, Mexico:
I decided to come here and participate with HMN
because I work with birds and recently I finished
my Masters with a thesis project on hummingbirds.
By participating in this internship, it is an excellent
opportunity to learn more about these incredible
creatures.
Joel Francisco Ortega Pimienta, Mexico:
My name is Joel Ortega, I am a biologist and earlier
this year I finished a Master’s in biological sciences in
Mexico. I was interested in participating in the internship with HMN because it is a great opportunity
that can help me as a
researcher. I have been
working in the ornithology area since college
and for my Master’s research I decided to study
the endemic and threatened hummingbirds of
México.
Eugenia:
It has been until now a
great experience. Personally, this is the first
time that I travel to the
US. I have the opportunity to practice my
English and I am meeting wonderful people
and made good friends.
Professionally, I am learning many aspects of the
hummingbirds, with all
the details and useful
Photo Credit: US Forest Service
advices for the future to
continue working with
these fragile animals. In a
few words, I have enjoyed every day in my stay here.
Denisse Sandoval
Quintana, Mexico:
I am currently studying
Veterinary Medicine.
Personally, this experience has helped me see
new places, cultures, and
great people. I am so grateful that Susan invited me.
Everything I learn here is new to me but such a great
experience!
What has been the most gratifying part of the
experience so far?
What has it meant to you personally and professionally to have this experience?
Daniela:
This experience allowed me to increase my knowledge with hummingbirds, to improve my English skills
and learn to work in groups.
Daniela:
Making new friends from different parts of Latin
America and the US is very nice. Also, sharing and
learning about new cultures is so interesting! Discovering new places, landscapes, towns, and cities is so
exciting!
Gabriela:
As a young professional, I consider that the opportunity to be part of this project has provided me
Gabriela:
Being in the field and working with amazing people. The opportunity to live with other interns and shar3
What has been the most gratifying part of the
experience so far?
ing these experiences is one of the precious moments
that I will remember forever. As someone told me
once, Patagonia, AZ is a beautiful place, but the best
thing here is the people. This summer is more than
just an internship to gain skills for my future professional life; it truly is an unforgettable, helpful, and lifechanging experience.
Gabriela:
This beautiful desert ecosystem hosts plants and
animals that live in a hostile environment, where each
organism is completely well-adapted to survive to the
difficult conditions and hummingbirds are not the exception. Studying the interaction between plants and
birds during this internship is a new technique that
shows me how amazing these organisms are. During
my period of time working with HMN I learned different and interesting field techniques to study hummingbirds. It allows me to gain new skills that I can
apply in my country to try to understand how this
wonderful species are using the resources and how
we can help them to keep all their natural process in
the landscape. I have no doubt that all the skills and
techniques that I’m learning with the HMN will help
me in my future research.
Andres:
Definitely the skill set of handling traps and banding
of hummingbirds. The process is very different back in
Ecuador. I am trying to perfect my technique in order
to take back this knowledge and share it with my fellow interns’ biologists.
Eugenia:
I have enjoyed working with the hummingbirds. Being
able to hold them in my hands is an amazing opportunity. Also, to see that tool we use is designed with
the birds in mind. One of my favorite observations is
to watch the behavior of the female birds when they
have a nest to care for and fight for it no matter how
big or dangerous the threat can be.
Andres:
One of my main projects is to search for nests of
several different species of Ecuadorian Hummingbirds.
I am also trying to get involved in projects specifically
using Colibries Environmental Education as the main
teaching tool.
Joel:
One of the most gratifying experiences is that I am
meeting and making friends with people who share
the same love and passion I have for hummingbirds. I
have also had the opportunity to meet biologists and
researchers from different parts of the world that
have a lot of experience with hummingbirds. Also, the
professional experience I am gaining has been tremendous. I am learning many new research methods
and field techniques.
Joel:
In Mexico I have been researching the nest-site selection and nesting success of endemic hummingbirds. In
Arizona, I am studying the nesting ecology of several
North American hummingbirds. This experience will
help me in the future in several ways, but mainly to
develop similar research in the study sites in Mexico.
