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Wildlife

CBBEP Rookery-Plant Team

Help grow plants to improve habitat in rookery areas

Grow Tables–Plant Nursery Installation 

- Assisting in planting approximately 2,500 seedlings in our Grow Tables at the Nueces Delta Preserve (Odem, TX)

- These seedlings support ongoing rookery-restoration projects undertaken by the program.

Grow Tables–Weekly Care (Mar–Sep) 

Seeking 1-3 committed volunteers with a solid understanding of plant cultivation techniques, troubleshooting water levels, and addressing insect or fungus issues to:

help from late March until the seedlings are ready for transplant to the local rookery islands in the fall

teach our CBBEP team effective strategies for a successful growing season

One of these volunteers to visit each week and create a rotating schedule

Possible option: tending seedlings at other local locations

Report as RM: Other Locations; include CBBEP as part of Service Performed

Please complete the CBP volunteer form. Need more information? Contact: Volunteer Outreach Coordinator, Lauren Piorkowski.

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CBBEP Coastal Bird Program

Assist the CBP team with Resource Management or Field Research

Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program is seeking dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers to assist biologists with Habitat Management, Bird Surveys, or the rookery island cleanups. Please complete the CBP volunteer form.

Habitat Management (Sep–Mar)

Report as RM: Other Locations; include CBBEP as part of Service Performed

Planting native seedlings on islands

Installing/repairing nesting platforms

Applying herbicide to control invasive grasses

Breeding Bird Counts, Monitoring, Banding (Jan–Sep)

Report as FR: Bird Populations; include CBBEP as part of Service Performed

Suitable for experienced bird observers

Identifying bird species Conducting counts and surveys

Assisting with bird banding efforts

Rookery Island Clean-Up (Oct)

Report as RM: Other Locations; include CBBEP as part of Service Performed

A collective effort to clean up trash on rookery islands

Involve your friends and family

Need more information? Contact: Volunteer Outreach Coordinator, Lauren Piorkowski.

 

Nueces Delta Preserve–Preservation Team

Improve NDP habitat or create and maintain trails and gardens

Our Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries volunteers help with our mission of preserving over 11,000 acres of vital coastal wetland and upland habitats to ensure the Preserve stays clean and operational.

  • Volunteers gather typically on the third Monday of every month to assist with various tasks

  • Tasks include:

    • removing invasive grasses to improve habitat (report as RM)

    • clearing trails, and painting and repairing signs (report as NPA)

Report as:

  • RM: Other Locations if you are improving habitat for wildlife

  • NPA: Other Locations if you are working on gardens or trails

  • Specify CBBEP NDP as part of Service Performed.

Please complete the NDP volunteer form. Need more information? Contact: Volunteer Outreach Coordinator, Lauren Piorkowski.

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Whooping Crane Festival

4 days of AT lectures, workshops, & trips

Various locations in Port Aransas
February 20–23, 2025
Report each session as AT: Lecture Series presentation

Each year since 1996, the Whooping Crane Festival in Port Aransas, Texas has celebrated the annual return of the cranes to their wintering habitat at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. This four-day event features renowned speakers, birding trips, boating trips, nature tours, photography workshops, and more.

All lectures and tours are approved as Advanced Training.  Social events and book signings are not.

For more information and to register

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Christmas Bird Counts

Help collect field research data on birds—choose a CBC near you!

Volunteers are needed to perform “Christmas Bird Count” (CBC) surveys all over North and Central America. You can add to a century of community science by joining a count near you—Mid-Coast Master Naturalists usually volunteer in our Coastal Bend area. Click a link for more information and to contact the compiler for the CBC(s) you are interested in for details and to volunteer. Report as FR: Bird Populations and specify the CBC in the description.

Coastal Bend Counts December 14, 2025 – January 5, 2026

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Nesting Season Prep Opportunities

Help prepare various rookery areas for the nesting season

Little Bay Rookery Islands Preparation – On or about Nov. 30th in the morning

  • Date will be zeroed in on as we get closer to account for weather

  • Chapter members are invited to join Coastal Birding Program Ecologists to get the islands ready for nesting season

  • Wear long-sleeved work clothes, sturdy shoes you do not mind getting into the water, work gloves, and bring plenty of water

    • Will be treating for fire ants

    • Native Plant Installation that CPB will be bringing out: They will drill holes, etc. for us to plant, water and surround with plastic casing.  Can bring a digging tool.

