Our NGO promote defence, study and maintenance of the cultural and natural heritage using specific projects, such as environmental education, actions to maintenance the natural habitat of the lesser kestrels (Falco naumanni ) and reproductive strategies at the Breeding Centre of Dema.
1.Programme "Breeding colonies": maintenance activities and tasks at the Lesser kestrel Breeding Centre of DEMA, the only one in Extremadura breeding this species in risk, handling of reproductive couples, control of incubators, feeding chickens, guided visits.
2.Programme "Habitat Maintenance" - Control of wild colonies of lesser kestrel, artificial nest-site installation, restoration of old nests, cleaning and monitoring of breeding areas.
3.Programme "Environment Education Centre". - Nature activities, workshops, trips, projections, monitoring and study of lesser kestrels of the breeding centre.

The activities will be extracted from the determined tasks. Initiative to express ideas, make proposals and participate in other activities according to skills and interest are positively valued, as this is an incentive to participate in the activities and will so enrich the local volunteers.

1. -Support tasks at the Lesser kestrel Breeding centre: Maintenance of the breeding room (rats and breeding room), control cells of reproductive lesser kestrels (daily revision, watering, feeding,…), control couples in the mating season, control egg lays, collect eggs, control incubators (temperature and humidity)check the first births (control of weight, colour, observation of chickens). Feeding chickens during first days, monitoring of broods, participation in freeing the birds that have been bred and in the programmes for the re-introduction of lesser kestrels bred at the centre.
2. - Support tasks in Lesser Kestrel Habitat Maintenance Programme - Control of wild colonies, control of artificial nest-sites, restoration, cleaning and monitoring of breeding areas, construction of artificial nests, monitoring of feeding areas, radiotracking and ringing of lesser kestrels.
3. - Support tasks at the Environment Education Centre: Support monitors in nature education activities and elaboration of diffusion material.

Timetable

08:30 h. Breakfast
09:00 h. Personal cleaning.
09:30 h. Cleaning of reproductive areas, control of reproducting couples, cleaning of rat dependencies. According to season:

" January to March: conditioning of breeding areas, tasks related with breeding, control incubators, control nests, monitoring of reproductive individuals, environmental education, support in office tasks.
" March to June: control of incubators and nests, feeding chicks and reproductive individuals. Start environmental education workshops
" June to September: control of incubators and nests, feeding chicks and reception of chicks fallen from nests and their feeding. Freeing of recovered individuals. Workshop about nature.
" September to December: Conditioning and maintenance of the centre, support in office tasks (help elaborating projects,...) Action in buildings with colonies of lesser kestrel, workshop about nature.

11:30 h. Break
12:30 h. Continue task.
14: 15 h. Lunchtime.

" January to March: Control of incubators, monitoring of ill individuals. Planning environmental education activities
" March to June: Habitat studies. Monitoring of nest supplies.
" June to September: reception of chicks, freeing of recovered individuals. Nature activities: workshops, talks, trips,...
" September to December: Workshop about nature, support in office tasks.

19:00 Language training.
20: 00 h. Free time.

Profile of the volunteer(s) and selection process:
Volunteers who are/have:
-Active people with initiatives
-Willing to co-exist with other volunteers
-Aware about natural environment
-Willing to know the natural and cultural heritage of Extremadura
-Positive energy is very positively valued, as many times the work is not easy and requires strength and will.
-Sense of humour and humanity (this is essential).
Interested people may contact us via e-mail, showing their interest to participate in the project, in order to apply according to the free placements. Information about our organisation may be acquired via e-mail or from our web site. Recruitment will be done according to the profile of volunteers and the extent in which they match the project.