Volunteer opportunity - Parrots in Argentina

Anonymous writes "VOLUNTEER FIELD ASSISTANT: Three to four volunteers needed
from 1 Oct 2003 to 20 Feb 2004 (a minimum stay of two months within the
period will be preferred) for a long-term monitoring project at Reserva
Natural Provincial Loro Hablador, Chaco, Argentina on Blue fronted parrot
(Amazona aestiva). We collect information on reproductive success, foraging
behavior, chick growth rates, population trends and behavior ecology.
Field work will consist of territory spot mapping, nest monitoring, banding,
blood and diet sampling, conducting behavioral observations, and vegetation
measurements. Some computer data entry is also required.

Volunteers will live at a rustic field camp 170 km from the nearest town.
Applicants must get along well with others, be willing to work very hard
(dawn to dusk), and be self motivated. Good physical condition, ability to
make careful observations, and knowledge of Spanish required.

I am looking for volunteers who can commit for the entire study.

We provide lodging, and required equipment. Volunteers must provide their
own airfare to Bs As, Argentina, transportation from Bs. As. to Castelli,
(Chaco, Prov. Chaco); and food expenses.

TO APPLY: Please send a cover letter and resume (including the names, phone
numbers, and e-mail addresses of 2 references) to IGOR BERKUNSKY
igorberku@...

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MARINE TURTLE & YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
Grupo Ecológico de La Costa Verde, A.C.
Suite 078-253, 9051-C Siempre Viva Road
San Diego, California 92173-3628, USA
Tel : ++52 (325) 84100 Fax: ++52 (325) 84110
E-mail: tortuga@... — grupo-eco@...
www.project-tortuga.org or www.vallartaonline.com/costaverde
DESCRIPTION: Grupo Ecológico de la Costa Verde, A.C. is a Mexican Non-profit
Civil Association dedicated to the protection of the natural environmental,
with special interest in the protection of the Marine Turtle and Youth
Environmental Education. We are a hard working, turtle first, conservation
group and not in the Ecotour business.
SPECIES: Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivia) - Leatherback (Dermochelys
coriacea) - Eastern Pacific Green Turtle (Cholera agassizi).
HABITAT: Marine-Tropical-Coastal.
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION: Central Pacific Coast of Mexico.
TRAVEL INFORMATION: By airplane to Puerto Vallarta; a member of the group
will pick you up at the Airport, or bus from Puerto Vallarta, north to San
Francisco, or San Pancho.
DURATION: One month minimum, five months are ideal.
PERIOD: From June 15th to November 15th.
AGE: Min. 18.
QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS: No special skills are required to work within the
marine turtle program, although volunteers should be willing to work 3 to 4
nights a week in occasional heavy rain, and operate a Volkswagen dune buggy
over rough, muddy roads. Youth education instructors must speak Spanish, so
volunteers must be enthusiastic, efficient, willing to work as part of a
team, able to deal with the public, and have a sense of humour.
VOLUNTEERS WORK: Collect marine turtle nests between 9am—6pm, 5—7
nights/week; maintain records on relocation and/or collection of nests,
temperatures, hatchlings released and nest cleaning; teaching and lectures.

LANGUAGE: English (with some Spanish) is needed for Marine Turtle Project.
Spanish (with some English) for teaching.
ACCOMMODATION: Please see "Cost" section below.
LONG TERM: Long-term positions possible for outstanding volunteers.
APPLICATION: By e-mail or telephone.



