Volunteer Opportunities

We rely on volunteers to achieve our goals. In fact, without volunteers, we would not exist! Founded by volunteers in 1969, the mission of Houston Audubon is to advance the conservation of birds and their habitats in the Greater Houston Gulf Coast region.

From supporting our staff at our headquarters, to maintaining trails at our bird sanctuaries, to increasing the appreciation and understanding of birds throughout Houston, volunteers are critical to Houston Audubon's mission. Read below to learn more about our current volunteer needs and how you can get involved in helping protect birds in your community.

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Upcoming Workdays

High Island Spring Migration Volunteers

Daily from March 7 through May 3, 2026

Spring migration brings thousands of people to the internationally acclaimed Smith Oaks and Boy Scout Woods sanctuaries! A steady crew of volunteers is needed to help at both sanctuaries to keep things running as birds and birders flock to the region.

Admission & Sales Volunteers

Admission & Sales Volunteers

Admissions & Sales Volunteers greet visitors, provide them with birding guides and trail maps, and help maintain our daily sightings lists.
Canopy Walk Volunteers

Canopy Walk Volunteers

Canopy Walk Volunteers have the unique opportunity to educate visitors on the canopy walks about activity in Smith Oaks’ Rookery and spread awareness about the importance of conserving birds and their habitat. Training material for Canopy Walk Volunteers is provided ahead of your shift – expertise is not necessary!
RV Volunteer Caretakers

Volunteering at Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary

Located near the Energy Corridor, Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary (ELMNS) offers walking trails, birding (including a live-stream bird camera), educational programs, and a unique look into the history of our neighborhood. The maintenance of ELMNS relies on the help of individual and group volunteers. Opportunities are regularly scheduled throughout the year.

Volunteering at Our Coastal Sanctuaries

Volunteers are at the heart of Houston Audubon’s work to protect and restore critical bird habitat along the Upper Texas Coast. Through hands-on conservation projects, our volunteers directly improve the health, accessibility, and long-term sustainability of our coastal sanctuaries.

Whether planting native species, maintaining trails, clearing invasive vegetation, or restoring dunes and beaches, volunteers play an essential role in preserving these landscapes for the hundreds of bird species that rely on them—and for the people who come from around the world to experience their beauty.

At our High Island sanctuaries—Boy Scout Woods, Smith Oaks, Eubanks Woods, and Gast Red Bay—volunteers help maintain trails, enhance visitor infrastructure, and improve wildlife habitat. Nearby, our Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary offers opportunities to help protect one of the most important stopover and breeding sites for migratory shorebirds on the Gulf Coast.

Every hour spent volunteering helps us steward these globally important conservation areas—ensuring they remain safe, welcoming, and ecologically rich for generations to come.