Available Placements Ecotourism Conservation Humanitarian Teaching ResearchOrganic Farms

Macaw Conservation

Placement number:  0032
Location: Costa Rica 
Preferred Languages: English but some Spanish would be useful
Date: All Year
Minimum Period: 1 month in Breeding Centre, 2 months or more at the release site.

Amigos de las Aves is  a non profit organisation dedicated to the conservation of the Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) and the Great Green Macaw (Ara amigua). We have grown from two birds to well over 400. We breed macaws to release into the wild and we have one of the most successful re-introduction programs in the world.

The Breeding Centre, Refuge and Zoological Gardens.

The Breeding Centre is situated in the cental valley and our main aims are to breed and raise macaws for release.

Role of Volunteer

General aviary maintenance and husbandry
Cleaning, scrubbing, sweeping, repairs, perching, health issues.

Environmental enrichment
Making toys from an assortment of materials.

Food supplementation and feeding
Collecting, chopping and feeding of birds, several times daily.

General center maintenance
Maintenance of aviaries, perches, feeding stations, dogs.

Observational requirements
Daily rounds of observation ensuring health and wellbeing.

Refuge care
TLC from A-Z for confiscated and injured birds. 

The Education Centre at the Breeding Centre

At our Education Centre we have our own custom built education program and tour, who's main focus is the local school children and our visitors.  We also have our own outreach to schools.  We aim to bring first hand, the problems that the indigenous birds are having within Costa Rica and of course, the far reaching consequences.  We educate the local children and encourage them to help and make a difference by  learning more about the birds -  how they behave, what they are eating and how Amigos can help.
The breeding process in depth from baby to grown adult is demonstated and they meet a bird up close and personal, tour the breeding centre and learn all about Amigos work.

 

Role of Volunteer

 

If you think you can go out to schools with our travelling package or just teach at our education centre, then you will need to speak Spanish.

Fund Raising & Promotion
If there is anyone who might have skills in this direction we would be most interested to hear from you.  If you have the Scarlet Macaw dear to your heart and think you might be able to help raise awareness and funding to allow us to continue our pioneering work - please get in touch.

If you would like to volunteer at our Breeding Centre and Refuge, we have a family homestay within five minutes walk of the Centre.   Most of the rooms have showers and the charge is $12 per day for three meals, laundry and all your home away from home comforts.

For information regarding volunteering at the release sites go to the 
  Pacific Ocean Jungle Lodge

Volunteer stories

Find out what our past volunteers thought of this placement!

Christine Gray, June - July 2006
"They are a wonderful organisation, the volunteer program is easy, educational and a once in a lifetime opportunity. I would recomend it to anyone!"

Cost

There is no charge for volunteering at the Breeding Centre.

Homestay is five minutes away and is $15 a day for three meals and laundry.

Travel

Volunteers are expected to travel by themselves to the centre which is 10 minutes from San Jose Airport

 

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