Volunteer to Make a Difference for Sustainability and Bird Conservation
If you need reasonable accommodation at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know at [email protected].
Please check out the timeline and program summaries below to learn about our one-time, seasonal, and year-round science volunteer opportunities.Our Coyote Creek Field Station program is full and wait time for openings is more than one year. Contact Science Director Katie LaBarbera at
[email protected] to join the wait list.- Colonial Waterbird Nest Monitoring
- Coyote Creek Field Station
- Tidal Marsh Habitat Restoration Events
- Snowy Plover Mud Stomp Habitat Enhancement
- Tabling Community Outreach Events
- Colonial Waterbird Nest Monitoring
- Coyote Creek Field Station
- Tidal Marsh Habitat Restoration Events
- Tabling Community Outreach Events
- Colonial Waterbird Nest Monitoring
- Coyote Creek Field Station
- Tidal Marsh Habitat Restoration Events
- Tabling Community Outreach Events – Apply today!
- Colonial Waterbird Nest Monitoring
- Coyote Creek Field Station
- Least Tern Monitoring
- Tidal Marsh Habitat Restoration Events
- Tabling Community Outreach Events
- Colonial Waterbird Nest Monitoring
- Coyote Creek Field Station
- Least Tern Monitoring
- California Gull Nest Surveys
- Tidal Marsh Habitat Restoration Events
- Tabling Community Outreach Events
- Colonial Waterbird Nest Monitoring
- Coyote Creek Field Station
- Least Tern Monitoring
- Avian Disease Prevention Surveys
- Tidal Marsh Habitat Restoration Events
- Tabling Community Outreach Events
- Colonial Waterbird Nest Monitoring – Full
- Coyote Creek Field Station – Full
- Least Tern Monitoring – Full
- Avian Disease Prevention Surveys – Full
- Phalarope Surveys – Full
- Tidal Marsh Habitat Restoration Events
- Tabling Community Outreach Events
- Colonial Waterbird Nest Monitoring
- Coyote Creek Field Station
- Least Tern Monitoring
- Avian Disease Prevention Surveys
- Phalarope Surveys
- Tidal Marsh Habitat Restoration Events
- Tabling Community Outreach Events
- Coyote Creek Field Station
- Avian Disease Prevention Surveys
- Phalarope Surveys
- Tidal Marsh Habitat Restoration Events
- Tabling Community Outreach Events
- Coyote Creek Field Station – Full
- Avian Disease Prevention Surveys – Full
- Tidal Marsh Habitat Restoration Events
- Tabling Community Outreach Events – Full
- Coyote Creek Field Station
- Avian Disease Prevention Surveys
- Annual Shorebird Survey
- Tidal Marsh Habitat Restoration Events
- Tabling Community Outreach Events
- Coyote Creek Field Station
- Tidal Marsh Habitat Restoration Events
- Tabling Community Outreach Events
Least Tern Monitoring (no experience required): Join our team of volunteers who survey Least Tern nests any day of the week, one day per month commitment required during the nesting season (April-August). All volunteer Least Tern monitoring takes place at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve in Hayward. Classroom training in March and April, field training in April and May. There are also openings to help with remote data entry. Applications open in April. Open to families and individuals 16 and older.
California Gull Nest Survey (no experience required): Join our team of volunteers who survey California Gull nests by foot or by kayak in May (one day commitment). Best suited for people who don’t mind being around hundreds of gulls. Applications open in April. Open to individuals ages 18 and older.
Avian Disease Prevention Surveys (weekday availability required, no weekend opportunities, no previous experience required): Join our team of volunteers who survey South Bay sloughs by boat to find sick, injured, or dead birds to prevent the spread of avian botulism and other diseases (June-November). Applications open in June. Open to individuals ages 18 and older.
Phalarope Surveys (previous experience ID skills required): Join our team of volunteers with excellent independent phalarope identification skills who survey phalaropes. Commitment of one or more Tuesday mornings during the season (July-September) required. Applications open in July. Open to individuals ages 18 and older.
Shorebird Survey (previous experience required): Join our team of volunteers with excellent independent shorebird ID skills who survey shorebirds during a weekday event in November or December. Applications open in November. Open to individuals ages 18 and older.
Tidal Marsh Habitat Restoration (no experience required): Join our team of individual or group volunteers who restore tidal marsh habitat. Please check our upcoming events to look for volunteer work days to improve habitat for wildlife, and subscribe to our e-newsletter to get updates on volunteer openings.
Bird Banding at the Coyote Creek Field Station (previous experience required): We do not currently have any openings for volunteer bird banding, but we invite you to join the wait list by contacting Science Director Katie LaBarbera at [email protected]. Wait times are currently longer than one year. Open to individuals ages 18 and older.
Tabling Outreach Volunteer Program (no previous experience required): Join our team of volunteers who share information about birds, conservation, and SFBBO and lead fun activities at the SFBBO table at community events throughout the year. People can apply anytime. Open to individuals ages 16 and older.