Volunteering can be a great way to help birds and share your enthusiasm for birding, and no matter what skills a birder has to offer, there is always a way to contribute to birds' welfare. There are many great opportunities for birders to volunteer, and every volunteer's help is welcome and appreciated.

Planning to Volunteer

Volunteering can be an individual commitment or one made as a family, group or organization, but if the volunteering is to be effective, birders must be prepared to offer the best possible service.

Before signing up to volunteer…

• Investigate Requirements: Some opportunities have specific conditions volunteers must fulfill in order to be the most help. A vehicle or other equipment may be required, the volunteer may need to move to a specific location while serving or specialized training may be required before the service can begin.
   
• Know the Time Commitment: Different volunteer opportunities require different time commitments, from just a few hours at a one-time event to ongoing weekly or monthly schedules. The service duration may last from just one day to several months, and volunteers must be able to fulfill the complete commitment.
   
• Get Trained as Needed: Some organizations that use volunteers may have training requirements for anyone interested in serving. Training programs may be individually scheduled or planned at regular intervals, and generally cover administrative essentials and common tasks all volunteers need to be familiar with before beginning their service.
   
• Refresh Birding Skills: Birders who hope to volunteer in positions directly with birds and birding should refresh their skills so they can provide the best possible service. Leading field trips or working in an educational position, for example, may require more expert knowledge and practice for the volunteers to feel comfortable and effective.
   

• Inventory Non-Birding Skills: Many organizations and facilities that happily accept volunteers don't necessarily need expert birders. Other skills such as interpersonal communication, website development, writing, construction, photography and landscaping can be incredibly valuable, and volunteers with those skills will always be welcome.

Bird-Related Volunteering

There are many opportunities available for birders willing to offer their services as volunteers. Many different types of bird-related organizations and facilities can use volunteers, including:

• Festivals and Events: Birding festivals often rely on volunteers to help with registration or check-in, and expert volunteers may be able to serve as field trip guides. Anyone willing to lend a hand with setup or cleanup is also generally welcome.
   
• Refuges and Preserves: Bird-friendly properties such as wildlife refuges, nature preserves and other sanctuaries regularly need volunteers for on-site surveys, property maintenance, school group programs, seasonal cleanups, gift shop operation and more.
   
• Aviaries and Zoos: Volunteers are often welcome at captive bird facilities to help with community programs, landscaping, facility maintenance, bird training and care, feeding and other tasks.
   
• Organizations: All birding organizations welcome volunteers in a variety of capacities. Volunteers may help promote recruitment, write birding club newsletters, update websites, staff booths at community events, lead regular birding walks or otherwise help promote the organization and its mission.
   
• Bird Rehabilitators: Bird rescue organizations frequently need volunteers who can help not only with birds at the rescue but who may be willing to pick up and transport birds needing care or those that are ready to be released. Cleaning, collecting donations and other chores also often rely on willing volunteers.
   
• Bird Banders: Licensed bird banders may use volunteers during peak migration periods, either to help band birds or to record data from intense banding sessions. This can be an intimate experience and a wonderful opportunity to learn more about birds.
   
• Breeding Bird Surveys: Many states and countries compile data about breeding bird populations. Interested volunteers may monitor nests or bird houses, count hatchlings and otherwise make observations that can assist with conservation efforts.
   

• Citizen Science: Different citizen science projects such as the Great Backyard Bird Count and the Christmas Bird Count rely on volunteers not only as participants, but also to spread the word about the program, collect data and otherwise help these essential grassroots efforts grow. Similar programs occur during migration to count raptors or target species as well.
   
• Cleanup Projects: While not specifically geared toward birds, cleanup projects of local beaches, parks and roadways help preserve habitat and remove litter that can hurt birds. Cleanups may be held after significant events such as festivals or parades, or could be seasonal or ongoing beautification projects.
   
• Voluntourism: Birders who want to make an impact even while they travel around the world to build their life list can investigate volunteer tourism. These programs offer intimate experiences in exchange for service from participants, such as banding birds in the Amazon, studying bird populations in Alaska or rehabbing injured seabirds in South Africa. Unlike traditional volunteer opportunities, however, these programs can be expensive, but the cost can be well worthwhile.

Volunteer Responsibilities

Birders who decide to serve as volunteers are not only giving back to their communities, but also to the birds they enjoy. Volunteers should be prepared to fulfill their commitments and always do their best work, knowing that with every hour they serve, they are helping promote birds and birding in a responsible and useful way.

Photo – Raised Hand © Sasha Kimel