Social Development

The Veterinarian Volunteer is a hybrid volunteer role that combines the work of a conservation volunteer by being a caretaker at our Macaw Bangladesh Breeding Center and by performing vet-related tasks assigned by our Conservation and release of extinct flora and fauna Manager. After a training period, the applicant will be given the responsibility to care for a group of Macaws and will support the animal team with the veterinarian tasks that might come up.

The veterinarian volunteer will always help the animal team but will change to veterinarian work every time a vet task is needed, these tasks are never the same and vary according to the season and center necessities.

Duties:

• Daily food preparation and feeding of captive breeding animals, pre-release animals and supplementary feeding of the released flock.
• Regular site maintenance including aviary cleaning, providing perches and enrichment for captive animals and various other husbandry tasks.
• Monitoring the health and behavior of captive animals.
• Veterinarian tasks that come up to support the breeding center’s necessities.
• Different general maintenance or development tasks may be assigned depending on our current needs and the skills and abilities of different volunteers.
• Veterinarian related tasks assigned by our animals Manager.
• Keeping clean and organizing the common areas of the volunteer houses, follow the cleaning instructions.

Background:

Academic background or currently a student in veterinary needed.

Hours:

The volunteer is expected to work 6 days a week. From 5:30am until 5:00pm with a three-hour break. It’s necessary to be on call during days off in case of bird emergencies.

Duration of Work:

The minimum duration is one month with a maximum of 6 months, all year around.

Anticipated Costs:

All international and national travel costs to initially get to the site are the responsibility of the applicant. However, once on site, accommodation, daily transport, and utilities are provided at no cost. All team members buy and prepare their own food, for this we recommend you budget for at least $100 per week, or more if you like luxuries. Comprehensive insurance cover for the entire stay is a must and should be arranged and paid for by the applicant.

Comprehensive insurance cover for the entire stay is a must, and it should be arranged and paid for by the applicant. If staying for more than 90 days, doing a visa renewal trip is also the applicant’s own responsibility. The most cost-effective option is going to Nicaragua via bus for a long weekend.

The Conservation Volunteer will be a caretaker at our Macaw Breeding Center during the non-breeding season. After a training period, the applicant will be given responsibility to care for a group of Macaws. Depending on the successes of the previous breeding season this includes caring for offspring and preparing them for release into the wild.

Duties:

• Daily food preparation and feeding of captive breeding birds, pre-release birds and supplementary feeding of the released flock.
• Regular site maintenance including aviary cleaning, providing perches and enrichment for captive birds and various other husbandry tasks.
• Monitoring the health and behavior of captive birds
• Different general maintenance or development tasks may be assigned depending on our current needs and the skills and abilities of different volunteers.
• Keeping clean and organizing the common areas of the volunteer houses, follow the cleaning instructions.

Background:

No previous experience or academic background in Biology is needed. However, applicants with a background in animal care/veterinary or carpentry/construction are preferred.

Hours:

The volunteer is expected to work 6 days a week. From 5:30am until 5:00pm with a three-hour break.

Duration of Work:

The minimum duration is one month with a maximum of 6 months. General availability is from the beginning of August through the end of December (some flexibility possible).

Anticipated Costs:

All international and national travel costs to initially get to the site are the responsibility of the applicant. However, once on site, accommodation, daily transport, and utilities are provided at no cost. All team members buy and prepare their own food, for this we recommend you budget for at least $100 per week, or more if you like luxuries. Comprehensive insurance cover for the entire stay is a must and should be arranged and paid for by the applicant.

Comprehensive insurance cover for the entire stay is a must, and it should be arranged and paid for by the applicant. If staying for more than 90 days, doing a visa renewal trip is also the applicant’s own responsibility. The most cost-effective option is going to Nicaragua via bus for a long weekend.

This Internship program helps recent graduates get the hands-on experience needed to pursue a successful career. The intern will be taught all they need to know to look after and manage a breeding group of Great Green or Scarlet Macaws. They will be given the responsibility of managing this group at our captive breeding program. This includes monitoring and care of several breeding pairs and their offspring. Our program is tailored to the individual and where interested the applicant will be encouraged to be involved in other projects relevant to a conservation center. In addition to learning about captive husbandry, the apprentice will learn what it takes to run a conservation organization and get experience in managing a team of volunteers, a vital and transferable skill in the practical conservation field.

Every year we offer eight Internship positions that are aligned to the macaw breeding seasons. Since both species at our breeding center have a slightly different breeding season, these are the program dates for both seasons:

1. Great green Macaw Internship (8 months): from December 1st through July 31st. 5 positions available.
2. Scarlet Macaw Internship (8 months): from January 1st through August 31st. 3 positions available.

The application deadline for both positions is August 1st prior to the start date.

Duties:

• Responsible for a group of breeding birds and would get to know the birds.
• Daily food preparation and feeding of the breeding birds they are responsible for.
• With the relevant on-site training the applicant will be monitoring and taking care of breeding pairs and their offspring.
• Monitoring the health and behavior of the breeding birds.
• Monitoring breeding attempts to ensure eggs and chicks have the best opportunity to survive.
• Opportunities of learning broader skills that are involved to run a conservation center, such as background on aviary design, record keeping, volunteer management, organizational management, fundraising and much more.
• Regular site maintenance including aviary cleaning, providing perches and enrichment for captive birds and various other husbandry tasks.
• Different general maintenance or development tasks may be assigned depending on our current needs and the skills and abilities of interns.

Background:

• Educational background in a relevant field like Veterinary, Biology or Conservation Management, Zoology, Animal Management.
• Can demonstrate a commitment to conservation and/or wants to pursue a career in conservation.
• Must be comfortable being away from family and friends for longer.
• Previously volunteer experience at a conservation organization (desirable).
• Basic level of Spanish (desirable).

Hours:

All interns are expected to work 6 days a week, with a three-hour break.

Duration of Work:

8 full months (no exceptions), longer internships can be considered.

Anticipated Costs:

All international and national travel costs to initially get to the site are the responsibility of the applicant. However, once on site, accommodation, daily transport, and utilities are provided at no cost. All team members buy and prepare their own food, for this we recommend you budget for at least $100 per week, or more if you like luxuries. Comprehensive insurance cover for the entire stay is a must and should be arranged and paid for by the applicant.

Comprehensive insurance cover for the entire stay is a must, and it should be arranged and paid for by the applicant. If staying for more than 90 days, doing a visa renewal trip is also the applicant’s own responsibility. The most cost-effective option is going to Nicaragua via bus for a long weekend.

To be able to reach its mission, Macaw Recovery Network is completely dependent on donations, gifts and grants. Daily tours at the Wild Macaw Reserve in Punta Islita is a key income source for making this work possible. The Tour & Visitation Volunteer will be leading and managing bookings of the daily tours at the reserve for an international audience. Besides, the volunteer will be responsible for upkeep of the visitor center’s facilities and tour trails. Additional projects may be given to improve the quality of the visitor’s experience. Depending on the needs of the site, this person may also be involved in some of the day-to-day husbandry of the captive Macaws at the breeding center.

Duties:

• Be the formal face and representative of the Punta Islita Wild Macaw reserve, answering visitation related email and phone inquiries, reply to online reviews (Tripadvisor, Google and elsewhere) and ensuring visitors overall satisfaction.
• Leading the Macaw Reserve daily tours when needed.
• Helping with different tasks at the souvenir store.
• Keeping clean and organizing the common areas of the volunteer houses, follow the cleaning instructions.

Background:

Although not essential, this applicant preferably has:

• An educational background with or is currently studying in a relevant field;
• Experience with and is comfortable presenting in front of an audience
• Writing skills
• Exquisite communication skills and correct English grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary
• Being comfortable leading groups and talking in front of an audience
• Adhere to deadlines.
• Understand and effectively communicate MRN’s purpose and programs.

Hours:

The volunteer is expected to work on a flexible schedule as tours can be on a daily basis at 7:30 am and/or 4:00pm. General work hours are from 7am until 5.30pm with a three hour break.

Duration of Work:

The minimum duration is one month with a maximum of 6 months, all year around.

