Volunteer
The New Hope Bird Alliance is an all-volunteer organization, so we cannot achieve our goals for conservation and education without the help of our generous volunteers like you.
Anyone can volunteer their time and skills – you do not need to be a bird expert to contribute and join the fun!
There are many opportunities to help: one-time tabling at events, seasonal bird surveys, leading our major initiatives, and much more. Every minute you can give helps birds and our community. Check out our current volunteer opportunities below to learn more.
To stay informed, you can join our Facebook Group, “like” our Facebook Page, or sign up to receive emails from us (links at the bottom of this page) since these are the places where we announce volunteer opportunities. Also you can always contact us directly with volunteer interests and questions at [email protected].
Upcoming Volunteer Events
One-time events are a great way to dip your toe into volunteering with us! Spend a few hours volunteering with others, learn about the organization, and meet fellow bird-lovers.
| Date(s)/Time(s) | Shifts | Title | Location | Activity | Contact Name/Email |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/11/2026 2:45-4:15 pm | 2:45-4:15 pm | Project Bird/Feederwatch | Chapel Hill Public Library | Work with kids, parents, looking at birds from the library patio. Sign up here. | Susan Stone Margie Muenzer [email protected] |
| 4/11/2026 10 am-2 pm | 10 am- 12 pm 12-2 pm | Science Family Fun Day | Museum of Durham History 500 W. Main St. Durham, NC | Tabling at Museum of Durham History with focus on migration and identifying birds using field marks. Sign up here. | Margie Muenzer [email protected] |
| 4/12/2026 7-8:30 am | 7-8:30 am | Quarterly Eagle Count | Jordan Lake State Recreation Area | Count bald eagles in teams at desinated sites at Jordan Lake. Use this link to see more info and check which sites need help. | Andrew Sharp [email protected] |
| 4/22/2026 5-7:30 pm | 5-7:30 pm | Blackwood Farm Park Earth Day | Blackwood Farm Park 4215 NC-86 Chapel Hill, NC | Hosted by Orange County. NHBA will have an information booth focused on the Chimney Swift Tower and Purple Martin houses at the park, and our regular handouts. Bird walks at 5:30 and 6:30 pm. | Margie Muenzer [email protected] |
| 4/23/2026 4-7 pm | 4-5:30 pm 5:30-7pm | STEAM night at New Hope Elementary | New Hope Elementary School 1900 New Hope Church Rd. Chapel Hill, NC | Educational table at school-sponsored event. | Margie Muenzer [email protected] |
| 4/25/2026 4/26/2026 10 am-4 pm | Saturday & Sunday 10 am-12 pm 12-2 pm 2-4 pm | Chapel Hill Garden Tour | Cannamann Road Chapel Hill (Chatham Co.) | Selling nest boxes and providing educational materials. Talk to residential gardeners about native plants, conservation, and NHBA programs. | Barbara Driscoll [email protected] |
| 5/2/2026 10 am-3 pm | TBD | Bird Bonanza at the Museum of Life and Science | 433 W. Murray Ave. Durham, NC | Activity for kids related to birds. | Margie Muenzer [email protected] |
| 5/2/2026 9-11:30 am | As needed | Feathered Fun, a Spanish-themed event at Red Maple Park, organized by Durham Parks and Rec. | 3320 Hinson Dr. Durham, NC | Help with hands on activities of making bird masks and learning to identify birds with binoculars and field marks. Helpful if volunteers speak Spanish, but not necessary. | Margie Muenzer [email protected] |
| 5/3/2026 dawn-dusk | N/A | Jordan Lake 2026 Spring Bird Count | Jordan Lake State Recreation Area | Count birds in teams that cover 27 count areas for a long-term science project dating back to 1977. Use this link to see more info and check which count areas need help. | Tom Driscoll [email protected] |
Conservation Projects
The Conservation Committee leads initiatives including advocacy, species-specific monitoring, bird house installation and monitoring, motus tower installation, and more. The following conservation projects are looking for volunteers:
- Participate in Advocacy Day. This annual spring event brings chapter members from across the state to advocate for birds and environmental issues at the Raleigh legislature. Led by Audubon North Carolina, Advocacy Day gives members the opportunity to learn about 3-4 specific current issues to discuss with their legislators. Participants are given training, talking points, and a scheduled meeting with legislators – all you have to do is bring your voice and enthusiasm! Contact [email protected]
- Monitor nesting Purple Martins. Volunteers are needed to perform weekly or bi-weekly nest checks at 4 housing units located in public parks in Durham, Chapel Hill, and on Jordan Lake. Nesting season is April – August. Training is provided. Contact Rachelle at rachelle.sst[AT]gmail.com
- Participate in Chimney Swift Counts.
