Sail blue Caribbean waters, visit white sand beaches in the Bahamas, boat to little cays and meet new friends. We will work in both populated and remote areas.
We need your help to protect beach-nesting birds, nests & young. Room for crew of only 10 enthusiastic volunteers for our Bahamas shorebird habitat conservation project in May 2019 aboard our 75ft research schooner. ONLY ONE TRIP PER YEAR – this is a VERY special project due to nesting season dates.
TRIP DATE: May 19-26, 2019
Bahamas $2,500; includes meals, accommodations, project, leisure activities, insurance, coordinator, water, ground transportation, etc. Valid passport IS required.
Includes 7 nights aboard a schooner
Volunteer Activities
- Protect, post & sign shorebird & seabird sites
- Collect new data on nesting shorebirds, seabirds & habitat
- Locate & protect shorebird & seabird nests & downy young
- Control invasive Australian pine on beach habitats
- Work with local volunteers to accomplish the above goals
- Snorkel reefs in gin clear waters
- Learn sailing crew skills
- Fish for dinner-catch of the day!
Leisure
- Learn & practice sailing skills
- Hike, swim or snorkel crystal clear waters
- On-shore activities
Getting There
Fly into Exumas International Airport and depart from Nassau International Airport
Itinerary
Sunday Arrive at Exumas International airport (note that program ends near Nassau International airport) for pick up by Globe Aware no later than 4 pm. Board schooner and set sail for the northern Exumas. Night survey opportunity for nesting shearwaters on Allan's Cay with seabird experts. The expedition route will take you throughout all of the Exumas island chain and Great Exuma. Week 3 trip patrons may also request to visit specific islands of interest! Please arrive at Exuma International Airport no later than 4 pm. Board schooner and set sail for southern Exuma survey sites. Because the schooner is coming from and going to separate expeditions at different sites, roundtrip in and out of the same airport is not feasible. This is the third year of this expedition and it works out fine.
Monday - Friday
Participate in nesting shorebird and seabird surveys as we sail and work along the many remote islands of southern Exumas island chain and Great Exuma. We will use small deployment boats to access remote islands, and private van transportation to access mainland survey sites on Great Exuma. This trip includes scheduled opportunities to visit local towns, and cultural and historic sites on Great Exuma with transportation provided. Special site requests are welcomed.
Friday - Saturday
Sail north up the Exuma island chain and through the Exuma Land and Sea Park on our way to Nassau. Along the way, we will make several snorkel trip stops to spectacular reefs in the Exumas (weather permitting), then pack for tomorrow's departure.
Sunday
Say farewell to new friends and transfer to Nassau International airport for your journey home. Suggested flight departure time no earlier than 8 am. All guests should plan to depart schooner by 10 am
IMPORTANT:
Applicants must be responsible, adventurous, in good physical condition, enjoy working in teams & be capable of walking several miles during warm weather on Bahamas beaches. Applicants must be comfortable living communally onboard a schooner for a week & riding in small boats to access survey sites.
YOUR PARTICIPATION CONTRIBUTION also supports cost of local scholarship of local conservation student(from University of the Bahamas) who will also be on board
Working in cooperation with Bahamas Public Works, BAHAMAS Environment, Bahamas National Trust, & partners continue on-the-ground protective & restorative measures to limit human-caused disturbance & control invasive Australian pine at key shorebird/seabird sites.
