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Miranda Shorebird Centre

Provider: Miranda Naturalists Trust

Region: Auckland

Duration

Ongoing

Description

The Miranda Naturalists' Trust was formed to encourage people to visit the Firth of Thames coastline and appreciate its wide range of flora and fauna. The Trust encourages research and other educational activities and is involved with studying bird migration.The Trust owns and operates the Miranda Shorebird Centre which offers a range of events and education programmes through the year.

The day to day running of the Shorebird Centre and its grounds requires a substantial amount of work and the Trust is very grateful to those who are willing to give up their own free time to help us out at the Centre. A variety of volunteer opportunities are available. Have a look below and get in contact with us - your help is always appreciated!

Regular Volunteers - The Friends of Miranda are a group of volunteers that help look after the Shorebird Centre. Helping out can be anything from assisting with the shop, school groups or meeting people down at the shell banks. In an effort to make volunteers feel more comfortable with the tasks they may wish to undertake at the Centre, we are holding regular training days for volunteers once a month. Over the course of the year we'll cover the basics of running the shop and the Shorebird Centre, guided walks from bird and plant experts, help on giving talks to groups, updates on the latest research and bird identification sessions. Each weekend will have some old hands staying for the weekend, so you can stay for some one-to-one if you'd like. There is no requirement to attend every session, come when you can, we'll start 10am on Saturday (unless the tide dictates otherwise for some sessions!). The only requirement is that you be willing to make some commitment to volunteering at other times, in the shop, on the shellbank, when there are school groups, or in the garden. To get involved contact the Centre Manager. Car pooling maybe be possible. 

Long Term Volunteers - Spend four weeks or more on the shoreline at Miranda. If you are interested in staffing the visitor centre, helping with school groups or talking to people on the shellbank for a few weeks contact the Centre's Manager to discuss options. Free accommodation is available in one of the bunkrooms. Use of a bicycle will be available.

Garden Volunteer - If you want an excuse to stay at Miranda for a couple of nights free of charge, come and help a small team of gardeners maintain the gardens. It is satisfying and worthwhile work in the outdoors. We make the time enjoyable especially when we down tools at high tide and go and watch the birds on the shellbanks. If interested contact the Centre Manager who will put you in touch with a gardener!

Skills required

Enthusiasm! Prior knowledge of shorebirds not essential.

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