Related Information

 

Other Ways to Support

Wildlife Diversity Program

Want to become a wildlife partner? There are opportunities all across the state for you to become involved with scientific research, such as surveys and monitoring, data management, and even habitat management for wildlife. Many projects are specific to local areas of the state.  If you don’t see a species or location listed here that interests you, contact one of our regional supervisors for more information.

Volunteer Opportunities


Help Us Now:  Help us incorporate strategies and recommendations for addressing impacts to fish and wildlife species, including climate change.
          
  • We are forming a Stakeholder Advisory Committee to review and comment on draft habitat vulnerability assessment reports written by the N.C. Natural Heritage Program.  If you would like to participate, complete a volunteer form by clicking on the button.

 

Complete a Volunteer Form
Volunteer Opportunities

State-wide Amphibian Survey  

If you are familiar with frog calls, you can volunteer for a route with the Calling Amphibian Survey Program. This is a night survey where you listen for frog calls. The program requires being able to identify frogs by sound, but training sessions are available.  To find out more, go to the N.C. Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation website or contact Jeff Hall at jeff.hall@ncwildlife.org for more information or to choose a route.
Breeding Bird Surveys

 Survey songbird populations by joining the North America Breeding Bird Survey. Coordinators and observers work to identify all breeding birds in their area by sight and sound. Surveys are conducted annually during the peak of breeding season.  Contact scott.anderson@ncwildlife.org for more information.

There are numerous opportunities for people across the country to engage in numerous citizen science opportunities including Project FeederWatch, the Great Backyard Bird Count, eBird and many others through the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (www.birds.cornell.edu/citsci/).
Peregrine Falcons

Peregrine falcons nest on cliffs in western North Carolina.  Volunteers can help by monitoring cliff sites to document nesting attempts and whether mated pairs produce offspring.  Contact Christine.kelly@ncwildlife.org for more information.
Monitoring Song Birds

The Wildlife Diversity Program conducts songbird banding in conjunction with the Institute for Bird Populations’ Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) program in Brunswick County in Southeastern North Carolina.  Volunteers should have experience handling birds, removing birds from mist nests, or have knowledge of aging and sexing techniques for birds. Contact john.carpenter@ncwildlife.org for more information.
U.S. Nightjar Survey Network

The Wildlife Diversity Program collaborates with the Center for Conservation Biology’s United States Nightjar Survey Network to monitor populations of whip-poor-will, chuck-wills-widow, and common nighthawk.  To find out more go to the US Nightjar Survey Network website (http://ccb-wm.org/nightjars.htm) or for routes in the mountain region, contact Christine.kelly@ncwildlife.org.

Track Reptile and Amphibian Populations

Help NCWRC biologists track reptile and amphibian populations by registering with the Carolina Herp Atlas and reporting your observations.
Bog Turtle Monitoring

The Wildlife Diversity Program also works closely with volunteers from the N.C. Herpetological Society to survey, monitor, and conserve bog turtle habitat in North Carolina.  Contact gabrielle.graeter@ncwildlife.org for more information about bog turtle monitoring and management in North Carolina.
Sea Turtle Projects

There are 22 active sea turtle beach projects along North Carolina’s coastline that monitor sea turtle nesting and stranding in partnership with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.  For information about sea turtle volunteering opportunities at a specific beach or island, contact matt.godfrey@ncwildlife.org.
Monitoring Projects for Amphibians

Western North Carolina is home to an incredible diversity of amphibians.  In addition to numerous statewide monitoring projects for amphibians, the Wildlife Diversity Program conducts targeted surveys and monitoring for numerous species including green salamander, hellbender, mudpuppy, and mountain chorus frog.  Contact lori.williams@ncwildlife.org to find out if you can help in your area of western North Carolina.

Coastal Waterbird Projects

Coastal North Carolina is home to many species of marsh-, shore-, sea-, and wading birds. To keep these species common along our coast, and to monitor rare species closely, the Wildlife Diversity Program conducts seasonal surveys and research, and protects important habitat. If you are interested in assisting with surveys of Piping Plovers, American Oystercatchers, colonial-nesting waterbirds, or other species; ongoing research projects; or habitat protection activities, contact sara.schweitzer@ncwildlife.org for more information.

Jordan Eagle Observation Area

Folks in the Chatham County area can volunteer to be stewards of the Jordan Lake eagle observation area off Martha’s Chapel Road.  We need people willing to help pick up trash, develop educational signs, maintain trails, and monitor the area.  Interested parties can get in touch with jeff.marcus@ncwildlife.org, or the New Hope Audubon Society (Bo Howes, rhowes@triangleland.org).

Monitor Bat Populations

The Wildlife Diversity Program has several efforts underway to monitor North Carolina’s bats (most in the mountains of N.C.), including winter surveys of hibernating bats, surveillance for White Nose Syndrome (a deadly bat disease), long term monitoring at summer habitats, and bat acoustic surveys (NC BAMP – Bat Acoustic Monitoring Program) .  Contact gabrielle.graeter@ncwildlife.org to find out about volunteer opportunities with bats.