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VOLUNTEER

Whether it’s working in the hospital, answering phones, or any of the many other things volunteers participate in, there is always plenty to do. Take a look below to see how you can put your skills and energy to work and truly make a difference.

Hospital Volunteer

Volunteering in our hospital puts you on the front lines working directly with our patients.

You will work with as many as 120 different species learning how and what to feed as you prep diets, feed birds, change nesting materials, and handle general cleaning such as laundry and dishes. You will also learn about creating habitat enrichment to reduce stress levels and promote faster and more complete recoveries.

This work can be intense—especially during Baby Bird Season—but the rewards are many. Knowing you personally helped return a bird to the wild is a feeling like no other.

Response Team

Often our first line of contact with the public, our Response Team members answer phones and manage the Admissions Desk.

You will learn and grow in this role as you help rescuers determine whether or not the bird they found is truly in need of care, and if so, how to safely catch and transport the bird to BRC. Equally important, you’ll also learn how to prevent well-intentioned finders from “bird-napping”—bringing in birds who are simply displaying normal behaviors and actually don’t need our care. You will learn how to gather the information hospital staff needs to treat incoming patients and release them to their home territories once healthy. Team members also serve as reliable sources of information regarding BRC’s operations, upcoming events and volunteer opportunities, and a wealth of information and resources to those calling from within and outside the immediate area.

Field Rescue & Transportation

If you enjoy nature, have a keen eye for evaluating situations, and are adept at interacting with the public, Field Rescue might be right up your alley!

Field Rescue volunteers respond to calls for help from throughout Sonoma County and sometimes as far away as Lake and Mendocino counties, jumping in when the finder is unable to perform the rescue. You will be trained to evaluate the situation and determine whether the bird needs to be captured and brought to BRC for treatment. You will learn how to safely capture and transport birds of all kinds and to gather the information necessary to support their care and treatment. Field Rescuers are also involved in releasing birds back into the wild once healthy.

Field Transporters ensure that birds needing specialized care from sister organizations receive it by transporting them to places like International Bird Rescue in Cordelia, which specializes in waterbirds, or Native Songbird Care and Conservation in Sebastopol, which specializes in insectivore songbirds. If you enjoy driving and meeting with others dedicated to caring for our feathered friends, you can have a considerable impact on the recovery and future of these birds by becoming part of our Transportation Team.

Volunteers involved in Field Rescue or Transportation will need to provide their own transportation and proof of current auto insurance.

Administration & Facilities

There are many essential volunteer opportunities besides the actual hands-on caring for our patients. If working directly with birds isn’t your cup of tea, your willing hands can be equally effective in other ways.

These opportunities include data entry for patient records, gardening to keep our grounds in shape, general cleaning of the administrative and museum areas, addressing dirty dishes and laundry, and preparing housing/baskets for incoming patients. As with any facility and especially our aged WWII Quonset hut, construction, maintenance and general repairs are ongoing.

Ambassador Handling Program

Our Education Program includes non-releasable birds (primarily raptors) who participate in our education activities. As a Volunteer Handler you will experience the thrill of developing a personal bond with our Ambassadors as you learn to hold these majestic birds on your gloved fist and present them to the public.

From Western Screech Owls to Great Horned Owls, from Turkey Vultures and Hawks to one (un)Common Raven, our Education Ambassadors help teach audiences ranging from youngsters to senior citizens about the importance of birds to our environment, building a better sense of stewardship for all native wild birds. You will learn the husbandry of all the species in the program as well as each bird’s personal history. You will be taught how to safely handle the birds, tether them in weathering areas, crate and transport them to events and present them to the public. As a Resident Handler, you will participate in their care and feeding as well as clean their aviaries, perform weekly health evaluations and maintain their equipment.

While handlers have the uniquely rewarding opportunity to work closely with birds that are usually only observed at a distance, this work requires a level of physical dexterity and conditioning not required for other volunteer opportunities (e.g., the ability to hold a three-pound bird for an hour or more on one hand, standing for extended periods of time, and the ability to bend down with the bird on your fist to tether him to a ground-level perch.)

The hands-on instruction is extensive, requiring several months of weekly training sessions, as well as additional study to learn about migration, avian anatomy, bird identification and behaviors, climate change and other topics that are commonly a part of our education programs. While this position requires a commitment of minimum of 4 hours per week as well as participation in educational events throughout the year, you may never find a more rewarding opportunity! After all, how many people can call a Red-shouldered Hawk or a Barred Owl a best friend?

Education Program Volunteer

During educational events and activities, we interact with children and adults providing important information about our local ecology, the impact humans have on the environment and that cascading effect to the birds who share it, and the vital role birds play in post-disaster recovery and in maintaining healthy ecosystems.

As a volunteer in our education program, you will receive the training you need to both educate and entertain our audiences while imparting a sense of stewardship for both the environment and our native wild bird populations. This includes talking one-on-one with people at community events, serving as a host for monthly open houses, and visiting classrooms, senior centers and service organizations. You will often be accompanied by one or more of our Education Ambassadors and their handlers as you help inspire a new and deeper appreciation for nature and birds.

707.523.2473

| 9am to 4pm

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VOLUNTEER

Volunteer Application

HOURS & LOCATION

Get Involved

Arrange a
Presentation

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VOLUNTEER

Volunteer Application

HOURS & LOCATION

Get Involved

Arrange a Presentation

Arrange a
Presentation