What volunteers will do

We’re looking for volunteers to support the project by helping to:

• Catch insects for feeding (using an entomological net, net-sweeping)
• Sort insects for daily feeding
• Help prepare supplementary food
• Assist with other daily tasks as needed (depending on the site and schedule)

Why join?

Volunteering is a hands-on way to support nature conservation — and a rare opportunity to:

• See the Aquatic Warbler translocation process up close
• Work alongside inspiring field conservationists
• Learn practical skills and contribute to real conservation impact
• Be part of a story that helps a globally threatened species

When we need you

Volunteers are needed from 1 June to 10 July 2026.
Priority will be given to volunteers who can stay longer (ideally at least one week).

Become a hero for the Aquatic Warbler and help restore this rare songbird in Lithuania or Poland.

more details about volunteering in each of the country

Volunteers in action in Lithuania, 2025

Volunteering in Lithuania

What volunteers will do

We’re looking for volunteers to support the project by helping to:

• Catch insects for feeding (using an entomological net, net-sweeping)
• Sort insects for daily feeding
• Help preparing supplementary food
• Assist with other daily tasks as needed (depending on the site and schedule)

Why join?

Volunteering is a hands-on way to support nature conservation — and a rare opportunity to:

• See the Aquatic Warbler translocation process up close
• Work alongside inspiring field conservationists
• Learn practical skills and contribute to real conservation impact
• Be part of a story that helps a globally threatened species

When we need you

Volunteers are needed from 1 June to 10 July 2026.
Priority will be given to volunteers who can stay longer (ideally at least one week).

Become a hero for the Aquatic Warbler and help restore this rare songbird in Lithuania.

Dates: 1 June – 10 July 2026
Location: Žuvintas Biosphere Reserve, Lithuania

accommodation and meals

This is an unpaid volunteering opportunity. If you don’t have special requirements, the project team will take care of your accommodation and meals. You’ll stay in a countryside homestead in shared rooms or in tents. All related expenses will be covered except travel to Lithuania expenses. Unfortunately, we are unable to cover flight expenses. While we can fully cover all costs related to your stay in Lithuania, we regret that we are not in a position to reimburse travel costs to and from the country.

Become a volunteer

Volunteering in Poland

 Aquatic Warbler Translocation with OTOP BirdLife Poland – Polish Society for the Protection of Birds.

About the project

OTOP will continue the Aquatic Warbler translocation programme in 2026. The project involves moving nestlings from the Biebrza Valley to suitable breeding habitats in north-western Poland, where the birds are expected to imprint on the new site and return there after migration to Africa in the following years.

To make this conservation effort possible, we are looking for volunteers to support chick rearing by collecting food insects.

Volunteer tasks

• Collecting insects for Aquatic Warbler chicks using entomological nets on surrounding meadows
• Sorting and preparing collected food
• Supporting ongoing translocation activities (e.g. helping with aviary setup and daily field work)

Locations & dates (2026)

1. Biebrza Valley (Gugny village and surroundings) 📅 early June 2026 (approx. 5–8 days)
2. Rozwarowo Marshes (near Kamień Pomorski, West Pomerania) 📅 June–July 2026 (minimum 7 days)

Exact dates may shift by about one week earlier or later, depending on the timing of Aquatic Warbler breeding.

Organisation & conditions

• Volunteers work in one two-person team at a time
• Minimum stay:
  • Biebrza – at least 5 days
  • Rozwarowo – at least 7 days
• Accommodation (in the agritourism rooms) and meals are provided (field conditions)
  • Accommodation may include tents (volunteer’s own tent)
  • Access to sanitary facilities and a kitchen will be available
• Travel costs are reimbursed up to a fixed limit (in PLN)
• Volunteers with their own car are preferred
  • Bicycles will be available on site for local transport

Important information

• Submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance
• Due to limited places, only selected candidates will be contacted
• We may not be able to respond to all applications
• Upon request, all volunteers will be provided with an official certificate confirming their participation in the Aquatic Warbler conservation programme.
• Participation in volunteering requires signing a volunteering agreement and, after finish visit, may require submitting to OTOP additional documents (e.g. summary of travel costs)

Who should apply?

We welcome motivated volunteers who:

• Are comfortable with outdoor fieldwork
• Can work in basic field conditions
• Are available for at least one full volunteer period days of travel there and back do not count towards the period)
• Are interested in bird conservation and hands-on nature protection
• Speaks communicatively Polish or English

How to apply

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the project coordinator directly (spoken languages: PL, EN):

Cezary Noszczyński

Aquatic Warbler Project Coordinator, OTOP BirdLife Poland

Email: cezary.noszczynski@otop.org.pl

Phone: +48 888 304 789