Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunity Descriptions

Landbird Program

Coyote Creek Field Assistant (Predator Patrol)
Season: Year-round
Orientation/Training Date Range: As needed
Time Commitment: Once per month
Needed? Yes

This involves helping patrol the mist nets for predators (mostly foxes and cats, sometimes raptors), chasing them away, and alerting banders as to what type of predator you saw and where it was located. It’s also important to know the difference between a red and gray fox. You will also be responsible for alerting the banders when birds are captured in the nets, transporting birds back to the trailer, and sometimes helping record data. We operate the nets on Wed, Sat, and Sun. We ask for you to commit to coming out one time per month. You may show up at CCFS around 30 minutes after the nets are opened (between 5:30-7:10 a.m. depending on the month) and leave at net closing ( between 10:00-11:40 a.m. depending on the month).

Coyote Creek Field Station Bird Bander
Season: Year-round
Orientation/Training Date Range: As needed.
Time Commitment: Twice per month; 6 hrs each time
Needed? Not at this time

Description: The Bird Observatory operates mist nets on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings from 5:30 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. at the Coyote Creek Field Station in Milpitas. Bird banding requires technical skill, patience, and practice. Bird Observatory volunteers who band bird have undergone training and been certified to band birds at CCFS by Bird Observatory biologists.

Currently, we do not have a need for more banders; however, if we need banders in the future, the Bird Observatory will offer a training course for volunteers. If you're interested in bird-banding, we recommend starting off on predator patrol. You may also be able to find training for bird-banding as an intern or volunteer at Big Sur Ornithology Lab, PRBO Conservation Science, or the Institute for Bird Populations. The Bird Observatory and Big Sur Ornithology Lab also co-run an Advanced Ageing and Sexing of Passerines with Peter Pyle every year in the spring.

Experience Required: Passerine banding experience equivalent to one year at CCFS. This must include extracting, handling, banding, and processing birds. If you meet these qualifications, you must also pass an evaluation by one staff member demonstrating these abilities.

Coyote Creek Field Station Maintenance
Season: Year-Round
Orientation/Training Date Range: None.
Needed? Yes

Description: Coyote Creek Field Station maintenance includes helping to maintain trails, mist nets, and work around the station itself. This is fairly physical work requiring the ability to use basic gardening tools (trimmers, saws, rakes, etc.), working outside, standing for lengths of time, and carrying/lifting.

Experience Required: None.

Vegetation Surveyor
Season: Summer
Orientation/Training Date Range: mid-June
Time Commitment: Surveys will occur 12 times over a 2 week period; 2.5 - 4 hrs each time. Volunteers can choose as many dates and times they would like to participate. Needed? Not at this time.

Description: The Bird Observatory collects vegetation data at CCFS in Milpitas in order to correlate bird use with revegetation. This data collection involves locating existing trees, measuring diameter at breast height and the height of the tree. We also measure heights of ground cover at certain distances from the nets as well as foliage coverage at heights ranging from 0 - 21 feet.

Experience Required: A training session is required for those who have not collected data for vegetation surveys before.

Waterbird Program

Avian Disease Prevention Field Assistant
Season: Summer and Fall
Orientation/Training Date Range: None
Time Commitment: 1 time/week; 4-5 hrs each time. (Timing is dependent on high tides within the slough channels.) A commitment to at least 1 survey per month over the season is required.
Needed? Yes. The Avian Disease Prevention Program (ADPP) surveys begin in late June. We are currently recruiting volunteers. Please contact outreach@sfbbo.org to find out about an ADPP orientation.

Description: San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory monitors Alviso, Mallard (Artesian) and Guadalupe Sloughs for the cities of San Jose and Sunnyvale. The municipalities are required to monitor for botulism as part of their permit requirements to release treated fresh water from their water treatment facilities into the sloughs. Under contract, we monitor the sloughs by boat on a weekly basis during periods of warm weather, generally June to mid-November to collect all dead, sick and injured birds in the sloughs. We also collect any dead fish or mammals in order to prevent the spread of botulism.

Experience required: No previous experience required.

Other Qualifications: Ability to drive a truck and trailer and/or outboard motor is helpful. Must not be afraid to get muddy and/or wet! Must be willing to handle (with proper protection) sick, injured and dead wildlife.

Colonial Waterbird Monitor
Season: Spring and Summer
Orientation/Training Date Range: March
Needed? February 2009

Time Commitment: Surveys occur once a month. Volunteers choose their own survey dates within a three-day window (usually a Friday-Sunday or Saturday-Monday). How long the survey takes depends on the site, but plan for up to half a day. Due to bright sun and afternoon winds, surveys are generally best done in the early morning hours especially for gull and tern surveys in open areas along the Bay.

Description: SFBBO has monitored colonial waterbirds since 1981. Beginning in early March and continuing through early August we track numbers of breeding herons, egrets, terns, gulls and other birds that nest in groups, or "colonies" around the Bay Area. These numbers add to a database that extends more than two decades, allowing us to document population trends. We also monitor the timing of nesting and evidence of disturbance and predation.

Experience Required: An orientation given by SFBBO is recommended for everyone who is going to be surveying for the first time. In addition, a field trip to the site can often be arranged with an SFBBO biologist or a volunteer with previous experience at the site.

Other Qualifications: Previous experience identifying the given species (such as during normal birding days) is preferred but not required; Ability to drive on dirt roads and possibly walk on uneven surfaces required, depending on the site; Ability to look through a spotting scope for extended periods of time required!

