Project Life
Volunteer with Bearded Vultures in Andalusia, Spain

Work with our partners is divided into three regions: the breeding centre, the information centre and in the field hacking/monitoring the birds.

At the breeding centre you will be involved in cleaning the cages, feeding the birds, building more cages and monitoring the birds’ behaviour and growth.

The information centre is situated in a renovated watermill in the centre of Cazorla. There is a fantastic exhibition of all the endangered flora and fauna of the region on the top floor, plus a small shop which needs manning. One floor down is a large space used for chats, presentations and showing environmental films to the local villagers. The last floor is taken up with office space and plans to have a special library put together. Volunteers will be helping in the information centre, translating for foreign tourists, helping with website translation and generally promoting the region and informing the locals on the work going on. Twice a week there will be some Spanish lessons included and you will, of course, inevitably pick it up whilst living in the town.

Hacking involves long hours in the sun or windy conditions on mountain tops, noting down every single thing the newly released juveniles do, taking photos and writing down their progress, so a lot of patience is needed. This is carried out in the field, living in self-catered accommodation shared with the rest of the team.

Weekends are free to do as you please, with one weekend trip organised to see the famous Alhambra Palace and other Moorish sights in Granada, or a visit to the closer UNESCO World Heritage towns of Úbeda and Baeza. All have fantastic architecture and are steeped in history and culture with amazing local gastronomy to taste.