Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer at World Bird Sanctuary and be part of something meaningful.

Visitor: You must love your job!"

Naturalist: Yes, I do, and you can too!

  Seasonal staff member Jaimie Sansoucie began her career with WBS as a volunteer

Volunteers are vital to the success of the World Bird Sanctuary and are involved in every aspect of helping us to achieve our mission.

Animal Care and  Education Volunteer Opportunities

Our volunteer program offers something for everyone, including the unique opportunity to work directly with birds and animals:

Our volunteer program offers something for everyone:

- Naturalist (animal handling & visitor education)

- Docent (visitor education and interaction only; no animal handling)

- Animal care technician (care for animals in our behind-the-scenes areas)

- Field studies technician (bird capture; banding; recording & release)

- Rehabilitation technician (care for wild birds admitted to the wildlife hospital)

  Longtime volunteer Jena Baumgarten and Acorn, a red phase Screech Owl, answering questions from a seniors group

Skilled Worker Volunteer Opportunities

A very important part of our volunteer corps is the "Tuesday Crew" – a group of retired tradesman who keep our site functioning and maintained, including plumbers, carpenters, welders, electricians, mechanics and more.   If you are a retired tradesman with a special skill to offer, and you would like to join this vital group of volunteers at World Bird Sanctuary, we'd love to hear from you.

 Members of our Tuesday Crew completing a project 

If you would like to find out more about becoming a volunteer at WBS, click here for more information or call 636-225-4390 ext. 103.

Group Service Projects also available.

We also offer one-time service group service project volunteer opportunities for your church, social club, scout group or school:

Public Event Days

Date: World Eagle Day in March; National Trails Day in June; International Vulture Awareness Day in September and Open House in October; 7am – 4pm

Approximately 1,000 - 3,000 are expected to attend each of these events.  Help needed includes:

Face painters

People to help control parking

People to help conduct visitor satisfaction surveys

Help with free kids craft activities

Help with sales at food concession stands

Printing photos on demand at the photo opportunity stand

Line Maintenance Days – Spring & Fall

Date: March (Spring Preparation) and October (Winter Preparation); 9am – 4pm

We clean, repair and prepare bird exhibits on our display line in preparation for spring.  Tasks include:

Remove shadecloths and weatherproofing from exhibits and shelters

Clean bird baths and wading ponds

Weeding and new plantings in bird exhibits

Rake leaves in public display areas

Clear/maintain hiking/walking trails that traverse our 305-acre property

Mew Maintenance Days – Spring & Fall

Date:  April (Spring Preparation) November (Winter Preparation) 9am – 4pm

We clean, repair and prepare bird housing in our behind-the-scenes areas in preparation for spring.  Tasks include:

Remove/erect shadecloths and weatherproofing on exhibits and shelters

Pressure-washing housing walls to clean them

General repair and maintenance of wooden housing.

Use your time and enthusiasm for the outdoors and conservation to make a difference – become a WBS volunteer today!