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ARCAS — Asociaciòn de Rescate y Conservaciòn de Vida Silvestre
21c Calle 9—44 'A' Zona 11 Mariscal, Guatemala, Guatemala
Tel./Fax: ++(502)476 6001
E-mail: arcaspeten@... — arcas@...
www.rds.org.gt/arcas/
www2.gol.com/users/chapa/cphomepage/arcasinfo.html
DESCRIPTION: ARCAS has 2 projects: a Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation
Centre, established in 1990, in order to rescue, rehabilitate and release
wild animals confiscated from traffickers. It has released 300—600 animals
per year into the Mayan Biosphere Reserve (MBR). The project is also a focal
point for environmental education and awareness-raising in the MBR through
its Environmental Education and Interpretation Centre. The second project is
a Sea Turtle Conservation Centre. Its goal is the conservation of the
endangered sea turtles that come to beaches on the Pacific Coast to nest.
The primary way to conserve the turtles is to collect and incubate as many
eggs as possible. ARCAS has also a caiman and iguana breeding programme,
mangrove reforestation and environmental education.
SPECIES: The centre receives many different species from the MBR, which
include: birds (parrots, scarlet macaws, toucans, aracaries), mammals
(spider and howler monkeys, raccoons, coatimundis, pacas, margays, kinkajous
peccaries, bairds tapirs, jaguars) and reptiles (iguanas, turtles,
crocodiles, caimans). The seaturtles are: Olive Ridley Sea Turtle,
Leatherback Sea Turtle.
HABITAT: Tropical forest, tropical beach, mangrove coastal wetland.
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION: The Wildlife Centre is near the city of Flores; the
Seaturtle Conservation Project is on the Pacific Coast.
TRAVEL INFORMATION: Airplane to Guatemala City, then bus to Flores or
Monterrico, then by boat to the projects.
DURATION: For generic volunteers min. 1 week. For internships or research
projects, min. 1 month.
PERIOD: Year round for the Wildlife Centre. From June to November, with a
peak in August and September, for the Seaturtle Project.
AGE: Min. 18.
QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS: No specific skills required for generic
volunteers. Candidates for internships or research projects must be students
or researchers in a conservation related field.
VOLUNTEERS WORK: Volunteers help cleaning cages and feeding and caring for
the animals. Special projects may include: observing the animals in the
rehabilitation area, building cages, animal releases, etc. Research and
internship opportunities are in the area of wildlife veterinary medicine,
rehabilitation, nutrition and environmental education. In the Seaturtle
Project volunteers assist in patrolling beaches at night in search of
nesting sea turtles, collection and burial of eggs in the hatcheries and
collection of data. Volunteers can also take part in caiman breeding,
mangrove reforestation, construction and upkeep of park facilities and
environmental educational activities in area schools. Everyone is expected
to help in house cleaning and dish washing.
LANGUAGE: English, basic Spanish is highly desirable.
LONG TERM: Volunteers can stay for as long as they want. Volunteers can
also spend some time in each project.
APPLICATION: A simple application for the regular volunteer programme. For
the research and internship opportunities candidates must send a letter of
reference from their university, a short essay explaining their personal
motivation for participating in the project, a CV and 3 passport-size
photographs.

