Your Guide to Volunteering at RPBO
** Please Read Before Completing A Volunteer Application **
This is important information that you should know before applying to be a volunteer with RPBO.
Already a Registered RPBO Volunteer?
Thank you for your interest in joining the volunteer team at Rocky Point Bird Observatory!
Rocky Point Bird Observatory is always looking for enthusiastic, self-motivated, committed individuals to augment our team. Whether you are a leader or supporter, introvert or extrovert, night owl or early bird - RPBO may be the place for you!
Our volunteers are the heart of our conservation efforts, contributing their time, skills, and passion to help us do our best to learn more about our local birds, and help guide ways to protect them. We welcome individuals of all backgrounds, skills, and experience levels - students to retirees, nature enthusiasts to tech-savvy individuals, or those just looking to give back in their free time. Your passion and willingness to contribute is greatly appreciated.
RPBO acknowledges the many benefits of volunteerism - to the volunteer, to RPBO, and to conservation at large. RPBO strives for a dynamic and meaningful volunteer program where volunteers, staff and board members work together to successfully carry out our mission and programs.
If you’re ready to make a difference, we’re ready to help you get started!
Before you apply,
here’s an overview of what you can expect from us, what we expect from you - and your next steps to getting involved!
What it Means to Volunteer
Choosing the Right Role for You
What skills and abilities can you could share with others?
What would you like to learn?
What inspires and interests you?
To make the most of your volunteer experience, it’s important to choose a role that truly fits you. Look for opportunities that use your strengths, match your passions, and fit naturally and comfortably into your life's schedule.
Our work relies on dedicated volunteers who can show commitment to their roles. Before applying, ensure you are ready to follow through on the time and effort required. A good fit makes all the difference - for everyone!
- Visit us throughout the year at any of our Community Events to meet our team members and see what's involved in joining the Education and Outreach crew.
- Talk to our Board members (past or present) to see how leadership opportunities might be an excellent way for you to contribute to RPBO.
- Come as a guest to the Banding Station at Pedder Bay to see our committed staff in action; and get a sense of how important it is that our work continue.
Volunteer Opportunities
There’s a wide range of volunteer roles at RPBO, that cover a wide range of skills and interests. Each opportunity gives you a sense of what’s involved—how active it is, how much time it takes, if any travel is needed, or if certain skills are required—so you can find something that feels right for you.
The following are brief introductions to some of the positions currently available at RPBO. We are happy to discuss more specifics of a position if you are interested. Please contact volunteer@rpbo.org.
A special note about Field Work Roles
Field work is the most widely recognized and iconic volunteer role at RPBO for sure - and the birds absolutely deserve the rep! The realities of field work however, are more complex and varied.
Volunteering at field work can be a deeply rewarding and educational experience - but it’s important to ensure it’s the right fit for you. Here are a few key considerations to help you decide if this opportunity aligns with your skills, availability, and lifestyle.
Time Commitment: The natural hours of operation for a bird observatory are not for the faint of heart. All volunteer shifts are 7.5 hours long and require a reliable, recurring schedule. Fall Migration shifts start before sunrise and Nocturnal Owl Monitoring shifts start after sunset. These shifts require punctuality, consistency and a set number of commitments per season.
Personal Transportation is Required: Volunteers are expected to arrange their own transportation to any Field shift or Community event they apply for, as public transit is often not a practical option. Reliable access to a personal vehicle is strongly recommended. Community outreach events occur throughout the city, often outside regular bus routes. Our banding station is located in a remote area of Metchosin, where public transportation is not available during operating hours.
Qualified Skills: Field work in bird banding and bird handling requires specialized skills and practiced experience, necessary for the safety and well-being of the birds. Training is a major time investment for both RPBO staff and the volunteers; consequently, on-the-job training is offered only when our current workload and team capacity allow. Field work is best suited to those who are eager to learn and can commit consistently throughout the season - a demanding schedule due to school, work, or family, may take some planning to balance this commitment effectively.
Volunteer Applicant Evaluation
Every applicant goes through an evaluation process where we consider background, skills, and motivation; and the needs of the organization at that time. This helps us build a safe, effective team and ensures that volunteers are placed in roles that genuinely match their interests and abilities. It also helps protect our programs and maintain a positive, respectful environment for everyone involved. Once we’ve reviewed your online application, we’ll reach out to talk about next steps.
Sometimes the role you’re initially interested in might not be available or be the best fit. That’s perfectly alright; if you are dedicated to the cause, we are committed to working with you.
There are plenty of ways to help out. We can discuss other roles that are available and may match your skills and interests. Becoming an RPBO Member or making a donation is also a very powerful way to support our research and conservation work - just as impactful as roll-up-the-sleeves volunteer work.
If you become a volunteer, membership is required before you can access WhenToHelp and sign up for any Outreach or Banding Station shifts. We do encourage becoming an RPBO Member now, to ensures you are fully prepared to dive into new opportunities the moment they open up or inspiration hits. Rest assured that your support makes a real and meaningful difference—and we do truly appreciate it.
Volunteer Online Application
We will contact you for discussion once we have reviewed your online application.
We’ll do our best to respond within a week.
Please complete the online Volunteer Application