    • Cactus propagation: Bring thorn resistant heavy-duty gloves, grilling tongs, digging tool, and a machete to cut pears

    • Nesting platforms: Tools, power drills and wood screws

Contact D’Ann Williams to be on the Little Bay Rookery contact list: dwilliams2483@att.net  214-334-7959

Windswept Oaks Rookery Park – Tuesdays/Thursdays – Mid-December through early January – Nesting Material Placement

  • Will be retrieving silverleaf sunflower stalks from Aransas Pathways sites and bringing them to the rookery to break up for nesting material

  • Pickup truck beds needed, bring a bright rag to tie to materials that extend beyond your truck bed.

  • Wear work clothes, work gloves and plenty of water

Contact D’Ann Williams to be on the Windswept Oaks Rookery contact list: dwilliams2483@att.net  214-334-7959

Rookery Prep on Aransas Waterways

  • Meet at D’Ann Williams’ home to go out to various nesting sites in Aransas Bays as weather permits. Dress in work clothes, bring water and snacks

  • Will be cutting out fishing line with paddleboards at various mangrove rookeries

    • Will need heavy-duty gloves, scissors/pocket knives, carabiner/line to strap tools to paddleboard

    • Will be supplied Up2U trash bags

  • On rookery islands will be treating fire ants, propagating cactus, repairing platforms, removing trash/fishing line

  • Will assign areas so you can—on your own—cut out fishing line in other areas via kayaks and paddle boards

Contact D’Ann Williams to be on the Aransas Waterways Rookeries contact list: dwilliams2483@att.net  214-334-7959

Report all as RM: Other Locations and specify location.

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Whooping Crane Game-Camera Processing

Field research data collection for the International Crane Foundation

It’s that time of year again – the ICF Texas Program is seeking volunteers to help process game camera photos for our study of freshwater wetland use by Whooping Cranes. Volunteers will be marking the presence of Whooping Cranes and other animals within photos. Each volunteer will be responsible for processing 5,000-6,000 photos by August but can absolutely do more if they wish. We should be ready to send out photos in the next month following a quick virtual training!

 This year we have about 150,000 photos (twice that of last year), which means we need all the help we can get from community scientists such as yourselves! We are going to keep it pretty simple this year and not send out flash drives, instead you will be given access to an online file. I’ve attached some game camera highlights to give you an idea of some fun species you might see.

If you’re interested in helping with this project, please fill out this quick form: Sign-up Sheet.

The virtual training day is TBD, but I will keep you posted after sign-ups start rolling in. The recording will be available for those that are unable to attend. Please let me know if you have any questions in the meantime! If you have questions, please contact: Paityn Bower, Outreach Biologist at ICF-Texas

Report training as AT: Specific Project
Report volunteer work as FR: Bird Populations with ICF in the description.

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Mid-Coast Birding Surveys

Mid-Coast Birding Surveys other than ANWR, GCBO, ICF, or WWF

Because State TMN has instituted strict guidance for earning volunteer service hours entering data into eBird, Mid-Coast TMN has created a new project subcategory for the FR: Bird Populations service opportunity—Mid-Coast Birding Survey (MCBS)—to ensure our members’ eBird surveys in other locations than major partners are scientifically valuable and meet State criteria for birding and reporting.

Please report all birding surveys as FR: Bird Populations. If surveys were for ANWR, GCBO, ICF, or WWF, include those initials in the description field of your hours report. If you were surveying elsewhere and reporting data to eBird, please follow protocols and include “MCBS” and “eBird” in the description when you report your TMN hours.

MCBS Project Protocols
Also see State TMN Program Guidance for Citizen Science Volunteer Service Hours.

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GCBO Volunteering

GCBO sometimes needs assistance with avian research and monitoring in our area.

Gulf Coast Bird Observatory (GCBO) is located outside our 8-county area, but at various times of the year,  GCBO needs assistance with Avian research and monitoring in our area. GCBO provides data sheets & training. Volunteers monitor nesting birds, fill out data sheets, and send in data. Avian monitoring information. Report as FR: Bird Populations and specify GCBO & location in the description.

GCBO also needs occasional help switching signs, repairing fencing, and installing more posts in our nesting and resting areas at Matagorda Beach to protect nesting birds. Nesting bird protection and public education information. Report as RM: Other Locations and specify GCBO & location in the description.

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Calhoun County AgriLife Volunteer Service

List of service opportunities & contact information

Opportunities sponsored by R.J. Shelly, Calhoun County Extension Agent–Coastal & Marine Resources—If you have any questions about any of these projects, or would like to volunteer, please email RJ or call (361) 552-9747.

