Volunteer Opportunities

Make a difference for birds and your community! Join Lake Michigan Bird Observatory’s exceptional team of volunteers and help protect the birds and habitats we all love. Explore just a few of the many ways to get involved.

Events

Tree Giveaway

Native Plant Sale

World Migratory Bird Day

Neighborhood Habitat Improvement Program

Native Garden Installation

Birdscape Botanist Surveys

Birdhouse Building

Biochar

Bird Monitoring

Nest Box Monitor

Martin Colony Monitor

Migratory Hawk Watch

Building Nest Boxes

Volunteer Descriptions

Description: Volunteer with LMBO to monitor bird boxes on public property. And/or monitor a bird box on your private property (first nest box, post and hardware provided for FREE by The Observatory. Additional boxes after are $10/box, unless you want installation for $25).

Time Commitment: 1- 2 times a week April 1 – July 31

Audience: 12 years and older

Requirements: One 10-minute self-guided training online and 2-hour orientation in person or virtual with LMBO staff, annually

Description: Volunteer to monitor vegetation surrounding a 5-meter site associated with Observatory nesting boxes alongside Observatory staff 

Time Commitment: 2.5+ hours late-June – mid-November  

Audience: Individuals – groups of 3 people, 12 years and older 

Requirements: Each volunteer session is 2-3 hours depending on the site.

Description: Volunteer to build/maintain nest boxes 

Time Commitment: ad hoc as needed when supplies are available  

Audience: 1 individual – group of 15 people, 12 years and older 

Requirements: Comfortable working with power tools or a desire to learn

Description:Help bring our mission to life! As an events volunteer, you’ll play a key role in creating smooth, welcoming, and memorable experiences for attendees. From greeting guests and assisting with setup to sharing information and supporting activities, your enthusiasm helps make every event a success. It’s a fun way to connect with people who care about conservation, gain hands-on experience, and support bird research and education in your community.

Time Commitment: 3-hour shifts  

Audience: individuals – groups of 15, 12 years and older

Requirement: None.

Description: We need local tree monitors. We are collecting data on trees to understand the impact of biochar, which is a soil amendment that was added to some of the recently planted trees. You do NOT need any experience to participate, and we will provide all training and materials needed to conduct monitoring.

Learn more about biochar:

Biochar Info 

Interested? Want to know more? Fill out and submit the Volunteer Interest Form and a staff member will be in touch to answer any questions.

While you do not need to live in Port Washington, nearly all of the activities are in Port Washington at this time. However, we do have some opportunities in other communities—specifically in Green Bay, Kenosha, Racine, Sheboygan, and Two Rivers—for biochar tree monitoring.

All volunteers are asked to fill out our Volunteer Waiver

If you have completed a volunteer project for the Observatory, please fill out and submit the Volunteer Hours Form. Your hours constitute an in-kind donation that counts toward the matching funds we need to apply for grants.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead