A Huge Thank You This Volunteers’ Week
It’s Volunteers’ Week and it’s time to celebrate you. We’re incredibly lucky to have around 10,000 of you donating your time and talents to help us protect nature, and we want to thank you for everything you do. That’s why, this week, we’re spotlighting some of the fantastic work our volunteers have been doing for birds and other wildlife around the country. Read on for a just a small snapshot of the inspiring action you’ve taken this year. And, if you’re not a volunteer and would like to be, head to the end of the page to find out more.
What you've been up to
Youth campaigners reviving our world
Our youth campaigners spread the word about campaigns like Revive Our World in all kinds of places. They appeared on BBC Countryfile and at the action for climate COP26 march in Belfast, highlighting the plight of puffins and red squirrels.
Puffineers keeping an eye on a threatened species
Project Puffin invites the public to become members of the Puffarazzi and share their photos of puffins carrying prey for their chicks. Our Puffineers, all incredibly dedicated volunteers, run this world-leading citizen science project, collecting crucial data for conservation science. They analyse the images, engage the public and share the project’s findings.
Helping nesting birds on Dorothy Island
Up in Scotland, our North Ayreshire Local Group has been continuing vital conservation work at Dorothy’s Island, a haven for birds that the group created many years ago. It’s home to nesting sites for sandwich terns and roosting spots for migrating greenshanks. This year, they’ve added a brand new nesting platform and worked closely with local RSPB staff to keep the site neat and tidy.
Keeping track of wildlife on farms
As its name suggests, our Volunteers Monitoring Farmland Wildlife project is powered by volunteers. This year, they’ve been helping farmers in Cambridgeshire, Wiltshire and Devon keep track of the wildlife on their land. Volunteers co-ordinate the project, look after admin, recruit and train digital volunteers and even interview farmers.
Making a difference for birds in Macclesfield
RSPB Youth Groups and Macclesfield Local Group work together to look after nature in their town. They hold community bird-building workshops, dawn chorus barbecue breakfasts, and run the Swifts Over Macclesfield project. It raises awareness of declining numbers of swifts in the area through poetry and art competitions and by flying Emily the Giant Swift at local events.
Why not get involved?
We couldn’t do what we do without our wonderful volunteers. If seeing what they’ve been up to over the past year has sparked your interest, why not join us? We’d love to have your help on our mission to protect nature. You don’t need any expert knowledge, just a passion for wildlife. You can work from home, in your local area, or at your nearest reserve. We’re a diverse, fun-loving bunch and whether you want to meet new people, spend time outdoors or have something to put on your CV, we’ve got a volunteering spot for you.