The Blue-throated Macaw Conservation Center needs volunteers from June 2013 for a reintroduction project of the Critically Endangered Blue-throated Macaw (Ara glaucogularis) in the low-land savanna of Moxos, Bolivia. The Blue-throated Macaw is endemic to this region of Bolivia and only about 150 are left in the wild. Volunteers will help with the daily routines of the center as well as with smaller research projects on other local parrot species. Duties of the center include introducing the captive macaws to a native diet, monitoring their feeding behavior and diet, collecting their native food and maintaining their enclosure and the center. Volunteers will also be involved in the release and post release processes which will include building a release aviary, releasing the macaws and monitoring the released individuals. Activities for the research projects include parrot and macaw point counts and transects, roost monitoring and checking cavities in the surrounding area for potential nests. There are also opportunities for personal research projects. Possible additional activities include conducting wild Blue-throated macaw population and nest surveys (may involve tree-climbing) and behavioral observations. If active nests are found, duties may also include guarding them from nest predators, daily nest-checking, performing periodic health checks of nestlings and feeding nestlings if necessary. Applicants must be responsible, self-disciplined, hard working, self-motivated, tolerant of tropical weather and biting insects (mosquitoes, sunfly, ticks, flies), willing to work in a group and able to tolerate rustic living conditions. A sense of humor is always appreciated. Volunteers share one of the three cabins of the center, which is 25 km from the nearest city, Trinidad, and on the outskirts of a small village, Sachojere. Applicants with bird handling experience and Spanish language skills are preferred but these not required. A minimum stay of one month is required, but longer stays are preferable. Volunteers must be a minimum of 18 years old. We provide the necessary equipment for the fieldwork activities. Volunteers must arrange their own transportation to Trinidad - Beni Department, Bolivia. We charge a small fee (USD 30 per week) to help cover the costs of the project.
Contact Information:
TO APPLY: Send cover letter and resume with two references to JOSÉ ANTONIO DÍAZ LUQUE (EM: saveparrot AT gmail.com). In the cover letter indicate your available dates. Individuals interested in applying to this position are strongly advised to check the cost of flights from their native country to Bolivia prior to applying to the position. Feel free to email for further information. Close Date; Until Filled.