Home 1-week projects Spain - climate change, lammergeyer, capercaillie et al.

The challenge of climate change and conservation: lammergeyer, capercaillie and snow partridge (ptarmigan) in the Pyrenees mountains of Spain. Summary This volunteer project will take you to the high mountains of a UNESCO World Heritage national park site in the Spanish Pyrenees to survey Eurasia’s largest bird of prey, the lammergeyer, and to monitor capercaillie and ptarmigans (or snow partridges) as indicators of climate change. You will be working as part of a small international team from a remote research station base set high in the mountains and overlooking a landscape of spectacular peaks and gorges. You will survey lammergeyers by direct observation and radio tracking. You may also help with capturing and marking individual birds. Above and below the tree line you will look for capercaillie and snow partridges as indicators of climate change because strategies for their conservation in the Pyrenees need to be developed in the face of changing weather patterns.       Dates 2008: 1 – 7 June | 8 – 14 June. 2009: 2009 dates in August 2008. Team members can join for multiple slots (within the periods specified). How long can I join for? Expedition contribution (land only per slot) £790 (approx. €1050 | US$1540 | AU$1690). Please note: expedition contributions are quoted in British pound sterling and the approximate Euro and US Dollar equivalent. Try the XE currency converter for other currencies and an up to date Euro and US Dollar exchange rate. Where does my money go and other money questions. Status Red: Expeditions of status red have no spaces available (or have already been to the field). If an expedition is full already, you have the option of going on a waiting list. Please get in touch to add yourself to the waiting list. Terrain Mountains. Weather expected during expedition Pyrenees mountain summer weather usually means warm sunshine during the day and lower temperatures during the night. Expedition base Modern research station in a historic mountain lodge with all modern amenities such as a lecture room, solar heating and hot water, showers, toilets, kitchen, lounge and dining room. Team size Up to 12 team members + 2 local scientist + 1 expedition leader. Skills & prerequisites required None. You don't need to be a scientist or have any special qualifications - everyone can take part and there are no age limits whatsoever. Can laypeople really be of help to serious research & conservation projects? Fitness level required Ability to walk about 4 - 15 km per day in mountainous terrain. Please also note that medical evidence shows that altitude sickness is not usually a problem at altitudes below 3500 m, well below the highest altitude we will reach during our research activities. Will it be for me or am I too old/young/unfit? Team assembly point Reus, a regional centre near Barcelona with excellent flight, train and public transport connections.. What about carbon neutrality and other environmental and social impact? Who books my flights? And finally Our expeditions are not about playing the primitive, neither are we a military style 'boot-camp'. Our expedition leader and the local scientist will be by your side and we believe strongly that we get the best out of our expedition teams by making them comfortable, safe and well fed. You won’t be living in the lap of luxury, but we will do our best to make you feel comfortable and at home in your working environment, as this is the key to a well-balanced and successful expedition. Details This volunteer projects will take you to the Pyrenees mountains of Spain to monitor the effects that climate change has on endangered lammergeyer populations as well as capercaillie and snow partridge (ptarmigan). The lammergeyer is Eurasia’s largest bird of prey and together with marmots, chamois, capercaillie and ptarmigans inhabits the spectacular cliffs and gorges of the Pyrenees mountains. You will survey lammergeyers by direct observation and by radio tracking them. You will also assist local conservationists by helping at lammergeyer feeding sites and you may also help with capturing and marking individual birds. You will look for snow partridge and capercaillie above and below the tree line to help local scientists ascertain population numbers and trends as indicators of climate change in the Pyrenees. All this as part of a large concerted effort with local partners, and in the face of the negative effects of climate change, to ensure the survival of Europe’s largest bird of prey as well as the other fauna associated with this flagship species. Aims & objectives (1) To study lammergeyer population dynamics by radio telemetry, recording marked birds in the field and from hides, and capture-recapture activities. (2) To survey for potential areas in which new nesting sites of lammergeyers can be located and study the annual productivity of some of these sites. (3) To obtain baseline data on snow partridge and capercaillie as indicators of climate change. Background Lammergeyers or quebrantahuesos (bone breakers) as they are known in Spanish are the largest bird of prey in Eurasia, and Europe's rarest vulture, around 70% of which live in the Aragonese Pyrenees, where the expedition takes place. They feed on marrow which they get by dropping bones repeatedly onto rocks, as their Spanish name aptly suggests. Their old name in English of ossifrage also refers to this habit. They are also known in English as bearded vultures. This is in reference to the ochre ruff of quills they sport around their necks. They are not born this way, but acquire the colour by actively seeking out iron-rich muds and rubbing their feathers in them. The theory goes that in a stand-off, the redder the feather, the tougher the lammergeyer. The lammergeyer population was decimated in the 20th century by poisoning, hunting, electrocution from power lines and habitat destruction. Much of the local persecution was due to the totally mistaken but incredibly widespread belief that lammergeyers take young lambs. Lammergeier or lammergeyer (both correct) comes from the German Lämmergeier, meaning "lamb-vulture", presumably for the same reason.  