Anticipated Costs:

All international and national travel costs to initially get to the site are the responsibility of the applicant. However, once on site, accommodation, daily transport, and utilities are provided at no cost. All team members buy and prepare their own food, for this we recommend you budget for at least $100 per week, or more if you like luxuries. Comprehensive insurance cover for the entire stay is a must and should be arranged and paid for by the applicant.

Comprehensive insurance cover for the entire stay is a must, and it should be arranged and paid for by the applicant. If staying for more than 90 days, doing a visa renewal trip is also the applicant’s own responsibility. The most cost-effective option is going to Nicaragua via bus for a long weekend.

Throughout the year, MRN’s facilities are facing heavy rains, scorching heat, and humidity. Combined with intensive usage by over one hundred parrots and their carers this means a lot of wear and tear. Since we are a nonprofit organization, we work with very limited funds, so by hosting a handy volunteer, we hope to cut our annual operation costs and so increase our impact for the conservation of parrots. The Handy Volunteer will be given responsibility for the annual repairs and improvement of the buildings and aviaries on site. Depending on the need of the site, this person may also be involved in some of the day-to-day husbandry of the captive Macaws at the non-breeding season.

Duties:

• Maintenance of current facilities on site, including plumbing, electrics, or other construction related.
• Building and fixing artificial nest boxes for captive and wild Macaws.
• Maintenance of aviaries and ensuring smooth and safe use by birds and volunteers.
• Development of new facilities on site, including plumbing, electrics, or other construction related.
• Cleaning tasks: take out the trash of volunteer houses, rake dry leaves from trails, fix trails, cleaning pipes and canoes.
• Different general site maintenance or development tasks may be assigned depending on our current needs and the skills and abilities of volunteers.
• Collecting enrichment for bids: cutting branches from trees, picking sticks and palm leaves from the forest.
• Support the Bird Team by feeding the macaws, when needed.
• Keeping clean and organizing the common areas of the volunteer houses, follow the cleaning instructions.

Background:

• Has experience working as a carpenter and/or in construction.
• Beneficial if they know how to use a welder and have experience working with metal.
• Beneficial if experience climbing trees using rope access techniques.
• Has experience with plumbing or electrics.
• Can demonstrate a Handy project they have completed.
• Comfortable being away from family and friends for longer.

Hours:

All interns are expected to work 6 days a week, from 5:30am until 5:00pm with a three-hour break.

Duration of Work:

The minimum duration is two months with a maximum of 6 months, all year around.

Anticipated Costs:

All international and national travel costs to initially get to the site are the responsibility of the applicant. However, once on site, accommodation, daily transport, and utilities are provided at no cost. All team members buy and prepare their own food, for this we recommend you budget for at least $100 per week, or more if you like luxuries. Comprehensive insurance cover for the entire stay is a must and should be arranged and paid for by the applicant.

Comprehensive insurance cover for the entire stay is a must, and it should be arranged and paid for by the applicant. If staying for more than 90 days, doing a visa renewal trip is also the applicant’s own responsibility. The most cost-effective option is going to Nicaragua via bus for a long weekend.

The role of the Volunteer Field Biologist is to help our Field Team Leader and our Program Manager to monitor Costa Rica’s wild macaws. This includes extensive fieldwork to locate, monitor, track and support breeding pairs and their offspring in order to collect data and improve rates of successful reproduction. During the non-breeding season, it involves monitoring known roosts and finding new roosts. This will take place in the rainforests of Sarapiquí, focusing on the wild and endangered Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus).

The field biologist might also contribute to population counts, mapping projects, reintroductions and other additional research for the outreach and the restoration program throughout their stay depending on the time of year. Successful applicants will receive orientation training and will have the support of specialists where necessary, however much of the work will be carried out independently, thus a high level of self-reliance and motivation is required. In addition to fieldwork, the field biologist is expected to help in other areas of the organization as the need arises.