  1. Dr. Gopal Bera, Associate Research Scientist, Texas A & M University, needs Citizen Science Volunteers to collect sand samples from Texas Beaches (both bay and gulf). This is part of a 2-year project that will be looking at petroleum levels in sand on Texas Beaches. A PowerPoint training is available for volunteers that want to collect samples for this project. If you have a number of TMN that are interested in this, Gopal said he would come down to do a training for them. I have the items necessary for sampling, and I can ship the samples back to Gopal using a prepaid FedEx label that I can get from him.
    Report as FR: Other Partners

  2. We need volunteers to work with us and the Calhoun County ISD (CCISD) Wetlands Specialist on the following dates at the Formosa Tejano Wetlands in LaWard, TX. We will be doing wetland-oriented education for CCISD students Dec 12-15. (All days will be approximately 8:00 am to 2:45 pm)
    Report as PO: AgriLife

  3. The UTMSI Nurdle Patrol could use some volunteers to collect nurdle samples. This could probably be done by the same crew that is collecting sand samples for Gopal, since they are already at a sampling site. I talked to Jace Tunnel with UTMSI. If you need a nurdle sampling kit, I can have him send it to me and I will get the supplies to the person or persons who want to do the sampling, or Jace can send it directly to a TMN Coordinator.
    Report as FR: Other Partners

  4. At the Calhoun County Extension Office, our native plant educational garden is looking great! Volunteers are maintaining the garden, and if you would like to volunteer, check your MCTMN roster and contact Donna Bailey.
    Report as NPA: Other locations

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Sea Turtle Rescue/Recovery

Year-round rescue & recovery of endangered sea turtles

2025 Nesting & Stranding Virtual Classroom training

All individuals interested in participating in the 2025 Nesting Season must register and attend one classroom session.

Each Session will be divided into three parts. All participants (i.e., city, county, and beach maintenance workers, law enforcement, border patrol, lifeguards, patrollers, and responders) must attend from 8:00 am –12:00 pm. Volunteers, patrollers, and responders associated with other Texas sea turtle programs must attend the Session from 8:00 am – 3:00 pm. PAIS volunteers must attend the entire Session from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. That means, if you plan on volunteering with us, you must stay for the entire duration of the training!

To register, please click on the webinar registration link below the Session date that you would like to attend. If you have difficulty registering via the link or have questions, please contact us via email: pais_seaturtlevolunteer@nps.gov or by phone: 361-666-8494 (STSR Dispatch Phone).

The annual training is free and open to the public, partners, volunteers, and anyone who may interact with a sea turtle during their typical job duties. Padre Island National Seashore volunteers must be at least 18 years of age to be placed on sea turtle handling permits and must possess and be able to submit a copy of their driver’s license.

2025 Egg Packing and Tagging training

Learn how to properly excavate and pack a nest for transportation to our incubation facility at Headquarters and how to tag (metal and PIT) a sea turtle! Limited Registration—each session will be limited to 20 individuals and training will take place outdoors, weather permitting.

Training sessions:

  • Session 1: 8 Feb 2025 (Saturday) 8:00 am – 11:30 am  Malaquite Visitor Center Beach

  • Session 2 (PAIS Refresher): 8 February 2025 (Saturday) 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm Malaquite Visitor Center Beach Registration: Returning/Experienced PAIS Volunteers (i.e., limited instructions)

  • Session 3: 16 February 2025 (Sunday) 8:00 am – 11:30 am Malaquite Visitor Center Beach

  • Session 4: 16 February 2025 (Sunday) 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm Malaquite Visitor Center Beach

  • Session 5: 19 February 2025 (Wednesday) 8:00 am – 11:30 am Malaquite Visitor Center Beach

  • Session 6: 19 February 2025 (Wednesday) 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm Malaquite Visitor Center Beach

  • Session 7: 7 March 2025 (Friday) 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm Malaquite Visitor Center Beach

  • Session 8: 8 March 2025 (Saturday) 8:00 am – 11:30 am Malaquite Visitor Center Beach Registration: Returning/Experienced PAIS Volunteers (i.e., limited instructions)

  • Session 9 (PAIS Refresher): 8 March 2025 (Saturday) 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm Malaquite Visitor Center Beach Registration: Returning/Experienced PAIS Volunteers (i.e., limited instructions)

  • Session 10 (ARK Staff Refresher)  April TBD 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm Malaquite Visitor Center Beach Registration: ARK Volunteers only

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ANWR Birding Surveys

Help perform monthly bird surveys at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

​Volunteers are needed to perform monthly bird surveys at the Refuge every month except Jun-Aug. We meet at 7:30 am in the Visitor Center parking lot. We walk the Rail Trail and Heron Flats Trail, check out the fishing pier, the tower, and the auto loop. We usually bird until 1 pm and are finished by 3 pm. To volunteer, please contact Janet Price. Beginning birders are welcome; it’s a great way to learn. Come for all or part of the day. Bring bug spray, plenty of water, and lunch/snacks. Report as FR: Bird Populations and specify ANWR in the description.​

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Mission-Aransas NERR Service Opportunities

List of volunteer opportunities & links

See details about the list of volunteer opportunities and become a volunteer! For more information about volunteering, please contact Lilly Andersen at 361-749-3153 or lilly.andersen@austin.utexas.edu.

