MACAW PROJECT VOLUNTEER in Peru

Nov 2004 - Oct 2005 (2 - 3 month stay requested). Join the ongoing macaw and parrot research program doing daily counts as hundreds of parrots and macaws come to visit the world's largest parrot clay lick (see Nat. Geographic Jan 1994 for details). The study site, Tambopata Research Center, is located in some of the world's most diverse rain forests. The area boasts the highest avian diversity in the world (about 600 species) including toucans, trogons and 20 species of parrots. Good opportunities exist to see tapirs, monkeys and other rain forest specialties. The study site is a tourist lodge run by Rainforest Expeditions
(URL: http://www.perunature.com) an ecotourism company that supports the research program. Volunteers will share accommodations with company guides and other investigators. Duties will include observation of birds at clay licks, parrot point counts, foraging observations and plant phenology work. Applicants must be self-disciplined, responsible, patient, and able to get along well with others in remote field setting. By Jul the no-see-ums can be rather bad, so volunteers must be able to tolerate insects. Preference given to those with knowledge of Spanish. Six week commitment minimum, 2 - 3 month stay preferred. Volunteers must pay their transportation to Puerto Maldonado, Peru and $10 per day to cover the cost of food and lodging. To apply please send resume, dates of availability, e-mails for 3 references, and a brief letter of introduction to DON BRIGHTSMITH, Duke University Dept. of Biology, (PH: 919-471-0464, EM: djb4 AT duke.edu). For more information see the Tambopata Macaw Project web site (URL: http://www.duke.edu/~djb4).