Volunteer with NVBA
Monticello Park work day volunteers. Photo: Libby Lyons
Help us help birds!
At Northern Virginia Bird Alliance (NVBA), volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. Guided by our mission to engage all Northern Virginia communities in enjoying, conserving, and restoring nature for the benefit of all, we rely on passionate individuals to bring this vision to life. Whether you’re an experienced birder, a nature enthusiast, or someone who simply loves being outdoors, there’s a place for you at NVBA.
To our current volunteers — thank you! Your time, energy, and commitment makes a real difference. We deeply appreciate all that you do to support our mission through bird conservation, education, advocacy, and more.
All scheduled one-time volunteer events are listed on our events page. Below, you’ll find an overview of NVBA’s recurring and ongoing volunteer opportunities, along with details on how you can get involved and start making a difference today!
Recurring Volunteer Opportunities:
Become an NVBA Bird Guide
Help us inspire others to discover and enjoy the incredible birds that call northern Virginia home! Our chapter bird outings are typically hosted monthly, with opportunities to meet more frequently depending on community interest and guide availability. New guides will begin with a brief training session to receive the information and materials needed to lead walks confidently and successfully. To promote inclusive birding, we want to emphasize that birding is a hobby for everyone, and we encourage our guides to lead in ways that reflect their own style and interests. Some outings follow a more traditional “Audubon” format, where participants are usually calm, quiet, and wake up early in the morning to join. Other outings are more social and flexible, allowing participants to mingle and move at their own pace. Whichever style you prefer, we’d love to have you join us in leading others into this amazing hobby with so many benefits. Email us at info@nvbirdalliance.org to get started!
Reeves Run Corridor Habitat Restoration
Join other volunteers in removing invasive plants, planting and caring for native trees and shrubs and generally helping this set of sites grow into a “corridor” of continuous bird and wildlife-friendly habitat. Organizers created one Signup Genius page for volunteers to register for their regular work sessions at each of these four sites:
Powhatan Springs: Help keep this park progressing towards a native habitat that's conducive to our local flora and fauna. Held every fourth Wednesday of the month from 3:00 - 5:00 PM.
Dominion Hills Area Recreation Association (DHARA): Come help work on this Stretch Our Parks initiative where NVBA, ARMN, and the Tree Stewards of Arlington and Alexandria have been collaborating with Dominion Hills Area Recreation Association (DHARA) to restore the natural habitat on the property. Held Sundays between 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Invasive plant removal at Lockwood/Elmwood Housing Complex: Here, our Stretch Our Parks program has partnered with Lockwood/Elmwood senior housing complex to restore habitat in and around parks to improve and expand habitat for birds and other pollinators and wildlife. Participants meet every third Wednesday of the month from 9:30 - 11:30 AM.
Arlington Community Church private property: Help restore habitat at this private church property. Check the Signup Genius page for the schedule for this site.
Be sure to confirm work days and register through the Signup Genius page.
Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities
These opportunities are not regularly scheduled but are essential to maintaining and advancing NVBA’s mission. Below, you’ll find descriptions of our ongoing volunteer projects. Unless otherwise noted in the description, volunteers can get started with any of the following opportunities by completing our Volunteer Intake Form where you can select the project that interests you!
Help us write our monthly newsletter, the Potomac Flier: We need your interest in birds, habitat and conservation, coupled with your willingness to write some general interest articles for us. If you like exploring topics of interest to birdwatchers—whether they be about particular birds and their behavior, habitat, local birdwatching hotspots, recent scientific developments, challenges to birds’ survival, best conservation practices or current advocacy opportunities—please email us at info@nvbirdalliance.org if you are interested in helping.
Help Us Go Viral: We have so many exciting things happening at NVBA — and we need your help sharing them with the world! Join our communications team to create social media posts, infographics, and other digital content that highlights our programs and events. These tasks can be done virtually from home!
Help Us Survey Northern Virginia: Join experts and partner organizations to survey the birds, butterflies, and dragonflies of Northern Virginia! These counts take place at varying intervals throughout the year — some occur weekly or monthly, while others are special annual surveys. All are open to participants of any experience level.
Data Analysis: Over the years, NVBA and our partners have collected a wealth of valuable species observation data. We’re looking for those with experience to help transfer this data from paper to digital format to share it with scientists and conservation organizations.
Support our Wildlife Sanctuary Program: Use your skills to help us visit properties and advise property owners on native plantings and habitat improvement that benefits birds. Certified Virginia Master Gardeners or Naturalists are especially helpful to this program’s success.
Attend Outreach Events: Help NVBA educate the public and spread our mission at local outreach and tabling events. Volunteers engage with community members, share information about birds and conservation, and represent NVBA’s mission more broadly.
Become a Bird Advocate: Speak up for birds and help advance NVBA’s mission! Represent us at community events, public meetings, or local government boards and committees. Advocates play an essential role in ensuring that bird conservation is part of local decision-making.
Bird Box Installation: Assist NVBA in installing, maintaining, and monitoring bird boxes throughout Northern Virginia. These boxes provide safe nesting spaces for local species and help us gather valuable data about local breeding populations.
Fundraising: Our volunteer opportunities and free community events are made possible through generous funding and donations. If you have experience in fundraising—or ideas for potential partnerships or opportunities—we’d love to have you join us!
Not sure where your skills fit best?
Fill out our volunteer intake form and we’ll help you find an opportunity that aligns with your background, interests and availability.
You can also subscribe to our email list and follow us on social media to stay informed on what’s coming up and NVBA and other opportunities that fit your schedule and interests.
Our conservation work is only possible with YOU!
Northern Virginia Bird Alliance relies on our members and volunteers to power our conservation work. Consider joining us, making a contribution or becoming a volunteer to help protect northern Virginia’s birds and the habitat they need.