TRCA- Restoration & Infrastructure

Volunteer Role Details:

Duration: August 5 - November 12, 2026

Volunteer Hours: Arrive at location 60 minutes before dawn. 7-hour shifts for a minimum of 1 (ideally 2) days a week (weekdays and weekends)

Work Location(s): Tommy Thompson Park, 3 Leslie Street, Toronto

Number of Vacancies: 5

Division: Restoration & Infrastructure

How you will contribute as part of the TRCA Volunteer team:

Volunteers at the Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station (TTPBRS) play an important role assisting with passerine monitoring during spring and fall migration. The Migration Monitoring Program, which consists of a daily census and bird banding, runs in spring from April 1 to June 9 and fall from August 5 to November 12.

Volunteers will have a passion for birds and possess excellent visual and audio bird identification skills for species commonly found in southern Ontario.  Volunteers will enhance their ornithological skills including bird identification, working with mist nets, handling birds, conducting physical assessments, and recording data. 

What you will do as a volunteer:

• Record all bird observations during shifts (casual observations)
• Conduct daily census (standard observations)
• Conduct net checks and safely bring captured birds to the lab
• Assist with the collection of scientific data: species identification, aging and sexing, morphometric measurements
• Adhere to research protocol and ethical guidelines
• Provide interpretation for park visitors
• Daily housekeeping activities in TTPBRS

What will you need to succeed:

• Previous animal handling experience (ideally wild animals) is required
• Previous bird banding and mist net extraction experience an asset
• Able to commit to a weekly schedule for the migration season
• Able to reliably arrive at TTP before transit operational hours
• Excellent visual and auditory bird identification skills for birds of Eastern North America
• Excellent interpersonal, organization and communication skills
• Great team player
• Weekday availability is preferred

*Please upload a resume to apply*

While the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) thanks all volunteer applicants for their interest, only those under consideration will be contacted. 

In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and TRCA Policies, accommodation will be provided at any point throughout the volunteer selection process, provided the volunteer candidate makes their accommodation needs known to the TRCA. We welcome volunteer applications from all qualified persons. 

Personal information you provide through the TRCA volunteer recruitment, selection, and onboarding process is collected under the authority of the Conservation Authorities Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.27. Collection of this personal information is necessary for the proper administration of this volunteer recruitment process for volunteer opportunities with TRCA. Personal information is protected from disclosure pursuant to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Any question regarding this collection activity should be directed to the Manager of Records and Information, 5 Shoreham Drive, Toronto, ON, M3N 1S4, (437) 880 2308.