Bird Ringing in Antikythira

Supervisors: Hellenic Ornithological Society, Hellenic Bird Ringing Center

Duration of Volunteer Work (exact dates): March, 15th - May, 31th, August, 25th - November, 10th

Minimum stay period: 15 days

Number of volunteers needed: up to 7 persons daily. 2-3 having a type-A ringing license, 2-3 having a type-C ringing license C and 2 trainees.

Brief description of program:
Bird trapping with the use of special nets put in the field. Placement of a special ring and recording of biometrical data of every bird before releasing it.

Volunteer Work Description:
Volunteers participate in the ringing process according to the experience they have. Ringing is performed only by persons having the appropriate license or by trainees under supervision. Volunteers without experience, participate by helping ringers while they are trained in handling and extracting birds from the nets. Volunteers should also register ringing data in a data base. Every day, work begins very early in the morning and ends after 7-8 hours. Ringing can be also performed for 2-3 hours in the afternoon, depending on the availability of volunteers.

General Description of the Area:
Antikythira is a small island, covering an area of 20 sq. kms and having a coastline of 24 kms, located south of the Peloponnese and between Kythira island and Crete. Antikythira and the adjacent islets are declared Special Protection Area and Site of Community Interest and are part of Natura 2000 network. Furthermore, it is an Important Bird Area of Greece.

Stay: ABO volunteers stay in a guesthouse that has been recently built for this purpose. It can host up to 10 people but you have to bring your sleeping bag. There are 2 WC one for men and one for women as well as well organised kitchen for cooking.

Participation Fee: The fee for non-members is 30 Euros, and volunteers have to cover their travel fees. Basic food suplies are provided. All volunteers are obliged to pay around 20 Euros for insurance costs unless they bring their own insurance contract.

Prerequisites (special knowledge if needed): Ringing knowledge, general knowledge about birds or previous participation in environmental volunteer work programs will be taken into consideration. Knowledge of English is obligatory.

Equipment: Sleeping bag, binoculars, hat, sunscreen lotion, head flashlight.

Contact: Angelos Evangelidis, HOS, 24, Vas. Irakleiou Str, Athens 10682, evangelidis@ornithologiki.gr

Program coordinator: Christos Barboutis, e-mail: barboutischr@gmail.com