Love birds? Want to share your love with others? As fall approaches, we need volunteers to work with kids in our Eco-Education program and to serve as docents along the East Bay shoreline.

No prior experience needed — just a love of birds and nature. We are offering several training sessions in September. Here are the opportunities:

Birding the Bay Trail Docents. Help walkers, bikers and others using the Bay Trail to identify and appreciate the birds of the Richmond shoreline!  Docents are asked to commit to volunteering once a month for two hours from October through March. Docent training will be held on Tuesday, September 24 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. For questions or RSVP, contact Noreen Weeden at nweeden@goldengatebirdalliance.org.

Burrowing Owl Docents. The Burrowing Owls of Cesar Chavez Park are avian celebrities. Help park users sight  and understand these winter visitors. Docents are asked to commit two hours every two weeks. Training will take place on Saturday, September 28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For questions or RSVP, contact Noreen Weeden at nweeden@goldengatebirdalliance.org.

Eco-Education Volunteers. Accompany our award-winning Eco-Ed staff as they lead 3rd through 5th grade classes on field trips to creeks and the bay. Help kids observe local birdlife, collect and study plankton and invertebrates, plant native plants, and learn about our Bay Area environment. No extended commitments necessary — every effort helps!

Eco-Ed trainings will take place on Thursday Sept 12 and Saturday Sept 14 in San Francisco, and Thursday Sept. 19 and Saturday Sept 21 in the East Bay. (Your choice.) Each session runs from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Bring a lunch! For information and RSVP, email Eco-Education Director Anthony DeCicco at adecicco@goldengatebirdalliance.org.

Eco-Education program in the field / Photo by Anthony DeCicco