Community science (formerly citizen science) engages volunteers in the process of scientific research. It allows organizations like SFBBO to expand the reach of our projects across geography and time, and also provides information on topics we are unable to explore on our own. For 40 years, SFBBO has been a leader in this field. Community science has allowed us to create valuable, long term datasets that offer opportunities for universities, government agencies, and other scientists to ask big questions about birds. ​​It’s also helped us grow support for science, birds, and conservation in the wider community. You can learn more about these research projects and how they impact birds in our avian science section. Our Year-Round and Seasonal community science volunteer opportunities are open to current SFBBO Members. You can learn more and become a member by clicking here. Here are our current community science programs: 

One-Time Opportunities: 

• Annual Shorebird Survey – Survey for shorebirds during this one-day event, which occurs each year in November or December. Volunteers are assigned a location and record bird species and numbers on data sheets. This opportunity is appropriate for people with good independent bird ID skills and is open to people 16 and older.
• California Gull Surveys – Help our biologists survey California Gull nests by foot or by kayak during one day in May. No experience required, but a willingness to be near hundreds of active gulls is required. Open to people 16 and older. The 2022 surveys are over, people can be added to an interest list for 2023. 

Seasonal Opportunities:

• Avian Disease Prevention Boat Surveys – Help biologists search the South Bay sloughs by boat to look for injured, sick, or dead birds ​June through November, one day per month is encouraged, but not required. Open to people ages 16 and older. 
• ​Phalarope Surveys – Survey phalaropes on one or more Tuesday mornings July through September. Ability to independently ID Red-necked, Wilson’s, and Red phalaropes required. Open to people ages 16 and older.
• Colonial Waterbird Surveys – Track numbers of breeding egrets, herons, and other colony-nesting waterbirds on the first, and sometimes third, weekend of the month. Training is in January and volunteers must commit for the season, which runs from February through August. There are also opportunities to help with remote data entry. This opportunity is appropriate for all skill levels and is open to people of all ages, Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Trainings for the 2022 season are over, people can be added to an interest list for 2023.
• Plover Surveys – Survey for Snowy Plovers at sites around the Bay during the breeding season once a month during a five-day window that begins on the Friday before the last weekend of the month. Training is in February/March and volunteers are required to commit for the season, which runs from March through September. People who volunteer during nesting season are eligible to conduct winter surveys in October through February. Surveys are conducted at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve and the Hayward Shoreline in Hayward, Ravenswood in Menlo Park, Crittenden Marsh in Mountain View, Alviso in San Jose, Napa Sonoma Marshes Wildlife Area and San Pablo Bay, and in Warm Springs, Patterson (next to Coyote Hills), and Dumbarton (next to the Refuge headquarters) in Fremont. There are also opportunities to help with remote data entry. This opportunity is appropriate for medium to advanced bird ID skill levels, requires the use of a scope, and is open to people ages 16 and older. Trainings for the 2022 season are over, people can be added to an interest list for 2023.
• Tern Surveys – Survey for Least Terns at Bay Area sites during the breeding season, which is April through August. There are opportunities to survey these nesting birds every day of the week throughout the nesting season and volunteers are required to commit to monitoring at least once a month through season. Training takes place in April. There are also opportunities to help with remote data entry. This opportunity is appropriate for people ages 16 and older. 

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SFBBO and our partners, including Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful and Peninsula Open Space Trust, offer group volunteer work days throughout the year for volunteers to help us restore and enhance tidal marsh habitat and bayside habitat for Snowy Plovers and Least Terns at SFBBO restoration sites. We also offer one trail maintenance volunteer work day at our Coyote Creek Field Station each year. You do not need to fill out our volunteer application to participate and can register by visiting our our Events webpage.  

Teach in the Field – Volunteers can lead bird walks, nest viewings, bird banding demos, or other kinds of nature walks for the public. They can also serve as a Landbird Science Docent or a Snowy Plover Docent and teach people about birds, science, and conservation.  We especially need people to docent about plovers at Patterson Pond (west of Coyote Hills on the Alamda Creek Trail) and Hayward Shoreline. Open to individuals 18 and older.

Science Talks – People with science backgrounds or particular knowledge of a topic related to birds, science, or conservation may share their knowledge and passion by giving a science talk, in person or virtually, to the public through our Birdy Hour Speaker Series. Open to ages 13 and older. 

Youth and Family Education – Volunteer’s can inspire youth about birds and nature by leading avian science craft and investigation activities at family science library and school events and for Scouts and other youth groups, as well as serve as a mentor for kids interested in pursuing science as a career. They are also invited to create and develop curriculum and hands-on activities that teach kids about science and conservation. Open to people 13 and older.
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Raise money and support and share the value of birds, the issues they face, and how people can help through our outreach program. Opportunities include:

Raise Money – Help raise funds to support SFBBO’s science and outreach work by leading a bird walk, giving a science talk, hosting a house party or other special event, running a Facebook fundraiser, doing a walk-a-thon, soliciting items for our silent auction, and more. Open to families and people 16 and older.

Be a Storyteller – Share the story of birds, science, and SFBBO through photos, videos, blog posts, website design, and other communications and help us increase our reach through social media. Open to families and people ages 13 and older.

Be an Ambassador – Spread the word about SFBBO’s work by staffing information tables at community events, speaking before groups, and networking in the community. Open to families and people 13 and older.

Serve on the Board – Provide leadership, create organizational vision, raise money, and be a lead ambassador for SFBBO by joining the Board. Open to people 18 and older. Learn about our current boar team by visiting our board page. 

Teens ages 13-18 can volunteer in many of our science and outreach programs, including collecting data, creating communications, and educating the community. Students can participate individually or meet together with other students and SFBBO staff to set Teen Program goals and plan group projects. Teens volunteers can earn high school community service hours, connect with like-minded youth, develop their skills, and explore careers in science, education, communications, and public relations. Opportunities include:

• Collect data in the field as a community scientist (please see above listings for age requirements)
• Analyze avian science data and share results
• Do research about a science program related to birds and habitats and share findings
• Help restore Bay Area habitats (please see above listings for age requirements)
• Interview an SFBBO scientist to learn what they do and how they pursued their career and present their story through a presentation or creative piece
• Write a post for SFBBO’s blog, Wingbeat
• Create or edit a video to be shared on SFBBO’s newsletter, website, social media, and YouTube channel
• Create a photo exhibit to be share on SFBBO’s newsletter, website, social media, and YouTube channel
• Give a science or bird and nature talk to your class or the public or lead a nature walk (please see above listings for age requirements)
• Staff the SFBBO table at a community event to share information about SFBBO with the public or lead a hands-on education activity
• Help share stories about SFBBO through social media by creating posts or serving as an influencer​
• Help teach kids age 6-12 and their families about birds and science by running a hands-on activity station at an SFBBO family science school, library, or youth group event
• Organize a Bird Summit or other special event to educate the public and celebrate birds
• Serve as group leader by helping develop the Teen Volunteer Program pilot strategy and help run the program