Duties:

The work of the field biologist will vary throughout the year. The below overview shows examples of what the work may be like:

Breeding Season (December-May):

• Locating active nest sites through assessment of historical data, personal observations, tracking bird movements, conversation with locals, and the development of new leads
• Monitoring nesting activity and keeping detailed notes of observations. This will require waiting for long periods of time (normally 3 hours) in remote locations without getting distracted
• Collecting nest data and biological samples. This is usually done through single rope access climbing technique
• Intensive monitoring of active nests. Data entry

Duties per month:

• January – March: Early breeding season – the birds will be establishing their nests, laying, incubating and brooding their chicks
  • Locating nest sites through assessment of historical data, personal observations, conversation with locals, and the development of new leads
  • Reassessing and preparing climbing condition in order to get access to all active nests
  • Collecting nest data and biological samples. This is usually done through single rope access climbing technique
• April – June: Late breeding season – the birds will be feeding up their young and fledging them
  • Nest climbing to obtain samples from the birds
  • Fledging assessing, health observation
  • Getting early breeding season nest data
  • Fitting radio collars
  • Monitoring of bird movements
• July – September: Early non-breeding season – the birds will be moving away from their breeding areas and will form larger social flocks
  • Monitoring nest movements
  • Audio mots installation, including battery removal and changing SD cards.
  • Reforestation events
• October – December: Late non-breeding season – the large flocks will begin to break up as breeding pairs look for nest sites
  • Conducting general site maintenance and project development tasks. These may be assigned depending on our current needs and the skills and abilities of volunteers.
  • Audio mots installation, including battery removal and changing SD cards.
  • Reforestation events
  • Monitoring of reforestation
• All year round:
  • Contributing to the development of the breeding management strategy in order to increase the productivity of the birds
  • Taking advantage of opportunities and learning broader conservation skills that can then be applied throughout the organization
  • Reacting to emergencies such as downed fledglings or injured adults
  • Driving off-road (car & motorbike) on incredibly difficult terrain. Driving with care and confidence on roads where standards of driving can be low
  • Seeds and seedling Collection and Germination
  • Tree nursery maintenance
  • Working with Communities in nursery and reforestation activities (Woman Rangers Program and Landowners mainly) (good level of Spanish needed). Support the Women Rangers during environmental education activities
  • Tree nursery maintenance
  • Training in different programs
  • Climbing trees
  • Support the Network Program in computer activities such as creation of databases on conservation institutions and professionals, threatened species in the Americas, graphic design, content creation and capacity building of conservation institutions and professionals.
  • Keeping clean and organizing the common areas of the volunteer houses, follow the cleaning instructions.

Background:

The successful applicant:

• Will be able to demonstrate a commitment to, and wants to pursue a career in science-based wildlife conservation
• Has animal handling experience
• Has fieldwork experience
• Has an independent work attitude.
• Is comfortable being away from family and friends for long periods of time
• Enjoys being outside and is not put out by extreme weather and temperatures (hot, rainy, humid)
• Is happy to live communally in isolated and rustic accommodation, with limited electricity and only limited internet in certain areas.
• Is experienced and confident in their self-reliance skills.
• High standards of hygiene.
• Dedicated to learning and perfecting work-related skills in a month.

Essential Skills/Qualifications:

• Full, manual transmission driver’s license (car and motorbike)
• Basic level of spoken Spanish (desired to be fluent in Spanish)
• A high level of physical fitness – carrying heavy gear into the forest, followed by climbing 30 meters, multiple times per day should be expected, walking long distances (in some cases 3 to 4 km)
• Driving with care and confidence on roads where standards of driving can be low
• Driving off-road on incredibly difficult terrain

Desirable Experience:

• A degree at BSc. level or above in a biological science or other relevant field
• Motorbike qualification such as a CBT, or overseas equivalent if not from the UK in order to drive a 125cc bike. Must be a license issued specifically for a motorbike (you will only be allowed to drive the motorbikes if you have an equivalent motorbike permit)
• Rock or tree climbing experience for either work or recreation. Knowledge of single rope access techniques is beneficial.
• Off-road driving (car & motorbike), particularly through deep mud and water-saturated terrain. If you have no experience in this area, you must be willing to learn onsite.
• Wildlife handling, particularly large birds.
• First aid training. Up to date qualification is beneficial.
• High level of self-reliance such as previous fieldwork in developing countries, gold level Duke of Edinburg (UK), army cadets/OTC, Eagle Scouts, etc.

