Volunteer

Many of our volunteers want to get out and see some birds. The easiest way is to contribute to the Atlas of Australian Birds. Simply register as an Atlasser (for free), go birdwatching wherever you like, and keep a list of the birds you see at each place. By collecting many thousands of these lists, the Atlas has amassed a huge database which can be used in all sorts of ways to assist bird conservation.

There are also more focused ways to see birds and help our projects to save them at the same time. If you fancy a trip to a sewage farm, saltworks or river estuary to see some waders, the Shorebirds 2020 project might be the one for you.

Almost every threatened species has its own monitoring project coordinated by the Threatened Bird Network which needs volunteers. We conduct bird surveys in all states, and this may offer you the chance to see some rare species while visiting some of the most interesting, picturesque (and sometimes out-of-the-way) places on offer. Other activities include habitat restoration days, where you get to plant trees that may one day be inhabited by a threatened species, or help to remove noxious weeds. One of the best ways to find out which field activities you can take part in is to check out the Volunteer newsletter.

A great way to have a holiday or break from everyday life is to volunteer as a warden at the award-winning Gluepot Reserve or as an assistant or caretaker at one of our observatories at Broome or Eyre in Western Australia. Tasks here vary from conducting bird monitoring surveys to recording daily rainfall totals and weather details, and you might even be asked to do some cooking or help repair the roof. All of this takes place in some of the most rewarding birding environments in Australia.

If you prefer more of an urban adventure, volunteering at our Discovery Centre in Sydney is an option.  You'll get to observe the resident White-bellied Sea-Eagles, and guide people around the sprawling Newington Nature Reserve.

While less glamorous, there are lots of ways that you can help by being in the office. Most projects are happy to have an extra pair of hands to assist with a wide variety of administrative activities. For example, data entry is an essential part of bird monitoring, and it is only after the information has been collected, collated and entered that it can be used to assist in bird conservation. There are a hundred and one other administrative tasks that can be done by volunteers in the office. BirdLife Australia has an office or a regional group in most states and territories, so contact them to see how you can help out.