Denisse:
The most rewarding part for me has been learning
a lot about entomology, having never had learned
something about the topic before. Thanks to this
experience, I have a new found love of learning new
science.
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DISASTER ASSISTANCE ABROAD
to organize US Government teams responding to
disasters overseas. Today, the DASP provides OFDA
with technical support in emergency response and resources, mission disaster preparedness, methodology
and systems, training, and disaster risk reduction.
Emergency Response – DASP Detailers
Over 200 US Forest Service and Bureau of Land
Management personnel serve in the DASP Detailer
Program. These Detailers are subject matter experts
who work in a variety of fields, including disaster
management, hydrology, engineering, communications,
wildland firefighting, administration, and entomology, and who are available for last-minute activation during a crisis. The specially trained Detailers
fill vital roles within OFDA during a crisis, which
include working on a Response Management Team
(RMT), the Washington, DC-based team that coordinates the US Government response to international
disasters. Detailers with more extensive training
and prior experience may be deployed abroad on an
OFDA field-based Disaster Assistance Response Team
(DART). DASP’s unique core strengths are its diverse
pool of experts and its ability to react quickly and
support OFDA’s global responses to natural disasters
and complex emergencies. These strengths were demonstrated in recent responses to the conflict in Syria
and the Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan in the Philippines in
2013, when many DASP detailers served in various
capacities.
Damage after a typhoon. Photo Credit: USAID Office of Foreign
Disaster Assistance
The US Forest Service has a long history of supporting responses to disasters of all types and levels of
severity in the United States and abroad. In addition
to providing personnel to support large-scale wildfires on and adjacent to National Forests in the US,
the agency assists with international humanitarian response efforts for natural disasters, such as the 2011
earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and complex crises
caused by human conflict, like those in South Sudan
and the Central African Republic.
Over thirty years ago, the US Forest Service was
instrumental in designing the Incident Command
System (ICS) for domestic emergency response. ICS
is a system and organizational structure to coordinate
efforts of multiple organizational units, agencies, and
organizations. Other US Government agencies, as
well as other nations, call on the unique knowledge
and skills of the Forest Service when responding to
disasters and crises.
Capacity Building for Disaster Management
Systems
To implement OFDA’s broader capacity building
strategies for disaster risk reduction, USFS/IP is at
the forefront of working with partner countries to
integrate relevant and adaptable components of the
US National Incident Management System (NIMS) and
the ICS into their national and regional disaster management systems. DASP and USFS/IP regional technical cooperation teams work together on assessments,
program designs, and implementation, which may include on-site or US-based training. Upcoming projects
include assessments in Nigeria, Niger, Senegal and a
review of Emergency Operations Centers in Haiti.
The Disaster Assistance Support Program (DASP)
within the US Forest Service International Programs
Office (USFS/IP) was created in 1985 at the request
of the US Agency for International Development
(USAID), Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance
(OFDA) to adapt the ICS disaster response structure
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WHAT’S NEW:
NEW INSURANCE POLICY AVAILABLE TO
IVP PARTICIPANTS
The USFS International Visitors Program (IVP) assists
Exchange Visitor program participants in meeting the
J-1 visa requirements for health insurance coverage
while they are in the United States. This past spring,
we re-solicited our health insurance service contracts
as we completed our previous 5-year contracts. Our
objective was to ensure that our visitors continue to
have reasonably priced options for insurance coverage:
one basic policy for accidents and illnesses, and one
more extensive policy with higher coverage amounts
and preventive care included.
