VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

 
We need you! Did you know that most of the rehabilitation, care of our education ambassadors, and presentation of our education programs is done by a very small team of MWR volunteers? We need to grow the team! MWR is seeking dedicated volunteers. Prior experience is helpful, but not necessary. All that’s needed is a love of birds and a willingness to learn.
 
Most volunteer positions will report to MWR’s ARK Wildlife Hospital, located at 3905 Arkabutla Dam Road, Coldwater, MS.
 
All volunteers must:
 
  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Be dependable
  • Be willing to follow instructions
  • Complete a volunteer application and schedule a volunteer interview
  • Have reliable transportation

A few of your hours will make a big difference and we promise, never a dull moment! Please fill out the Volunteer Registration Form and submit it to volunteer@mswildliferehab.org

Songbird Assistants

Baby bird season is fast approaching! When baby birds are found, our goal is to help the finder reunite the baby with its avian parents. Unfortunately, that is not always possible and MWR takes in hundreds of baby birds each season. Volunteers are needed to assist with feeding baby songbirds at the ARK Wildlife Hospital during the spring and summer months. Training will be provided. Volunteers who can commit to a routine schedule of shifts are preferred. Shifts are usually two hours.

Raptor Maintenance Assistants

Do you like the satisfaction that comes with cleaning? Once per week, a volunteer is needed to assist with the cleaning of out four permanent raptor ambassador enclosures. Duties include light raking, hosing the walls and gravel flooring, scrubbing as needed, and refilling water bowls. Training will be provided. All four enclosures can easily be cleaned in a two-hour shift!

Enrichment Assistants

This volunteer opportunity can be done from the comfort of your home! Our birds need enrichment – safe things to play with that stimulates their senses, their brains, and their behavior! We will provide a list of safe items, many of which can be found around the house (paper towel and toilet paper tubes, boxes, produce, etc.) You can use your imagination to turn them into bird toys and drop them off at the ARK Wildlife Hospital.

Education Assistants

MWR presents dozens of education programs in the north Mississippi area. Each program includes one or more of our education birds. Volunteers are needed to assist with the presentation of programs. Teaching, environmental education, or naturalist experience is preferred, but not required. Prior experience handling birds of prey is highly preferred, but also not required. Training will be provided, but initially will require a time commitment of 1 to 2 hours per day, 3 to 4 days per week until the volunteer is comfortable with the birds and the birds are comfortable with the volunteer!

Special Events Volunteers

MWR has several large events every year. Volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks before, during, and after each event.

Workshop Facilitator

We offer several workshops each year at the ARK Trails Pavilion. Volunteers are needed to lead workshops on topics such as butterfly gardening, bird house building, wildlife tracking, and other topics.

Newsletter Coordinator

We need a newsletter! Do you have a graphic arts skills? We’ love to partner with someone who can help us establish a quarterly newsletter.