- Spring: Chimney swifts are returning to nest in chimneys in our area during April-June. Please report if you know a nesting location or a pair is nesting in your chimney. While in the fall many chimney swifts will roost in a chimney (100s or even 1,000s), only one pair will use a chimney for rearing young. NHBA is trying to map nesting and roosting locations. Consider uncapping your chimney to help chimney swifts have more places for nesting. Please send nesting information to Barbara Driscoll at btdriscoll[at]bellsouth.net
- Fall: NHBA needs volunteers to count Chimney Swifts at known roosts in downtown Chapel Hill, Durham, and Pittsboro. We need volunteers to take shifts starting about 45 minutes before dusk leading up to and during the birds going into the roost chimney in the evening. NHBA can provide training and information on chimney swifts for interested by-standers. If you would like to help with this project between August and October, please contact Barbara Driscoll at [email protected]
Community Science Projects
Community science projects are at the heart of what the New Hope Bird Alliance does. We appreciate the value of community science projects because these projects engage our members to go outside to bird for both fun and science! All of our current projects and coordinators are listed in the Community Science Projects Overview.
Bird Friendly Habitat Certification Visits
Get trained to conduct yard certification visits as a plant expert or visit recorder. Walking on uneven terrain, long periods of standing, and outdoor exposure to the elements is required. Plant experts are required to be familiar with identifying common native and invasive plants.
Contact: Barbara Driscoll, [email protected] or Jim George, [email protected]
Lead Bird Outings
Lead people of all ages and abilities in local bird observation outings. Walking on uneven terrain, long periods of standing, and outdoor exposure to the elements is frequently required although we are seeking leaders for alternative outings (big sit events, mindful birding, etc.)
Contact: David Anderson, [email protected]
Join a Committee
Committees oversee individual programs and initiatives. Several committees have regular or seasonal meetings to gather, generate ideas, and coordinate actions. Joining a committee is a great way to meet other volunteers with similar interests and to stay up-to-date on current projects. If you’d like to join a committee, reach out to the individual chairs listed below.
- Bird Friendly Habitat Committee: Co-Chairs–Barbara Driscoll, Jim George. Includes the residential Bird Friendly Habitat Certification program; the retail and wholesale garden center program to promote the sale of native plants and stop the sale of invasive plants; the Corporate Bird Friendly Habitat Certification program; and the Bird Friendly Communities program, which works with municipalities to promote bird friendly actions such as planting native plants, removing invasive plants, and sponsoring other bird friendly activities
- Community Science Committee: Co-Chairs–Jin Bai and Gloria Gao. Includes all bird counts (Quarterly Eagle Count at Jordan Lake, Jordan Lake Christmas Bird Count, Jordan Lake Spring Bird Count, Mini-Breeding Bird Survey, Brumley N Bird Survey), Climate Watch, and bird-window collision monitoring project at UNC-Chapel Hill.
- Conservation Committee: Co-Chairs–Barbara Driscoll and Jennifer Maher. The Conservation Committee educates, protects, and advocates for birds, with a particular emphasis on local species in decline and the health of the habitats they depend on. The committee promotes bird-friendly and sustainable development by advocating with local governments to improve development ordinances and by educating private property owners about best practices for supporting birds. Our members support NHBA’s conservation and monitoring efforts at local Important Bird Areas (Jordan Lake and Eno River State Park) and other natural areas in the region. We install and monitor nest boxes, and collaborate on habitat protection with organizations such as Sandy Creek Park, Triangle Land Conservancy, Eno River Association, and the North Carolina Botanical Garden. A motus tower will be installed in 2026 to help track birds in migration.
Education Committee: Chair–Margie Muenzer. Promotes bird watching and bird friendly activities to the public in a number of venues including schools, libraries, and public events. This committee also promotes family bird walks and nature camp activities.
Field Trips Committee: Chair–David Anderson. Includes all field trip activities and all bird walks.
- Fundraising/Development Committee: Chair–Sarah Roberts. This committee coordinates all fund-raising activities including grant applications. Includes position of Bird Seed Sale Coordinator and sales of bird houses.
- Media and Communications Committee: Chair–Emily Baqir. Includes management of all platforms for communicating with members such as: all social media (Facebook, Instagram, Meetup, etc.), email listservs, newspaper articles, and Google groups for the board and standing committees. Includes Webmaster, Blog Editor, and Archivist positions.
- Membership Committee: Chair–Rachelle Roake. Includes Programs, Hospitality, Engagement, and Recruitment.
Lead the Chapter
The New Hope Bird Alliance (NHBA) is governed by a volunteer board of directors with duties outlined in the chapter by-laws. Officers are elected at the May membership meeting and serve through the following April. In addition to the elected officers, all Committee Chairs also serve on the board. The board meets virtually each month to discuss current issues, share project updates, and propose new ideas to advance the chapter’s work in our community. Serving on the board provides excellent leadership experience, community engagement, and networking opportunities. Contact [email protected] to apply for a board position.
Love Wildlife? Give Back.
New Hope Bird Alliance depends on the community to help fund meetings, educational resources, and conservation efforts. Make a donation* to help protect North Carolina’s wildlife for years to come. Thank you for your support!
*Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent provided by law.
Love Wildlife? Give Back.
New Hope Bird Alliance depends on the community to help fund meetings, educational resources, and conservation efforts. Make a donation* to help protect North Carolina’s wildlife for years to come. Thank you for your support!
*Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent provided by law.