Volunteering

European Solidarity Corps volunteering

Interested in joining BirdLife Malta as a full-time volunteer? BirdLife Malta offers young people from different countries opportunities to volunteer for one year in Malta through the European Solidarity Corps.

We have many years of experience with young people and the success stories speak for themselves. Volunteering is an altruistic way of giving but gaining too; it is a stepping stone to a career or a move towards the studies one chooses to follow. We offer opportunities in conservation and bird rehabilitation, day-to-day work at nature reserves, education, communications, design, administration and finance.

The European Solidarity Corps programme covers:

1. Accommodation close to our offices in Ta’ Xbiex/in the northern part of the island close to our nature reserves, or with host families
2. Coverage of all living costs such as electricity, water, gas, and internet
3. Reimbursement of the flight and other transport costs (bus, train, metro, visa) to/from Malta, up to a certain limit
4. Monthly allowance
5. Private Henner health insurance
6. Language support

The European Solidarity Corps (ESC) are a continuation of earlier projects, Erasmus+ European Voluntary Service (EVS) and Erasmus+ Volunteering. These cross-border volunteering opportunities are a great investment in young people to help them to develop skills through hands-on volunteering projects. The skill sets one stands to improve are not only related to career, but also to personal development.

On a personal level one stands to gain experience in living independently, namely cooking, cleaning and self-care, fiscal responsibility, time management and much more.

On a career level one has the opportunity of working with different teams, gaining experience in a myriad of tasks. Volunteers who have not had formal training can be guided towards courses to suit their abilities while others who have already completed their studies can realise they have the opportunity to specialise in specific areas. Others use this time to gain experience to facilitate there search to embark on the career they dream of.

BirdLife Malta has been involved with EVS, volunteering and now ESC and we can proudly say that our volunteers have had many more opportunities following their term with us and have continued to enhance their chances to realise their dreams.

Available opportunities will be published here.

Spring Watch 2025 volunteers

We are seeking volunteers to join us in the countryside during our Spring Watch 2025 monitoring operations.

The BirdLife Malta Conservation team is on the lookout for volunteers to assist us with our spring monitoring fieldwork.

Purple Heron at Simar Nature Reserve by Mario V Gauci

Spring is a vital time of the year for millions of migratory birds, who undertake the perilous journey from their wintering grounds to their breeding grounds further north across multiple European countries. In a time when we are seeing so many bird populations in decline, it is crucial that these birds are guaranteed a safe passage through the countries they have chosen to pass through, so they reach their destination in good health.

Spring is a great time to observe bird migration in Malta, and we are lucky to have a diverse range of species pass through during these months. It’s not uncommon to see some colourful species such as the European Bee-eater and Eurasian Hoopoe, as well as large and impressive species such as harriers.

Malta is the only EU country that regularly opens a spring hunting season, which otherwise is a banned activity under the EU Birds Directive. In recent years, two species have been legal to hunt – the Common Quail and European Turtle-dove. The latter species is classified as ‘Vulnerable to Extinction’ according to IUCN.

Pallid Harrier by Aron Tanti

Unfortunately, the level of illegal hunting that takes place in Malta is still high, and Spring Watch is a bird protection camp with the aim of decreasing the amount of illegal hunting. However, for our work to be a success, we need volunteers to come and join us. Our work involves several hours spent in the countryside every day (covering early hours spent in the countryside in mornings and evenings), monitoring bird migration and hunting/trapping activity, recording any illegalities on camera, and liaising with the police where necessary to report bird crimes.

Bird identification skills are not a necessity but would be advantageous. Willing drivers would be particularly welcome. The days can feel long and tiring, so the ability to work well in teams and maintain a cheery outlook would also be helpful!

Please note that BirdLife Malta cannot assist financially, and these positions are funded by the volunteers themselves. Volunteers will stay in a hotel used by BirdLife Malta; please contact us before booking flights so we can check availability at the hotel.

If you wish to register your interest, or have any queries, please contact [email protected].

Events volunteers

We are seeking volunteers to help us at public events such as fairs, guided walks and nature reserve open days.

Our events are varied, and the role would be too – you might be playing games or doing crafts with children at an event on our nature reserves, helping on a stall at a fair or assisting a group on a guided walk.

You must be happy talking to the public and sharing your love of nature. Other tasks might involve selling merchandise and handling money, and setting up/taking down displays.

This is a flexible role, and you can choose which events you want to support if the dates suit you.

If you are interested, please fill in this form and let us know by email on [email protected]. Please note that this applies for Malta and Gozo residents only and volunteers are needed to help out on particular days or events only.