Volunteers at Christmas Bird Count.
We are a volunteer-powered organization and have positions for every skill and interest category. Scroll through the positions for a description and needs, including time commitment, or take a shortcut to different categories by clicking on the links below.
| Birding | Conservation/Science | Education | Nature Shop | Board & Committees| Administration |
Birding
Neighborhood Bird Outing Lead: Outing leaders plan and lead outings that enable attendees with varying birding experience (no experience to lots of experience) to feel welcome, supported, and excited to see and hear birds in local parks and green spaces. Outing leaders are a caring, thoughtful group of people who genuinely enjoy sharing birds, nature, and conservation with others. The distinction between field trips and NBOs is that participants must pre-register for a field trip and there is a set participant limit, whereas there is no pre-registration for NBOs and group size will vary. Time commitment: 0-8 hours per month, depending on how many outings the leader chooses to organize.
Neighborhood Bird Outing Coordinator : This is an essential volunteer role that works with NBO leaders to plan and schedule upcoming outings, as well as provide leader onboarding/training, support, and encouragement as needed. Outing leaders are a caring, thoughtful group of people who genuinely enjoy sharing birds and nature with others. Time commitment: 1-2 hours per month to plan outings, plus variable time (0-5 hours) providing leader support and onboarding new leaders. Time spent attending outings is optional, but encouraged.
Field Trip Leader / Co-lead: Field Trip leaders plan and lead trips that enable attendees with varying birding experience (no experience to lots of experience) to feel welcome, supported, and excited to see and hear birds in local parks, green spaces, and birding destinations farther outside the Seattle area. Trip leaders are a caring, thoughtful group of people who genuinely enjoy sharing birds, nature, and conservation with others. The distinction between field trips and NBOs is that participants must pre-register for a field trip and there is a set participant limit, whereas there is no pre-registration for NBOs and group size will vary. Time commitment: 0-8 hours per month, depending on how many outings the leader chooses to organize.
Magnuson Children’s Garden Bird Walks: Responsibilities are nearly identical to field trip and Neighborhood Bird Outing leaders, with the additional layer of tailoring the walk for children and families. Time commitment: 45 minutes to one hour per walk, with additional time spent on planning.
Community Engagement Custom Bird Walks: Bird walk created and scheduled for a specific group or community, e.g. Let’s Go Birding Together, as a community engagement offering. Not to include sponsored events. Responsibilities are nearly identical to field trip and Neighborhood Bird Outing leaders, with the additional layer of incorporating any program goals the requesting organization/community group may have. Time: generally 2 hours per walk, with additional time spent on planning.
Birdathon Trip Leaders: This is basically the same as a regular field trip leader, except trip participants are raising money for Birdathon. Leaders are encouraged to plan trips that visit a variety of habitats to maximize the number of bird species observed, but otherwise the trip is planned and run like any other.
Birdsit: Stationary engagement opportunities at area parks to introduce park users to birds in that area. Bird Sits are generally 1-2 hours in duration. It’s recommended that the leader audit the site for at least one hour when planning the sit to assess other visitor traffic and ambient noise, as well as bird species.
Conservation/Science
Neighborhood Bird Program Participant: Volunteers conduct bird surveys at multiple points along a loop once a month in Seattle-area parks, and then enter the data into an online database. Read about the project and survey locations here: https://birdsconnectsea.org/our-work/conservation/urban-conservation/neighborhood-bird-project/ Time commitment: 1.5-2 hours per month.
Climate Watch: Volunteers conduct bird surveys at multiple pre-selected points in various Seattle-area parks twice a year during the winter and spring count windows.
Seattle Bird Collision Monitors: Seattle Bird Collision Monitors conduct daily surveys for dead and injured birds at pre-selected study buildings during the spring and fall count seasons.
Education/Outreach
Community Engagement Volunteers: Community Engagement volunteers participate in various community events (science nights, tabling opportunities at local events, etc.) with the aim to share Seattle Audubon’s work with the larger community. Commitment varies, depending upon event and availability of volunteer.
Presentation/speaker: Share Seattle Audubon’s conservation message along with information about urban birds to various community groups requesting a speaker. (Common groups include gardening clubs, senior centers, scout groups, etc.) Speaking engagements are usually 60-90 minutes each, located across Seattle Audubon’s service area.
EarthCare Northwest Writer/Editor: Write, or make our writing sing more, in our printed publication for members. Skills desired: Writing, copyediting, layout. Time commitment: Per project.
Blog Writer: Got something to say about birds or our conservation mission? Write a piece for our website, reaching thousands per day. Skills desired: Writing, critical thinking, enthusiasm for birds and/or conservation. Time commitment: Per project.
Nature Camp Junior Naturalists: Junior Naturalists are high school students who assist and are mentored by adult Naturalists in day-to-day tasks at Nature Camp. The Junior Naturalist program offers teens in grades 10-12 a chance to earn service learning credits required for graduation, while building leadership and teaching skills. Select paid internship opportunities are also available. Junior Naturalists are required to attend a half-day training with the adult Naturalists, where teens learn how to interact with children, lead games and activities, risk management techniques, and appropriate behavior in a professional setting.
Refuge Outdoor Festival Volunteer: Help support our sponsorship of and participation in one of the largest BIPOC camping and outdoors gatherings in the country. Skills Desired: Ability to drive usually to the Carnation area, interact with a primary BIPOC crowd, bird species ID. Time commitment: 2-? hours.
