I have been
volunteering at RSPB Minsmere for 4 years now, and I find it’s not only a
great way to connect with wildlife myself, but also to engage other people
visiting the reserve with wildlife too.
My main role
as a volunteer at Minsmere is being a guide out on the reserve. This entails
sitting in the various hides, and talking to visitors that come in to look at
the wildlife, and showing it to them. I particularly like talking to children
that come into the hides and showing them Minsmere’s speciality species, as I
think that if you can get the younger generation hooked into wildlife, it bodes
well for the future generation. We need a greater number of young wildlife
enthusiasts, so do your bit, by getting your children to a local nature
reserve, and show them the wildlife that the area holds.
There are
many different roles you can undertake as a volunteer however. At Minsmere for
example, you can be a receptionist, caterer or shop assistant. In their own
way, they all link you to the wildlife around the reserve. For example, when
catering, you will overlook the bird feeders, which are usually very busy with
common bird species. Or, you may be outside collecting somebody's tray of food,
which overlooks the amazing Sand Martin colony in the summer, where you can
obtain really close views of flyby adults as they travel back and forth from
their nests.
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| Purple Swamphen by Ben Moyes |
My main
interest in the wildlife world is birding, so whilst volunteering at Minsmere,
birds are the main species I look for. Of course, you cannot go around the
reserve without admiring the Avocets, Marsh Harrier, Bitterns or Bearded Tits.
However, I have seen a few rare birds whilst volunteering at Minsmere. These
include the Purple Swamphen, and American Cliff Swallow. I was lucky enough to
see the Swamphen multiple times whist guiding on the reserve, and it was great
to see a lot of people that didn’t know a great deal about birds coming to see
this fascinating creature.
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| American Cliff Swallow by Ben Moyes |
Moving away
from the wildlife, you cannot fault the café at Minsmere. Every day I volunteer
there this has to be one of my highlights! The cake is faultless, so when you
visit the reserve, do not go without getting a slice of cake!
Having
volunteering hours under your belt looks fantastic on your CV, and also when
applying for University courses, particularly in conservation work. So, if you
are a young birder, visit your local nature reserve, and become a volunteer.
You will learn so many different things about the wildlife you see every day
that you would not have noticed before, and it will be a great use of your free
time!
Ben Moyes, @Ben_Moyes16