  • Citizen Science—Report as FR: Mission-Aransas NERR

  • Field Experience—FR: Mission-Aransas NERR

  • Amos Rehabilitation Keep (ARK)—RM: ARK rescue/rehab

  • Educational Docent— Report as PO: Mission-Aransas NERR
    ~Bay Education Center, Rockport
    ~Wetlands Education Center, Port Aransas
    ~Estuary Explorium

  • Invasive Species Control

  • Special Event Photographer

  • Special Event Staff

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Aransas Pathways Birding & Nature Sites

Improve habitat or create and maintain trails and gardens

Aransas Pathways properties in Rockport will have an ongoing need for volunteers to create and maintain trails, pollinator gardens, Monarch Waystations, prairie restoration, and improve habitat throughout the properties. Bring water, your favorite tools, and garden gloves. Dress for the weather and wear closed-toe shoes.

Linda S. Castro Nature Sanctuary:
Vickie Wilson, Project Leader, has scheduled workdays from 8:00 to 10:00 am (or as long or short as you can to stay):

  • Tuesday, October 25th—Wildflower Seed Dispersal

  • Watch this space for additional workdays as they are scheduled

Work can include a general clean-up of specific areas and other tasks. Contact Jane Moore if you can volunteer or to ask questions.

Interested in working at one of the other Aransas Pathways sites? Contact Jennifer Heard by email or call her at 361-790-9496 if you have questions, or to find out what needs to be done so you can work a different day or time:

  • Ivy Lane Birding & Nature Site

  • Aransas County History Center

  • Connie Hagar Cottage Sanctuary

  • Tule East or West

  • Henderson Property

Reporting:

  • If working on gardens or clearing trails, providing education or easier access to the public, report as NPA: Aransas Pathways with the site name in the description

  • If working on improving native habitat for wildlife outside the garden areas, report as RM: Aransas Pathways with the site name in the description

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Nurdle Patrol!

Nurdle–plastic pellet used to manufacture plastic. See video, patrol beaches, & submit data online

A nurdle is a plastic pellet that serves as raw material in the manufacturing of plastic products. Nurdles are washing up on our beaches by the millions. They look like food to animals, but they are indigestible and they absorb other toxins in the environment so can be deadly to some animals. Nurdle Patrol is a Gulf-wide, citizen-science project looking to gather information about where nurdles are located across Gulf of Mexico beaches, remove them from the environment, and create awareness about the nurdle issue. Take the training video to participate in this project.

Report training as AT: Specific Project
Report volunteer service as FR: Mission-Aransas NERR

See the training video, submit data and view reported data

Report as FR: Mission-Aransas NERR with “Nurdle Patrol” in the description.

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Species of Greatest Conservation Need

Help SGCN that are declining and in need of attention

Along with species that have been afforded legal protection (Federal and State Listed Species) due to risk of extinction, Texas hosts well over 1,300 species that are considered to be Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). Native animals or plants designated as a SGCN are generally those that are declining or rare and in need of attention to recover or to prevent the need to list under state or federal regulation. These species are the focus of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Texas Conservation Action Plan and guide the department’s nongame conservation efforts.

  • Texas Nature Trackers: Target Species

  • Get Involved:
    Join Texas Nature Trackers Projects on iNaturalist – Report as FR: TPWD
    Attend a TNT workshop– Report as AT: Specific Project
    Learn your Target Species – Report as FR: TPWD
    Compile a Missing Species Report – Report as FR: TPWD
    Monitor a Population – Report as FR: TPWD

Interested? Check out the links and contact Tania Homayoun or call 512-389-8253.

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Bird Rescue & Rehabilitation

Gather bait fish, transport birds, or other tasks as needed 

Volunteers gather bait fish for food, transport birds, administer medications, and other tasks. Report as RM: Other Locations. Specify rehabber in the description.

  • Rockport area: Wings Rescue Center—Hotline: 361-205-0892. Care about birds? Like to chop things up? WRC desperately needs volunteers. If you can help, please call 361-205-0892. See Facebook page for more information, or email Rachael Diaz or call her at 136-122-9548×4 for answers to your questions.

  • Bay City area—Contact Cherie Allen by email to volunteer or call 979-245-4392

  • South End area—The ARK—Call 361-749-6793

  • Find a rehabber in your area—TPWD website

communications@midcoast-tmn.org

P.O. Box 761

Fulton, TX 78358

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