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Pacific Ocean Jungle Lodge

Placement number:  0037
Location: Costa Rica 
Preferred Languages:  Spanish mainly some English 
Date: All Year
Minimum Period: 2 months

On a gentle hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the Jungle Lodge offers nature lovers an outstanding opportunity to experience the amazing diversity of life in a lowland tropical rainforest.

Amigos de las Aves initiated a Scarlet Macaw reintroduction programme at Tiskita lodge in the Punta Banco/Pavones area on the South Pacific coast of Costa Rica . Our already introduced flock of Scarlets have formed pairs, flocking bonds  heirarchy bonds.  Behaviours amongst the existing birds and the newly introduced birds is ongoing.  Work with our biologist, Ilona Thewissen MSC in the field, to conduct field studies, in an accurate and scientific manner, with an already established flock of macaw and new flocks as re-introduction occurs.

Role of Volunteer

Ideal for Thesis research and study of Scarlet Macaws.
Intensive monitoring programmes are constantly being carried out. During specific observation periods, movement, behaviour and activity of the individual will be recorded (to the minute).

Feeding:  Food species, part of plant eaten, time to eat fruits and dexterity.

Behaviours:  preening (self and allo-preening), display, types of flight (direct or playful), play, squawking, walking, climbing and interactions.

Response:    to humans: do they approach or fly away from people? to new birds.

Alertness:  to preditors and humans.  Do they respond to potential predators/threats and, if so, do they respond in due time?

Differences between individuals:  the establishment of pair-bonds and associated behavioural traits, dietary preferences, the 'heirarchy' within flock, individual's behavioural comparability with wild Macaws.

An estimate of the quantity and variety of wild foods eaten by each individual.

General daily movement patterns:   roost site fidelity, distances covered in a day and, willingness to leave the release area.

Volunteers can help with several aspects at the Jungle Lodge.  They can help on the conservation programs or act as a host for the tourists acting as translators and guides.

We are looking for volunteers who would like to teach our guides and local children no formal qualifications are required but you must speak spanish!

We are particularly hoping to get volunteers who conduct scientific study while at the lodge.  Therefore here is PERFECT to base THESIS RESEARCH.

 

Amigos de Las Aves is the Mother project where captive breeding takes place.

Cost

$5 daily to "Amigos de las Aves" project.  Free cabin (available for two people but no cooking facilities) or live in the tree house (water but no electricity).  You only need to cover the cost of your own food cost at the local "soda" (depending waht you eat).

Travel

You will need to travel by bus from the Breeding Centre to Tiskita - around $10.  The Breeding Centre is 10 minutes away from the main SJO airport in Costa Rica.

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