USAID/OFDA Wildland Fire Fighting Study Tour Visits the Challis
National Forest. Photo Credit: DASP Team
Training
A cadre of trained staff, detailers and cooperators
is essential to successful overseas disaster response
coordination. DASP develops and delivers competency-based training for OFDA staff, DASP detailers,
and other interagency personnel who manage and
support USAID/OFDA disaster management systems. The response training framework is comprised
of four key competencies: humanitarian leadership,
systems fluency, teamwork, and communication and
influencing. These competencies are the foundation
for successful staff performance and professional
development that allow participants to understand
the broader scope of disaster management. Training programs include classroom and workshop style
training, case studies, and hands-on simulation training
exercises. Additional field-based study tours travel
to locations such as the National Interagency Fire
Center and National Wildfire Coordination Group
in Boise, Idaho, expose OFDA staff to the domestic
incident response system and allow participants to
observe and interact with interagency fire teams at an
active wildfire. Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) will
continue to provide basic accident and illness insurance policy at the same premium rates as before (Participant: $62; Spouse: $383; and Participant & Family:
$472).
International Services, Inc., which offers International
Medical Group (IMG) policies underwritten by Sirius
International, will now provide a policy offering preventative care and more extensive benefits.Visitors
who are seeking more extensive insurance coverage
(and hosts wishing to request extensive coverage on
behalf of their visitors) may request the IMG policy
with the following monthly premium rates: Participant:
$132; Spouse: $639; Each Covered Child: $123.
When comparing health insurance policy options, visitors should carefully consider their medical histories
and anticipated needs. Carefully evaluate different policies to ensure they cover what is needed.
Host units and/or visitors may request the CISI and
International Services, Inc coverage through our office. For more information on obtaining insurance and
making payments, please contact your IVP Specialist.
Please remember to notify us of travel plans and arrival date. Once confirmed, we can finalize the order
for the requested health insurance coverage. We must
For more information about DASP and USAID/
OFDA, go to: http://www.fs.fed.us/global/aboutus/dasp/.
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order at least one day in advance of the coverage start date, so please keep us informed. If you delay this notification, the visitor may not be covered by insurance for a few days. It is very important that visitors have insurance
on their day of arrival. A catastrophic accident or a trip to the emergency for an unexpected illness could be
quite costly for the visitor.
If visitors purchase policies on their own, they must always provide their IVP Specialist with a copy of the policy
to keep on file as proof of coverage. For more information, please contact your IVP Program Specialist to request policy brochures.
CULTURE CORNER
AMERICAN ENGLISH - TELEPHONE PHRASAL VERBS
Here are some useful telephone phrases commonly used in the United States.
Source: www.easypacelearning.com
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Please Share Your Stories!
We would like to invite everyone to
share photos and stories about yourselves, your programs, and the exchange
experiences you’ve had in the United
States and abroad. Please submit your
stories, pictures, ideas, and feedback to
Misty Sidhu at mksidhu@fs.fed.us
ON THE HORIZON
US Holidays and Special Occasions
Friday, July 4
Sunday, July 27
Monday, September 1
Sunday, September 7
Monday, October 13
Friday, October 31
Independence Day (Federal Government closed)
Parents’ Day
Labor Day (Federal Government closed)
National Grandparents’ Day
Columbus Day (Federal Government closed)
Halloween
Contact Info
Brenda Dean: bdean@fs.fed.us
Misty Sidhu: mksidhu@fs.fed.us
Kristin Corcoran: kacorcoran@fs.fed.us
Rima Eid: rimaeid@fs.fed.us
Ashlee Jackson: ashleejackson@fs.fed.us
Tel: +1-202-644-4600
If you are a visitor to the US, ask your American hosts, friends and colleagues how they celebrate these holidays.
Hosts, we encourage you to use this opportunity to share an aspect of
American culture with your visitor(s)!
The US Forest Service International Visitor
Program is now on Facebook!
Please visit: https://www.facebook.com/
pages/US-Forest-Service-International-VisitorProgram/380788515370097
Disclaimer
This newsletter has been produced by the
US Forest Service Office of International
Programs International Visitor Program Staff.
Information in this publication is provided
for the benefit of current or prospective
Program participants or USDA program
hosts engaged in exchanges through the US
Forest Service International Visitor Program.
Any information provided in this newsletter on immigration regulations or financial
issues is subject to change at any time and
without notice. For official legal advice on
immigration or tax matters, please consult a
certified attorney or tax professional.