The Tambopata Macaw Project is receiving applications NOW for our pre- Breeding Season 2017 positions
(September 2016 to November 2016)
General requirements:
Volunteers should be self-disciplined, responsible, enthusiastic, and patient. You should also be able to tolerate moderate insect levels, and hot weather (85-90F/30-33C with high humidity). You must also be able to get along well with others in a remote field setting.
Additional requirements:
Good physical condition, able to carry a 40 lb (18 kg) pack over moderate terrain for up to 2 km, no fear of heights.
Volunteer activities:
You will be trained to: (1) identify all parrots by sight and sound, (2) climb trees using rope systems to check macaw chicks, (3) monitor macaw nests using video cameras, (4) monitor the clay lick, (5) conduct parrot censuses, (6) locate foraging parrots and (7)enter data in computers.
TWO different positions
Position # 1: Short-term volunteer assistant (min 30 days)
Qualifications: (1) Some background knowledge of birds in general, (2) Good sense of observing animals,
(3) Capacity of stay seated for long periods of time, (4) Some knowledge of Spanish (not required but helpful)
Costs: $40 per day
Position # 2: Long-term volunteer assistant (min 8 weeks, recommended 10 weeks)
Qualifications: (1) Previous field work experience, (2) Biology/Ecology/Forestry degree or Senior Students (or similar careers), (3) Some knowledge of Spanish (not required but helpful).
Cost: $20 per day
How to apply:
To apply please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
This email should contain the following:
1.A letter of interest explaining why you are want to work on the project
2.Your CV or resume
3.Email addresses for at least 3 references
4.The range of dates when you will be available and how long you can participate.
The Tambopata Macaw Project is a long term research project on the ecology and conservation of macaws and parrots in the lowlands of southeastern Peru under the direction of Dr. Donald Brightsmith of the Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center at Texas A&M University.
The Tambopata Macaw Project has been working with wildlife and local communities since 1989. A long history of dedicated research and monitoring has provided many insights into various aspects of parrot and wildlife of south eastern Peru. We are always looking to collaborate with anyone with a passion for conservation and biology. We have supported many national and international students and look forward to hearing from you should you wish to participate in our project or conduct your studies with our support.
Tambopata is a unique forest environment, with the highest concentrations of avian clay licks in the world. A range of animals come to satisfy their need for salt along the river banks of the region. The experience of hundreds of macaws at a claylick is one of the world's ornithological highlights. The Tambopata faces imminent threat from the paving of a highway through one of the planet's most biodiverse regions. We need all the help and assistence we can get to try and understand what the impacts may be for one of the forests major icons.
This site has been designed to explain research being undertaken, to provide public access to reports and publications about our macaw research and for anyone who is interested in the project and is thinking of taking part.
Macaws at the Tambopata clay lick Researchers and Volunteers of the Project