Your skills, knowledge, and expertise can help us in dozens of ways. Whether you have a lot of time or a little, we welcome your participation. Please remember to follow our Birding Code of Ethics during all volunteer opportunities.
Current Volunteers: Log your hours and activities by clicking on VOLUNTEER HOURS. Thank you!
Habitat Restoration
Join us at our habitat restoration events in the SF Bay Area throughout the month. You can help us create and improve bird habitat by removing invasive plants, planting natives, and shoreline cleanup. We will provide glove liners and gloves for your safe use at the site. We’ll provide instruction and tools.
Preregistration is required. Waivers for volunteers under 18 years of age must be signed by a parent or guardian.
Corporate Team Volunteer Program
Bring your team to a habitat restoration event and enhance habitats for wildlife while promoting team building/ camaraderie. Depending on the size of your volunteer group, your team will have the option of joining an existing habitat restoration event or participating in a custom event. We offer reduced rates for non-profit organizations.
Please contact our Volunteer Manager Janet Carpinelli at jcarpinelli@goldengatebirds.org for more information.
YOuth Education Field trips
We’re looking for volunteers who love being outside with kids to help us on our weekday field trips to local parks with 3rd-5th graders in Oakland, Richmond, and San Francisco. No prior experience as a teacher or birder is necessary – just a love of nature and children.
For more information, contact Youth Education Manager Clay Anderson at canderson@goldengatebirds.org.
Docent Program
Help passersby spot and appreciate the birds at spots at Lake Merritt in Oakland or Dotson Family Marsh in Richmond. We provide training for docents in the fall for docenting November through February.
If you are interested in becoming a docent email volunteer@goldengatebirds.org for details.
Other Opportunities
Event Volunteers: Are you a “people person”? We are always looking for volunteers to inform the public about our programs and advantages of membership during community events.
Office Volunteers: Help us do the behind-the-scenes work of conservation at our beautiful office in the David Brower Center in Berkeley (2150 Allston Way Suite 210). From archiving to conservation research, to database cleanup, there are endless ways to get involved to support our work!
Contact Volunteer Manager Janet Carpinelli at jcarpinelli@goldengatebirds.org for more information.
Become a field Trip Leader
If you’re a birder with favorite spots you’d like to share, consider becoming a volunteer field trip leader. It might sound a little scary but it’s really fun and quite easy.
We can provide training walks and mentors, help you write trip descriptions, and find background resources on birding spots. You don’t need to be able to identify every bird: You’ll be successful just by organizing an enjoyable walk at an interesting location.
Interested? Contact Field Trip Coordinator, Chris Tarr at fieldtrips@goldengatebirds.org