Volunteer
As an all-volunteer organization, our volunteers play a vital role in the daily care and feeding of our parrots 365 days a year. We are always looking for mature adults to join our team and make a difference in the lives of rescued parrots. The work can be hard, but it is also fun and rewarding, and you will learn a lot.
What does a volunteer do?
The majority of volunteer opportunities at WPF involve working directly with the parrots at our facility in Damascus. The work is primarily focused on daily cleaning, care, and feeding of the birds.
These daily tasks are vital to the welfare of our parrots. Therefore, we need volunteers who can commit to a regular schedule - one 3-hour shift per week (the same day each week),
Volunteers work in teams of 2 to 3 people and follow a set routine for cleaning and feeding. Most days, shifts begin at 10:00 am.
A sample of daily volunteer tasks includes:
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Cleaning water and food bowls
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Removing soiled papers in cage trays
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Cleaning floors
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Delivering fresh food and water to the parrots
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Chopping fruits and vegetables
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Cleaning the kitchen and food prep areas​
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Socializing with the birds (after the work is complete)
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New volunteers receive training from experienced volunteers for their first several shifts until they are comfortable performing all necessary tasks.
General Requirements
To provide a consistent level of care for our parrots year round, we ask volunteers to make a weekly commitment of 3 hours (generally 10am - 1pm). We have more openings for volunteers on weekdays and limited openings on weekends. We are unable to accommodate short-term volunteers (less than 3 months), due to the time required to learn the routine. Please note that if you wish to adopt a bird you must volunteer for a minimum of 6 months.
To volunteer you must be:
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At least 18 years old (some exceptions apply)
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Able to commit to a regular schedule of 3 hours per week
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Able to stand/walk for significant periods of time and maneuver in tight spaces
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Willing to wear a face covering/mask to prevent the spread of viruses to other volunteers
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Willing and able to do physical and often times dirty work
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Reliable with attendance and on time for volunteer shifts​
Interested in Volunteering?
If after reading this, you are interested in volunteering, please contact our volunteer coordinator by sending an email to realparrotrescue@aol.com.
In your email, please provide your name and tell us a little bit about yourself. Also include your phone number and the best time for us to reach you.
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Our volunteer coordinator will contact you to discuss your availability and answer any questions you may have. If you decide to go forward, we will schedule a time when you can begin your training and volunteer service.