A unique, rare, close up, hands on, experience of Dominica’s abundance of exciting and unique wildlife.
You’ll have an incredible opportunity to study the birds, bats, lizards, insects and Maine life of Dominica, with some renound experts in each field from around the world. Dominica is home to 13 species of bat, 176 species of birds, a massive variety of lizards, and is surrounded by incredible waters, full of life.
Each scientist is carrying out real conservation research, continuing work they have been doing for several years on the island, and you will actively participate in the studies, adding to the global conservation data being gathered by the supporting partner of this event, Operation Wallacea, (https://www.opwall.com , a biodiversity and climate research organisation.
For 25 years Opwall has run biodiversity field expeditions to support the research of hundreds of academics, assisted by students who then gain experience of working with publishing scientists. Nearly 600 papers in peer reviewed journals have been published from these research programmes. Over the last few years, 3 Rivers has partnered with Opwall, hosting similar events for schoolchildren and university students, working with the same expert scientists. We are now expanding the project for interested visitors, to share this amazing experience.
You will learn all about various conservation efforts in each field from the expert scientists leading the research.
During the wildlife week, you’ll get the chance to touch, hold & identify some samples of these amazing creatures,
The event is limited to only 20 participants. For most of the wildlife activities, the participants will be split into two groups of 10 people (groups 1 and 2 below), so you will really get close up experience.
You’ll have a unique, close up, hands on, experience of Dominica’s abundance of exciting and unique wildlife.
The weekend will include an incredible opportunity to study the birds, bats, lizards and Maine life of Dominica, with some serious experts in each field. The island is home to 13 species of bat, 176 species of birds, and a massive variety of lizards.
During the wildlife weekend, you’ll get the chance to touch, hold & identify some samples of these amazing creatures.
The inclusive price includes dormitory style accommodation, all meals, activities, entrance fees, and airport transfers
ITINERARY – |Click on each day to see full itinerary
- 2 p.m. Arrival and orientation - welcome tour of the eco lodge, meet the scientists, go through the itinerary for the event, introduction to Dominica's wildlife.
- 7 p.m A delicious 2 course dinner
- 5am Early morning rise, coffee/tea, then hike our onsite nature trails to various points where the birds are known to hang out. Put up special wisp nets, catch a few birds, measure them, weighthem, identify them, touch them, and learn about the habits of the birds you are lucky enough to meet. Finally release the bird back to continue on its merry little way. Our expect for this event is Bertrand Jno. Baptiste, aka Dr Birdie, Dominica's primary birding expert, and writer of many books about the birds of Dominica.
- 9am return to the lodge for breakfast
- free time to enjoy the rivers and surroundings of the eco lodge or to take a Hammock siesta.
- 1 pm lunch
- 2 pm - Learn how to
- harmlessly catch our local, and invasive, Anoles lizards, study them, understand the differences, and learn about which of the two varieties is likely to survive the best into the future. With Dr Charles Matthew Watson, associate professor from Texas A&M university biology department
- 7pm dinner
Group 2
- 8 am breakfast
- 9am - Learn how to harmlessly catch our local, and invasive, Anoles lizards, study them, understand the differences, and learn about which of the two varieties is likely to survive the best into the future. With Dr Charles Matthew Watson, associate professor from Texas A&M university biology department
- 1pm lunch
- 2pm Insects – study the insects around the 3 Rivers eco Lodge area. Learn about Dominica's diverse and plentiful Insect life, with an insect curator from the natural history museum in London.
- 7pm. A delicious 2 course dinner
Day 3 – Groups 1 and 2 switch, and as day 2 above
- 9 am Breakfast
- 10 am, guided river hike to a stunning little waterfall within our own beautiful valley
- 1 pm lunch
- 2pm free time or guided river hike to another waterfall.
- 7pm dinner
- 9pm GROUP 1 Roam the research trails again with the expert scientist, to gain a greater insight into the lives of our 13 species of bats. Catch them in nets, measure and identify them, then release them back to the wild to continue their night time feasting. Evening with Dr Nicolas Mohammed from the Department of Life Sciences at The University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago
- 8am breakfast.
- 8am depart for the village Soufriere, where you will split into your 2 groups, and switch at lunchtime.
- Snorkel in the champagne reef, and help with research of the coral reefs with Dr Sam Rastrick, professor from the institute of marine research in Norway.
- Study the different species of lizards living in Soufriere, a much drier part of the island, and therefore a different variety of lizards.
- 4pm return to 3 Rivers
- 7pm dinner.
- 9pm GROUP 2 Roam the research trails again with the expert scientist, to gain a greater insight
into the lives of our 13 species of bats. Catch them in nets, measure and identify them, then release them back to the wild to continue their nighttime feasting. Evening with Dr Nicolas Mohammed from the Department of Life Sciences at The University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago
9am Breakfast
Roseau Valley Tour – visit freshwater lake, titou gauge, Trafalgar Falls and soak in the sulphur hot baths at Ti Kwen Glo Cho 6 hour hike to the worlds second largest boiling lake.
- 8 am breakfast.
- 9am discussions on the weekend events with the scientists, Q & A session, closing remarks.
Each scientist is carrying out real conservation research, continuing work they have been doing for several years on the island, and you will actively participate in the studies, adding to the global conservation data being gathered by the supporting partner of this event, Operation Wallacea, (https://www.opwall.com , a biodiversity and climate research organisation.
them, identify them, touch them, and learn about the habits of the birds you are lucky enough to meet. Finally release the bird back to continue on its merry little way. Our expect for this event is Bertrand Jno. Baptiste, aka Dr Birdie, Dominica's primary birding expert, and writer of many books about the birds of Dominica.
into the lives of our 13 species of bats. Catch them in nets, measure and identify them, then release them back to the wild to continue their nighttime feasting. Evening with Dr Nicolas Mohammed from the Department of Life Sciences at The University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago