Caring for injured, orphaned, and contaminated birds is a rewarding challenge. Tri-State’s professional staff is augmented by over 100 active volunteers who donate more than 10,000 hours annually to help support our mission. Talents are needed in a variety of areas, including bird care, public education, patient reception, landscaping and maintenance, office support, fundraising, marketing, and special events.
Please join Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research as a volunteer and help us return healthy birds to their natural environment! Each year we receive over 3,000 birds that need YOUR help. Volunteers play a vital role in the transportation and care of our patients and the support of our operations.
How to Get Involved
Steps to Becoming a Volunteer
Step 1: Review available volunteer opportunities and position descriptions as listed on our volunteer webpage. Volunteer positions listed include information on requirements, examples of tasks, time contribution and more! This will allow you to find an opportunity that may be a good match for you!
Step 2: Submit an application for a volunteer position within the application window. Applications are completed online, and the link is provided by emailing volunteer@tristatebird.org. In the application, you can share your availability, special skills/talents, and why you want to volunteer with us!
Step 3: Complete a New Volunteer Orientation*. Accepted applicants will be invited to attend a mandatory orientation held via Zoom and/or completed virtually. During this session you will receive your Volunteer Handbook, review policies, learn some bird care basics, and review training requirements.
Step 4: Complete required training with our team for you volunteer position. Training provided by our staff and experienced mentor volunteers. Once training is complete you may begin your journey as a new volunteer!
*Accepted volunteer applicants will be invited to register for an upcoming New Volunteer Orientation. Registration fee for New Volunteer Orientation is $25 an individual, or $15 for current students with ID. Registration is required and more information about registration will be provided to accepted volunteer applicants.
Age Requirements
To volunteer in our Wild Bird Clinic, volunteers must be at least 16 years of age, and at least 18 for some roles. To volunteer with our oiled wildlife response team, volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and have been previously trained as a Rehabilitation volunteer. For specific age requirements, please review the description for the volunteer position you are interested in.
Volunteer Calendar – Application Windows and Volunteer Training
The application window and subsequent volunteer trainings are listed below. After the application window, applications will be reviewed and applicants will be selected and contacted for interviews. Training may begin following the completion of volunteer orientation. Volunteer orientations will be held virtually over Zoom. The volunteer calendar for 2023 is:
Rehabilitation Volunteer
Application window #1: January 1 – January 31, or until all spots are filled.
Volunteer training: February
Application window #2: September 1 – September 30, ALL SPOTS ARE NOW FULL
Volunteer training: October
Transport Team
Level 1 Application window: applications for this role are accepted year round; training offered quarterly.
Level 1 Volunteer training: January, May, August, and November. *Additional dates may be offered depending on interest and availability.
Level 2 Application window #1: February 1 – February 28
Level 2 Volunteer training #1: March
Level 2 Application window #2: October 1 – October 31
Level 2 Volunteer training #2: November
Wildlife Hotline Coordinator
Application window #1: March 1 – 31
Volunteer training #1: April
Application window #2: November 1 – November 30
Volunteer training #2: December
Patient Admissions Specialist
Application window: March 1 – 31
Volunteer training: April
Baby Bird Care
Application window: April 1 – April 30
Volunteer training: May
Facilities Team
Applications for this role are accepted year round; training offered based upon availability.
Laundry Team
Applications for this role are accepted year round; training offered based upon availability.3
Volunteer Positions
During baby bird season, we receive hundreds of orphaned and/or injured baby birds that need special care. Volunteers are needed to prepare nest cups, properly set up and clean habitats, correctly hand feed, and monitor care for each species. This volunteer opportunity is available from approximately May through early September each year. Click here to learn more about the Baby Bird Care volunteer position.
The purpose of the facilities team is to help create and maintain habitats for our wild bird patients and to keep our facilities and grounds maintained and running smoothly for operations. The facilities team works with the support of our facilities committee, Facilities Supervisor, and Clinic Director. Click Here to learn more about the Facilities Team Volunteer position.
Towels, sheets, and other linens are an essential tool used by the Clinic team to care for our wild patients. These linens are used to:
- Hold the patients while protecting their feathers and decreasing their stress
- Line indoor cages, providing a soft substrate for injuries and visual barriers, creating a quiet environment to promote healing.
- Safely retrieve and transport patients to the clinic
Tri-State has a dedicated laundry area in the lower level of the clinic. To keep the clinic stocked with linens, summer laundry loads number about 25 to 35 per week; winter laundry loads are about 20 per week. Click Here to learn more about the Laundry Team Volunteer position.
These volunteers help to support our clinic team and Wildlife Hotline Coordinators during our busy season, spring through summer. Patient Admissions Specialists are responsible for greeting the public, receiving incoming patients, and entering and maintaining patient charts in an online database. Training will be provided by Mentor Volunteers and the Volunteer Services Manager. Click Here to learn more about the Patient Admissions Specialist volunteer position.
Rehabilitation Volunteers assist in the rehabilitation of injured, diseased (or sick), and orphaned native wild birds with the goal of releasing them back to the wild. As a volunteer, you will assist Clinic staff in providing each bird with proper nutrition, a safe and enriching habitat, and a clean environment. This role focuses on patients housed primarily in outdoor enclosures and/or the lower level of the Frink Center. Click Here to learn more about the Rehabilitation Volunteer position.
The purpose of the transport team is to give injured, sick, and orphaned native wild birds a chance of survival by providing safe transport to Tri-State’s licensed rehabilitation facility in Newark, DE, and to provide a service to caring members of the community who are unable to transport birds on their own. Transport volunteers are expected to represent Tri-State in a pleasant, positive, and professional manner on every transport assignment. Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research responds to calls from Delaware, southeastern to central Pennsylvania, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Click Here to learn more about the Transport Team volunteer position.
These volunteers help to support our clinic team with inquiries about injured and orphaned native wild birds in the tri-state area. They greet the public in person and on the phone, help answer questions and provide information, admit bird patients, and other public education needs. These tasks are done with the support and direction of staff and other experienced volunteers. Training will be provided by Mentor Volunteers and the Volunteer Services Manager. Click Here to learn more about the Wildlife Hotline Coordinator volunteer position.
Please note the summer is our busiest time of the year and we are unable to offer training to new volunteers at this time. We recruit and train the majority of new volunteers between late summer and early spring each year. Please check our volunteer page periodically for updates and information.
If you are interested in volunteering, or for more information, please call us at (302) 737-9543, ext. 102 or email us at volunteer@tristatebird.org.