Volunteer program

Important links

Read more from Vaibla Bird Observatory volunteer information pack page or download PDF.
Fill in the Registration form
Share our Volunteer program poster page or PDF

Location

Vaibla Bird Observatory is located on the northern coast of Lake Võrtsjärv in central Estonia, surrounded by an extensive reedbed that serves as a vital habitat for breeding, feeding, roosting and migration. Only 500 metres from the observatory, a bus stop serves routes from nearby towns like Tartu and Viljandi. The nearest international airports are Tallinn Airport and Riga Airport.

Activities

Volunteers will participate in all everyday activities of Vaibla Bird Observatory - checking mist-nets, ringing and measuring birds, social life. In Vaibla, there are usually around 20 mist nets open continuously from ~July 20 to the end of August. Nets are set between the reeds and bushes. Every hour, the nets are checked and the birds extracted. One net check means walking in mud for 15 minutes (+ the time spent on extracting the birds). All the extracted birds are brought to the ringing room in bird cages or bird bags - breathable cotton bags designed for keeping birds calm during transportation. In the ringing room, the species of every bird is identified as well as the age and sex of the bird, if possible. All birds are ringed with an uniquely marked, lightweight aluminum ring. The wing length and weight are measured for all birds. Data is recorded and ringed birds are released as soon as possible.

Accommodation and food

Volunteers are accommodated in cottages, which were built in 2023. The houses have beds, light and electricity. There is a kitchen, toilet and a shower in the Bird Observatory’s house. In the Bird Observatory’s yard, there’s a big picnic table with seating and a roof. There’s also a ping-pong table in the yard. Wi-Fi is available all over the Bird Observatory and cellular data coverage is good all around the area. Meals are prepared together by the volunteers. There is drinkable tap water, a stove, an oven, a microwave, a kettle, a toaster, a sandwich grill and a fridge in the kitchen. Every Friday, a shop on wheels visits Vaibla.

Weather and clothing

The temperatures in July and August range from 10°C – 30°C, most typically 14°C – 23°C. Most often it’s sunny or partly cloudy, although there can be rainy days and thunderstorms. For sunny days, a cap and shorter clothes are advised, although it is necessary to have a warm jacket for cold mornings. The temperature in the lake fluctuates, but volunteers often go swimming in the heat of the day, so swimwear is also necessary. Remember that working clothes will become stained by bird droppings, so plan accordingly

Prerequisites for the volunteers

motivation to learn about all aspects of bird ringing
ability to communicate in English
the physical ability to navigate muddy conditions in thigh-high rubber boots throughout a two-week period
ability to function on an irregular sleep schedule that consists of a short night’s sleep (4h-6h) and daytime napping

Important links

Read more from Vaibla Bird Observatory volunteer information pack page or download PDF.
Fill in the Registration form

This program was designed with support from the National Foundation of Civil Society.

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