Climate change is one of the most critical global challenges of our time. Recent events have emphatically demonstrated our growing vulnerability to climate change. Climate change impacts will range from affecting agriculture, sea level rise and the accelerated erosion of coastal zones, increasing intensity of natural disasters, species extinction and the spread of vector-borne diseases. Capercaillie and ptarmigan all serve as indicators of an intact ecosystem and information on the distribution of ptarmigan is particularly useful as a local indicator for climate change in the Pyrenees. Cold winters and snow partridges go hand in hand and as such it is important to record any reduction in their numbers so that adequate conservation measures can be taken. Study species Lammergeyer (Gyptaeus barbatus), capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), snow partridge or ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus).  Secondary landmark species present, all in an environment of alpine meadows, cliffs and forests: chamois, marmot, red fox, wild boar, otter, red and roe deer, golden eagle, griffon vulture, Egyptian vulture. Typical day Activities are usually decided the night before and then confirmed in the morning, depending on the weather and other local conditions. The whole set-up of the expedition is quite flexible so that you can participate according to the weather conditions, your skills and general fitness and how you feel on the day. In the morning the expedition team will divide into sub-teams of two or more people, who will be assigned a section of the mountains to work in during the day. You will then walk or drive to your research area and cover it through a combination of walks and observation stops, recording the presence of study species, either by direct observation or by radio tracking them. You will be using binoculars, spotting scopes, radio tracking equipment, GPS, cameras and notebooks to record your findings. You will return to base in the evening to log our results and discuss findings. Those who would like to can also venture out to advanced research camps, spending the night in a high mountain shelter. Research area The Pyrenees are a range of spectacular mountains, grandiose cliffs, deep gorges and towering waterfalls in southwest Europe that form a natural border between France and Spain. They separate the Iberian peninsula from France, and extend for about 430 km from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. For the most part, the main crest forms the Franco-Spanish border, with Andorra sandwiched in between. The highest mountain is Aneto (3,404 m) and Monte Perdido, which overlooks the study site, reaches 3,355 m. The Pyrenees are older than the Alps: their sediments were first deposited in coastal basins during the Palaeozoic and Mesozoic eras. Between 100 and 150 million years ago, during the Lower Cretaceous period, the Gulf of Gascony (Bay of Biscay) fanned out, pushing present-day Spain against France and putting large layers of sediment in a vice grip. The intense pressure and uplifting of the Earth's crust first affected the eastern part and stretched progressively to the entire chain, culminating in the Eocene epoch. The Pyrenees are named after Pyrene (fire in Greek) who was the daughter of Bebryx.   Maps Map of the region and study site.   Google map of all Biosphere Expeditions study sites, expedition bases, assembly points, office locations, etc.   Pictures Lammergeyer or bearded vulture. Lammergeyer or bearded vulture in flight. Lammergeyer or bearded vulture in flight. Capercaillie. Snow partridge or ptarmigan.  Mountain landscape in the study area. Mountain landscape in the study area.  Mountain landscape and morning mist. Monte Perdido Biological Station, the expedition base. Monte Perdido Biological Station, the expedition base. Revilla, the abandoned village that the expedition base (red circle) is in. The blue circle shows the station's solar panel. Inside the base. Training - explaining the study site and bird identification. Locating lammergeyers by radio telemetry.     Locating lammergeyers by radio telemetry.  Locating lammergeyers by aerial telemetry. Mountain observation post. Leaving the Land Rover to walk into mountains at the start of a day. On the way to the lammergeyer feeding site. At the lammergeyer feeding site. Hide-based observations at a feeding site. A lammergeyer (red circle) amongst Egyptian vultures at the feeding site.   An Egyptian vulture looking exceptionally pretty today  and blissfully unaware of our presence on the other side of the mirror glass.   Chatting with the scientist. Lammergeyer after capture and complete with wing markings and radio transmitter. On the way to higher altitude and in search for capercaillie and ptarmigan. Looking for capercaillie and ptarmigan higher up the mountain. Sunset in the study area.   Video Promotional video (in Spanish) of the Lammergeyer Foundation (FCQ), Biosphere Expeditions' local partner on this project, showing research & educational work as well as shots of lammergeyers and the Pyrenees study site. Sweep of the study site in the Pyrenees mountains. Monte Perdido Biological Station, the project base. Watch more Spain project clips on YouTube.   Feedback "The conservation of a flagship species such as the lammergeyer requires significant field data in order to find effective management measures. In this context, our collaboration with Biosphere Expedition will not only be a very great help, but also crucial in our efforts to conserve the only wild lammergeyer population left in Europe." Oscar Díez & Elisabeth Porthaine, Foundation for the Conservation of the Pyrenees Lammergeyer & Lammergier Fonds (Spain). New project, so no more feedback yet (apart from general feedback below).   Feedback from team members about their experiences and reasons for coming (on/from various expeditions).   Briefing The briefing contains very detailed information on this project, including instructions on how to get to the assembly point, what you will be doing whilst on the project and who your expedition leader and scientists will be. Briefings are provided as pdf documents and you must provide a name, country of residence and valid e-mail address to be able to download one. You can access briefings via the Download Centre. Sign up Go on, you know you want to Sign up here.