Nature Shop
Nature Shop Front Desk: The Nature Shop is seeking volunteers that want to engage with the general public over their love of birding. All experience levels are encouraged, and we offer flexible hours from Monday to Saturday. There is an initial training period of 3-4 days where you will be trained on point-of-sale systems and become familiar with the merchandise in the store. There is a confidentially agreement that is required as well as annual attendance at our inclusive leadership event, Hoot Camp.
Nature Shop General Support: Projects include all onsite shop support not captured by front desk, fulfillment, or crafting. e.g. cardboard management.
Board & Committees
Board Member: Steer the ship. Lead the organization as a member of the Board of Directors, its governing body, responsible for strategy, oversight, and accountability. Skills Desired: Currently prioritizing legal expertise and human resources backgrounds. Must sign a confidentiality agreement. Time commitment: 8-10 hours per month.
NextGen Advisory Council: Councilmembers advise Seattle Audubon staff on engagement of younger, more diverse audiences. Councilmembers also work together to organize events specifically for young adults in the community who are interested in birds and nature. Time commitment: 1.5-3 per month.
Classes Committee: Committee meets quarterly for 1-1.5 hours. Members of the classes committee work with class instructors to schedule class sessions, develop classes that appeal to our students, and support instructors and students during online and in-person classes. No prior education or bird expertise needed, but a desire to work with diverse instructors and students, and to provide top-notch customer service is a must. Time: commitment 0 to 10 hours per month, depending on the number of classes a volunteer chooses to support. Committee meets quarterly for 1-1.5 hours.
Communications Committee: Help the organization spread the word about its birds-focused conservation mission and activities. Committee meets weekly. Skills desired: Communications strategy, writing, editing, web publishing, & development, social media, design, marketing, and public relations. Knowledge of birds is nice but not essential. Time commitment: 4-8 hours/month.
Development Committee: You can help grow our financial resources by providing your knowledge of fundraising activities including donor stewardship, solicitation, and more, as part of our Development Committee. Meetings are bi-weekly for 1 hour with occasional additional hours. Time commitment: 2-3 hours per month.
Equity and Justice Committee: Join this BIPOC-only body to support the organization’s anti-racism mission and activities, and each other. Skills desired: Commitment to antiracism and equity, diversity and inclusion. Knowledge of birds is nice but not essential. Time commitment: 2-4 hours/month.
Equity and Justice Committee Chair: Lead and organize the BIPOC-only committee in supporting the organization’s anti-racism mission and activities, as well as help liaison with board and staff. Skills desired: Leadership, organizing, commitment to antiracism and EDI. Knowledge of birds nice but not essential. Time commitment: 4-8 hours/month.
Field Trips and Outings Committee: Committee members work with trip leaders to plan and schedule field trips and neighborhood bird walks, and members may opt into other activities such as attending prospective leader information sessions and trainings, and shadowing leaders during trips. No prior education or bird expertise needed, but a desire to work with both new and experienced leaders to ensure trips are welcoming and safe is a must. Time commitment: 1-2 hours per month. Committee meets quarterly for 1-1.5 hours.
Finance Committee Member: Steward our financial resources. Provide recommendations to the Board of Directors and staff regarding the organization’s finances to support the mission. Skills desired: Background in finance and/or accounting. Time commitment: 4-8 hours per month.
Martin Miller Special Habitat Selection Committee: Grant money to protect habitat. Establish criteria for and recommend distribution of earnings from the Martin Miller Wildlife Sanctuary Fund. Skills desired: Special expertise in evaluating habitat projects. Time: 10-20 hours annually.
Administration
Science Data Entry: Volunteers transcribe data from paper datasheets into the online database. This work can be done from the Seattle Audubon office or from an off-site location. Time commitment: 1-10 per month.
Mailing Party Volunteers: For our detail-oriented volunteers, we welcome your help preparing our quarterly membership renewal letters. Folding, stuffing, sealing, and sometimes addressing envelopes can be done at the office, or from the comfort of your own home. Time commitment: 3-4 hours per quarter.
Development and Membership Clerical Support: We always can use ad hoc volunteer support with papercutting, printing, folding, scanning, filing, and labeling. Make yourself available for when needs arise, we can reach out. Time commitment: ad hoc, 2-3 hours per project.
Social Media Support: Help message the organization’s activities and missions, and elevate partners’, on various social media platforms. Skills desired: Familiarity with TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Time commitment: 1-4 hours/week, or ad hoc.
Salesforce Database Cleanup: Help us maintain quality data including emails, addresses, event attendance, and other records using our Salesforce Database. Ad hoc projects and hours variable. Time commitment: estimated 2-4 per project
Shredding: When it is time to dispose of financial and other sensitive records, Shredding Volunteers can help us shred, bag, and recycle documents. Time commitment: 1-2 hours per session.
Info Email Support: Volunteer hours monitoring a responding to inquiries to the info@seattleauduboon.org email address.
Staff Interviews: Build a top-notch team. Advise and participate in hiring processes for staff on an ad hoc basis. Skills: Human resources experience is helpful, but not required. Must sign a confidentiality agreement. Time commitment: 6-8 hours per open position.
Birdathon Fundraising: Help us plan and organize our annual peer-to-peer FUNdraising event, Birdathon. Volunteers might assist with t-shirt distribution, participation recruitment, prize procurement, and other planning duties. Time commitment: 3-5 hours per month in March, April, and May.
New Member Phone Calls: Welcome our newest members to our community each month with welcome phone calls. Volunteers receive a script to thank and welcome new members, and answer basic questions about the organization or members. Time commitment: 1 hour per month.