Peru, and in particular the Manu National Park, is famous for its avian biodiversity and most avian studies in Peru take place in primary or pristine forests. The aim of the CREES Avian Conservation Project is to understand the effect that changing ecosystems have on avian populations and species diversity.

Areas of Fundo Mascoitania have in the past been subjected to timber extraction and used for agriculture. Many of these areas have now been reforested resulting in a diversity of ecosystems and forest types that are in different stages of regeneration. This landscape provides a unique opportunity to study the ability of bird species to adapt to habitat change.

As the tropical rainforests of Peru are eroded so to are the habitats that many bird species depend upon. The research accumulated in this project will be used to help model avian conservation strategies in areas of deforestation in and around Manu National Park.

Click here to see a list of bird species already identified in the Fundo Mascoitania Reserve.

Stage 1: Species Identification
Identification of bird species in different habitats within Fundo Mascoitania during the dry and wet seasons.

Stage 2: Long Term Monitoring
Long term monitoring of identified species is required to compare with data from forest monitoring project to understand the effects of maturing forests on bird populations and species diversity.

Stage 3: Comparative Studies
Once data sets are large enough, comparative studies will be undertaken with other research centres located in primary forests in and around Manu.

Stage 4: Creation of Conservation Strategies
Using the comparative studies, conservation straegies will be created to help with areas of rainforest suffering from deforestation.

• Education in or experience relating to ornithology and/or avian conservation in tropical environments
• Skills relating to the identification of birds in their natural habitat (audio & visual)
• Bachelors in Ecology or Biology
• English / Spanish Languages
  

Click here to learn more about the application process for Resident Naturalists.

Volunteers can assist the Project Manager and Resident Naturalists in all stages of the Avian Conservation Project.

In the event that volunteers have skills that are specifically applicable to the project, the Project Manager will seek to apply them appropriately.

There are a number of tasks involved in most elements of the Avian Conservation Project that volunteers can get involved in regardless of prior knowledge and experience.

Necessary training and supervision is provided.

Involvement in the project as a volunteer is subject to the statutory one-month minimum stay at the MLC.

Click here to learn more about how to volunteer.