Volunteer with Birds
"The Nature Sanctuary is a very special place, that attracts like-minded people from all corners of the world. Volunteering at the Sanctuary was a perfect post-university trip for me, and opened my eyes to alternative ways of living, the importance of conservation, and the beauty of New Zealand."
Laura McClintock, Canada
Birds, also known as Aves, are a group of endothermic vertebrates that are adapted for flight. There are an incredible variety of bird species, however they share a number of similar characteristics including feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, and a strong yet lightweight skeleton. The diversity across this animal group is incredible: for example they range in size from the 5cm bee hummingbird to the 2,75m ostrich and they range in colour from the bright red, blue and yellow macaw to the silky black and white penguin to the pink flamingo. They can run, jump, swim and dive, too, and it is for good reason that birdwatching is such a popular pastime and tourism activity.
Birds are also incredibly impressive: they live across both the coldest and driest environments and still manage to flourish. Their beauty, strength and perseverance is something to be marvelled at, and on top of this, they are crucial to many of our ecosystems and to us. Birds add so much colour and song to nature that a world without them would be incredibly gloomy. You can volunteer with birds on several of our projects from the Kiwi in New Zealand to bird ringing at Nature's Valley in South Africa.
Our Projects with Birds
Wildlife Rescue & Rehab Internship Programme, Costa Rica
Duration 1-20 weeks
Join this programme as Wildlife Rescue Intern and help with wildlife rehabilitation and release, endangered species breeding and reintroduction, biodiversity preservation and lifetime care of non-releasable animals.
Conservation Volunteering Project, Spain
Duration 2 Weeks+
Immerse yourself in Spanish culture and volunteer on a conservation project in the coastal cities of Valencia or Denia.
Wildlife Conservation & San Bushmen Community Project, Namibia
Duration 10 days to 12 weeks
Prices from £1025
Join this project as a wildlife conservation, carnivore conservation or medical volunteer and help conserve wildlife or provide medical care to the San Bushmen community. Specialist Wildlife Rehabilitation courses also available. Rhino Rangers anti-poaching programme also available.
Nature's Valley Volunteer Programme, South Africa
Duration 1 to 12 weeks
Gain hands on Conservation, Education and Ecological Research experience in South Africa and help protect Nature's Valley.
Amazon Research and Conservation Volunteer & Internship Project, Peru
Duration 2+ Weeks
Volunteer or intern in Peru and have the rare opportunity to work alongside and learn from expert biologists and conservationists about the forest, tropical wildlife and conservation efforts in the deep Amazon rainforest.
Seychelles Island Conservation Volunteer Programme
Join various island and tropical wildlife conservation projects within the beautiful Nature Reserve on Cousin Island in the Seychelles. These projects are aimed at conserving the natural environment of the island that include sea turtle monitoring, bird ringing, habitat conservation and censuses of tortoises, skinks and geckos.
Wildlife Reserve Volunteer Programme, South Africa
Duration 2 - 12 Weeks
Volunteer at a wildlife reserve in South Africa. A true bush experience which gives volunteers a chance to live amongst and help to protect a range of amazing wildlife species.
Amazon Forest Rangers Volunteer Programme, Peru
Volunteer or intern in Peru and have the rare opportunity to work as a forest ranger, gaining experience in patrolling vulnerable areas and monitoring wildlife.
Wildlife Rescue Volunteer Project, Costa Rica
Opportunities for volunteers and interns to work with rescued animals, whilst also having the opportunity to learn Spanish, and take yoga lessons.
Cloud Forest Conservation & Sustainability Volunteer Project, Ecuador
Become an environmental volunteer in Ecuador to conserve a part of the Ecuadorian Cloud Forest and get involved in reforestation, organic agriculture, sustainable living and building projects, and Capuchin Monkey research.
Kiwi Conservation Volunteer & Internship Project, New Zealand
Volunteer in New Zealand and help to preserve the native forest and kiwi birds of the Kauri Coast. Explore an undiscovered forest while learning about conservation and wilderness skills.
Looking for a Volunteer Project Abroad?
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WorkingAbroad is the Go-To Website for Ethical & Responsible Volunteer & Internship Opportunities Abroad
We run volunteer programmes in over 30 countries across the world focusing on wildlife conservation and community development projects and every project we offer adheres to our ethical standards.
"Working at the sanctuary was incredible and being with the macaws was a huge privilege. Being trusted to work with them and be responsible for their daily routine was beyond my expectations. I loved every second and feel very homesick for the sanctuary and Puerto!"
Paige, UK
There is a considerable variety of species of bird and there is a similarly wide range of diet types across these species. Thus some birds are avivorous (eating other birds), carnivorous, frugivorous (fruit-eating), insectivorous (insect-eating), granivorous (grain and seeds), molluscivorous (snails, slugs or oysters), muscivorus (the sap of trees), nectivorous (flower nectar), ophiophagous (snakes), palynivorous (pollen) or piscivorous (fish). Although many birds are omnivorous, meaning they eat just about anything and everything, the above list shows just how wide ranging the specialist diets of certain species can be!
It is difficult to estimate the lifespan of all birds and across the various species, with this said, larger birds tend to have longer life spans, thus albatrosses live over 65 years, large owls can live over 20 years, and the brown pelican as long as 27 years. Smaller birds though, often have shorter lifespans: for example the hummingbird averages around 3 years and small woodpeckers between 4 and 12 years.
Ostrich eyes are the largest of any land animal? They are approximately the size of a billiard ball.
Some ducks sleep with one eye open?
In Ancient Greece, pigeons delivered the results of Olympic Games?
Worm-eating Bassian thrushes have been known to dislodge their prey from piles of leaves by directing their farts at them?
Although they stand out on land, penguins black and white coats are the perfect camouflage underwater?
Budgerigars, or budgies, a common parakeet, are the only bird species so far discovered who are susceptible to contagious yawning?
Bird embryos require temperatures ranging from 37℃ to 44℃ to stay warm?
Main Conservation Threats
Multiple bird species are increasingly facing extinction and continue to fall into critically endangered lists. The main threat is habitat loss. Many birds rely on tree environments for food, shelter, nesting, protection and for general existence. As such, the loss of this crucial habitat is detrimental to a variety of species. Climate change, too, can impact on the vital habitats of birds. Similarly, birds that nest on beaches are negatively affected by rising sea temperatures. These species are also increasingly endangered by coastal developments and careless tourism practices that disturb their local ecosystems.
Many of these threats can, and must, be counteracted through conservation efforts: birds are an important indicator of the health of an ecosystem and their presence is crucial across the world. You can help as a volunteer with bird conservation and breeding projects across the world from the Seychelles and South Africa to New Zealand.