Montseny Bird Station (Catalonia)

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION
The volunteer will participate in various projects, some of them are:
Conservation campaigns and scientific monitoring tasks, bird censuses, scientific bird ringing, building nest boxes, developing of ecology scientific studies through monitoring of bird populations as well as other kind of fauna. Environmental education, nest monitoring, climate change studies, data entry, Natural Park management activities and helping with the organization of workshops. Maintenance tasks on house and garden and welcoming guests. Most tasks are developed outdoors, so you have to be willing to work outdoors in harsh conditions and able to hike on steep mountains. Application open until all candidates are found. For further information, please contact carles7292@gmail.com or visit @EBMontseny_ico on Instagram or Twitter.

ACCOMMODATION, FOOD AND TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS

The volunteer will live in the Fontmartina building, located inside Montseny Natural Park. The house is a typical mountain building that meets the necessary requirements, with 3 showers and 2 toilets, shared kitchen and dining room, all essential accessories, including basic furniture, office and two shared bedrooms. WiFi is free but poor. The area is quite isolated, surrounded by forest and 25 min away by car from the nearest big city (Sant Celoni). Public transport negligible, but we offer a car to share. Shopping and cooking is done all together, vegans/vegetarians welcome. As the building is isolated, it's possible to experience shortages of water, electricity or services. 

TRAINING DURING THE ACTIVITY

The work of the volunteers will have as their final objective their training as professionals linked to nature and the environment, learning about monitoring and management techniques, as well as other basic skills needed in a natural, forested and rural environment. At the beginning we will give classes on bird's biology, how to identify birds by sight and call, how to do census and how to take samples, as well as bird ringing. Part of the activities will be demonstrative, such as workshops and field trips with other environmental management organisations.

PARTICIPANT PROFILE
The ideal candidate will have a scientific and environmental background, but young candidates with the will of learning about the environment are also welcome. We look for people motivated, willing to learn about birds but also to teach the others, that can keep a nice work environment (and also while sharing a house), physically fit, able to work in steep mountains for up to 4 hours, flexible about timetables or tasks and proactive. No previous knowledge of birds is needed, but it will be a plus. Duration is 12 moths from your starting date. Only EU residents.

STIPEND
Monthly stipend of €300. Some travelling costs adapted to distance travelled. We also provide accommodation, shared car, and we pay the petrol of the kilometres done inside de Natural Park. The project is funded by the ESC (European Solidarity Corps).