Snowy Plover Recovery Surveyor
Season: Spring and Summer or Year-round
Orientation/Training Date Range: February/March
Time Commitment: Surveys occur once a month, preferably on a high tide. Volunteers choose their own survey dates within a three-day window (usually a Friday-Sunday or Saturday-Monday). Survey duration depends on the site, but plan for about a half-day. Due to bright sun and afternoon winds, surveys are generally best done in the early morning hours.
Needed? February 2009

Description: The primary objective of this program is to monitor distribution, abundance and nesting success of the local Western Snowy Plover and impacts to this species from avian and mammalian predators. Data from the monthly surveys, as well as two annual "window surveys," becomes part of a Pacific Coast Region-wide population database. Volunteers can continue to survey plovers over the winter months to obtain information on numbers of wintering and migrating plovers.

Experience Required: A one-day training is required for everyone who is going to be surveying for plovers during the breeding season. This includes a presentation by the Fish and Wildlife Service biologist as well as a field trip to see plovers in their habitat.

Other Qualifications: Previous experience identifying plovers (such as during normal birding days) is preferred but not required; Ability to drive on dirt roads and possibly walk on uneven surfaces required, depending on the site; Ability to look through a spotting scope for extended periods of time required!

Volunteer: Outreach

Bird Observatory Archivist and Librarian
Season: Year round
Orientation/Training Date Range: None
Time Commitment: Once a month or more frequently; 2 - 3 hrs each time. Volunteers may choose their own set date for each month. Some work can be done at home.
Needed? Yes

Description: The Bird Observatory library and collections provide a wealth of information on ornithology, as well as, organization-specific information on research and history. However, the books, article clippings, and photos need to be organized and catalogued. There is also a collection of slides that can be scanned and archived on CDs. Volunteers with an interest in the organization's history may also create displays and scrapbooks.

Experience Required: Experience in library sciences is helpful for cataloguing the books. Ability to use home computer, scanners, and CD burners will be needed to archive photo collection.

Other Qualifications: Good organizational skills, motivation, and an interest in local history are helpful.

Bird Observatory Event Representative
Season: Year round
Orientation/Training Date Range: None
Time Commitment: January, April, May, June, October, or November; 1 - 2 hr shifts over the duration of the event.
Needed? Yes

Description: The Bird Observatory participates in bird festivals and other environment-related events through out the year, and volunteers can join in on the fun while also taking an hour or two to represent the organization at our booth/table. Events include: Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society Wildlife Education Day (January), Pacific Flyway Festival (January), Bird Observatory's Great Blue Heron Day (April), Spring in Guadalupe Gardens (April), South Bay Bird Fest (May), Open Space Conference (June), OceanFest (October), and the Bird Observatory's California Fall Challenge and Annual Meeting (October).

Volunteers assist in tabling activities that include small games or arts and crafts that educate people about birds and the environment or simply hand out fliers and brochures to interested passersby. Other opportunities include publicity and event planning.

Experience Required: None.

Other Qualifications: Good interpersonal/communication skills highly desired, must like to work and interact with the general public and others outside of our organization. Experience in marketing, outreach, public speaking, event planning, and environmental education a big plus.

Website Maintenance
Season: Year round
Orientation/Training Date Range: None
Time Commitment: Once a month; 3 - 4 hours each time.
Needed? Yes

Description: Keep the Bird Observatory's website up-to-date and navigeable! Volunteers can update the calendar, news, and volunteer pages each month. Other website projects are a possibility, and new pages can be implemented using template pages.

Experience Required: Previous experience updating websites using FrontPage or Dreamweaver is helpful. Also, experience using Photoshop or other graphics editing programs may be needed for placing photos.

Graphics Designer/Illustrator
Season: Year round
Orientation/Training Date Range: None
Time Commitment: Project-based
Needed? Yes

A volunteer is needed in layout and graphic design for Bird Observatory publications such as our newsletter and brochures. Working with our logo and other standard design guidelines, you can create outreach materials that will reach all Bird Observatory members and the Bay Area birding community. Some work can be done at home.

We also frequently need line drawings of birds and other relevant artwork for publications, teaching materials, etc. We are looking for an individual with the skills and knowledge required to render highly accurate depictions of species, habitat, etc.

Experience Required: Graphics design and relevant software skills. Previous work in wildlife illustrations or comparable work.

Environmental Education Assistant
Season: Year round
Orientation/Training Date Range: None
Time Commitment: Project-based
Needed? Yes

Help develop the Bird Observatory's environmental education program. Assist in relevant environmental education curriculum identification and development, field trips and walks planning and coordination, classroom presentations, activity development, etc.

Other Qualifications: Experience in education (especially K-12) preferred. Environmental teaching and/or curriculum experience highly desired.

Field Station Interpretive Docent
Season: Year round
Orientation/Training Date Range: As needed
Time Commitment: One Saturday morning once a month; 7:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Needed? Yes

Dedicated and outgoing individuals can help implement and staff a volunteer-based docent program at the Coyote Creek Field Station. Lead visitors on the Coyote Creek Field Tour in order to educate the public about the Bird Observatory's work in conservation science. Docents seek to foster awareness and increase understanding and appreciation of our local environment as well as the need for habitat preservation in the San Francisco Bay Area. Basic training will be provided.

Experience Required: Ability to work outside and interact with the public as a representative of the Bird Observatory.

Other Qualifications: Knowledge of local ecology, environmental issues, natural history, and local culture is helpful. Some familiarity with local bird and other species as well as their habitats and local environmental issues is highly desirable. Language abilities other than English are always welcome.