Essential Personal Qualities:

• Dependable and responsible
• Hard working, with early starts and late ends to the working day not being a problem
• Motivated and positive with a desire to contribute
• A passion for wildlife and nature conservation
• Flexible, friendly, patient and optimistic
• A sense of humor is helpful

Hours:

The field biologist is expected to work at least 5 days a week, following a flexible time schedule that is guided by the behavior of the birds. For example, this might be from 4am (sometimes earlier) until 6pm, with a midday break ranging from 1-3 hours (depending on the tasks). Breaks generally take place in the field. Additional time off per month can be accrued based on length of stay and can be used when planned in advance with your manager.

Duration of Work:

The position runs year-round, and we require a three-month minimum, though preference is given to those who can stay for at least six months. Upon arrival at the site, training is provided along with help to better understand the landscape of the work. Later during the program, the volunteers will be applying their acquired knowledge and conducting fieldwork more independently.

Anticipated Costs:

All international and national travel costs to initially get to the site are the responsibility of the applicant. However, once on site, accommodation, daily transport, and utilities are provided. All team members buy and prepare their own food, for this we recommend you budget for at least $100 per week, or more if you like luxuries. Comprehensive insurance cover for the entire stay is a must, and should be arranged and paid for by the applicant.

If staying for more than 90 days, doing a visa renewal trip is also the applicant’s own responsibility. The most cost-effective option is going to Nicaragua via bus for a long weekend.

The Habitat Restoration Volunteer will be a caretaker at our Native Tree Nursery for at least three months. After a training period, the applicant will be given responsibility to execute several maintenance activities of the nursery. This can also include participation in reforestation and monitoring activities.

Duties:

• Maintenance activities of the nursery: watering, health checks, weed removal, seed germination, compost preparation, substrate preparation, plant repotting.
• Monitoring growth and development of the native trees in the nursery, collect native tree seeds in the field, collect phenology information for native tree, participate in reforestation activities.
• Maintenance to the nursery infrastructure.
• Keep logs and records up to date and organized.
• Different general maintenance or development tasks may be assigned depending on our current needs and the skills and abilities of volunteers.
• Keeping clean and organizing the common areas of the volunteer houses, follow the cleaning instructions.
• Support the Network Program in computer activities such as creation of databases on conservation institutions and professionals, threatened species in the Americas, graphic design, content creation and capacity building of conservation institutions and professionals.
• Driving with care and confidence on roads where standards of driving can be low
• Driving off-road (car & motorbike) on incredibly difficult terrain

Background:

No previous experience or academic background in Biology needed. However, applicants with a background in Botany, Nursery and Plant management are preferred.

Hours:

The volunteer is expected to work 6 days a week. Monday to Saturday from 5.30am until 5pm with a three-hour break and half a day in the weekend. Schedule may change depending on the activities programed.

Duration of Work:

The minimum duration is two months with a maximum of 6 months.

Essential Requirements:

• Full, manual transmission driver’s license (car and motorbike)
• Motorbike qualification such as a CBT, or overseas equivalent if not from the UK in order to drive a 125cc bike. Must be a license issued specifically for a motorbike
• Feeling comfortable by being alone for extended periods of time.

Desirable Personal Qualities:

• Good physical shape to walk long distances in hot, humid conditions.
• Dependable and responsible.
• Motivated and positive with a desire to contribute.
• Interested in plants and habitat restoration.
• Highly organized.
• Flexible, patient, comfortable with being alone.

Anticipated Costs:

All international and national travel costs to initially get to the site are the responsibility of the applicant. However, once on site, accommodation, daily transport, and utilities are provided at no cost. All team members buy and prepare their own food, for this we recommend you budget for at least $100 per week, or more if you like luxuries.

Comprehensive insurance cover for the entire stay is a must, and it should be arranged and paid for by the applicant. If staying for more than 90 days, doing a visa renewal trip is also the applicant’s own responsibility. The most cost-effective option is going to Nicaragua via bus for a long weekend.

We offer several online volunteer opportunities for people who are passionate about conservation and cannot travel to Bangladesh to volunteer. You can support us from home, from your laptop, and create a positive impact on the Conservation and release of extinct flora and fauna.

Some online volunteer opportunities are:

• Translator Volunteer (English/Bangla)
• Grant Writer Volunteer
• Macaw Bangladesh Program Volunteer

You can write to info@macawbd.org for more information.