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ARFA — ASOCIACION DE RESCATE DE FAUNA
Calle La Vista, Edif. La Vista, Apto. 11—B, Colinas de Los Caobos, Caracas
1050 Venezuela
Tel.: ++58 (212) 782 4182
Fax: ++58 (212) 793 4421
E-mail: valio1@...
www.geocities.com/arfavenezuela/index.html
DESCRIPTION: ARFA is an NGO devoted to the conservation of wildlife in
Venezuela, through educational programmes and its centre where animals of
the central plains are rescued and rehabilitated.
SPECIES: Capuchin monkey (cebus olivacea), howler monkey (allouata sealicus)
aquatic turtles and terrapins, parrots, macaw (Ara spp.). Occasionaly deer
(Manzama americana), ant eating bear (Myrmecophaga tridactila), iguana,
alligator, some birds of prey and many other bird species from the area.
HABITAT: Plains or flatlands, 'llanos' (similar to savannah), rainforest.
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION: Flatlands of the Edo.Cojedes, between the towns of Las
Vegas and Tirado, Central Venezuela.
TRAVEL INFORMATION: Airplane to Caracas , car or bus from Caracas to project
area. Transportation from Caracas to project area will be provided.
DURATION: Min. 1 month.
PERIOD: Year round.
AGE: Min. 20.
QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS: High school diploma, veterinary or biology
studies helpful but not necessary and good physical condition.
VOLUNTEERS WORK: Feeding the animals, facility maintenance, assistance with
the ecological educational programmes, wildlife record keeping and
observation, assistance on wildlife rehabilitation.
LANGUAGE: Spanish, but staff also understands English.
ACCOMMODATION: Private room in a house with indoor bathroom and shower.
COST: Room, accommodation and simple meals are provided.
LONG TERM: There is no limit of time for long-term stays.
APPLICATION: Via e-mail with the subject heading: 'Volunteer program'. In
the text, include CV, letter of intentions and possible dates.
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GREAT WHITE SHARK PROJECT
South African White Shark Research Institute (WSRI)
P.O. Box 50775, V & A Waterfront, Cape Town 8001 South Africa
Tel.: ++27 (21) 552 9794
Fax: ++27 (21) 552 9795
e-mail: whiteshark@...
www.whiteshark.co.za
DESCRIPTION: The history of the project includes an extensive tagging
program from 1990 to 1998, tissue sampling for genetic analysis, blood
extraction for hormonal analysis. Currently, the project includes data on
environmental parameters, recording of individual markings, sex, size
estimation and individual behaviour at the boat. Although the project still
conducts extensive data collection, great emphasis is placed on education
and conservation programs.
SPECIES:Great White Shark - Carcharodon carcharias.
HABITAT: South Atlantic Marine, Coastal and Island area.
GEOGRAFIC LOCATION: Dyer Island & Geyser Rock, four miles offshore of
Gansbaai, Western Cape, South Africa.
TRAVEL INFORMATION: By airplane to Cape Town, then transport to Gansbaai
(190 km, close to Dyer Island) is organised by WSP.
DURATION: 14 days. Volunteers for longer durations are considered after
they have completed the 14 day programme.
PERIOD: Year round.
AGE: Min. 18.
QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS: Priority is given to applicants who are students
of marine biology, filming arts and who are interested in a career in marine
tourism. Anyone can apply, all applications are taken on merit.
VOLUNTEERS WORK: Field data collection work of free swimming white sharks,
recording environmental conditions and white shark activity. Work also
includes hands on boat work, on-shore work, cage diving, lectures and
working with tourists.
LANGUAGE: English.
ACCOMMODATION: Students will stay at the WSP lodge in Kleinbaai. Student
rooms are comfortable and meals are excellent.
LONG TERM: In general is available only to volunteers who have completed the
14 day program, but all applications for longer terms are considered. The
term is a minimum of one month and the cost is $500 per month.
AGENTS, CORRESPONDENTS: Contact directly the project.
APPLICATION: An application form will be sent upon request.

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WAKULUZU, FRIENDS OF THE COLOBUS TRUST
Wakuluzu Trust
P.O. Box 5380, Diani Beach, Kenya
Tel: ++ (254) 127-3519
Fax: ++ (254) 127-2412
E-mail: wakuluzu@... — colobus@...
www.dianibeach.com/colobustrust/ — www.colobustrust.org
DESCRIPTION: The trust is a local organization run by a voluntary director,
Paula Kahumbu, committed to saving the Angolan Colobus Monkey and preserving
it's coastal forest habitat.
SPECIES : Angolan Colobus (Colobus angolensis spp. palliatus) and other
primate species eg. Olive baboons, Sykes, Vervets, Bush Babies.
HABITAT: Tropical Coral Rag Forest
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION: Diani Beach, South Mombasa Coast, Kenya.
TRAVEL INFORMATION: Airplane to Nairobi or Mombasa, or train from Nairobi to
Mombasa.
DURATION: Min. 6 weeks.
PERIOD: Year round.
AGE: Min.22.
QUALIFICATIONS/ SKILLS: Preferably undergraduates or graduates with
experience in conservation, education, zoology,
journalism, ecology related research or veterinary medicine.
VOLUNTEERS WORK: Administration, research-field work, injury care and rescue
building colobridges, public awareness and
education.
LANGUAGES: English. German, French and Swahili are useful but not essential.

ACCOMODATION: In a house, with shared rooms and facilities. Mosquito net
required Bed Linen provided.
LONG TERM: Volunteers are able to stay longer, subject to prior approval.
AGENTS / CORRESPONDENTS:
Born Free Foundation 3 Grove House
Founary Lane Horsham
W.Sussex Rh13 5PL
England.
APPLICATION: There is a standard form to be completed and a CV required with
2 references.
NOTES: The atmosphere is very informal, no private rooms are available.