Get Involved in Tampa Audubon

Get Involved With Tampa Audubon

Tampa Audubon is involved in a broad range of fantastic projects that will help you learn more about birds and how to preserve their habitat. These projects are led by a group of hard-working, dedicated people who need your help! Volunteering with Tampa Audubon is a great way to learn about nature in Hillsborough County and forge new friendships.
 
In this list, we've described our projects and provided contact information for the people who lead those projects. To reach them, click on their names to send an email. We'd love to have you lend your energy and special talents. 
 
► Mary Miller oversees Bluebird Trails, including the one she monitors at Flatwoods Nature Park in northeast Hillsborough County. Bluebird trail volunteers manage the trails and monitor the birds that nest in the boxes that Mary and her team erect.

► Terri Simons is the volunteer coordinator for Lettuce Lake Park. Volunteers interact with park visitors on weekends and holidays.
 
► Joel Jackson leads the Photo Club. The club offers nature photographers the opportunity to share their pictures, discuss equipment and have creative discussions.
 
► Doug DeNeve and Mary Keith, Conservation Committee leaders, can use help attending meetings, offering comments and presenting thoughtful, scientific and professional response that represent Tampa Audubon positions on important local environmental issues.
 
► Sandy Reed, our BUR-O leader, oversees the Burrowing Owl habitat project, which installs artificial burrows in former habitats where Burrowing Owls lived in the past. The goal is to revive a diminished population in the county. This work also involves environmental education about these listed birds.
 
► Ann Paul, president, oversees the Pelican Protection Project, which is working to inform fishermen about best practices that reduce entanglement in fishing gear and how to release accidentally caught birds.
 
► Nancy Murrah is president of Raptor Center of Tampa Bay, which rescues and rehabilitates eagles, Ospreys, hawks, owls and other raptors. The rescue is assisted by Busch Gardens, area veterinarians and Audubon Florida’s Center for Birds of Prey.
 
► Tammy Lyons leads Project Colony Watch, which tracks nesting herons, storks, Anhingas and other waterbirds on islands in Hillsborough County. They report their findings to Audubon Florida’s Coastal Islands Sanctuaries.
 
► Jessica Parrish is coordinating a team to represent Tampa Audubon at various nature festivals and expos, where we share information about the environment and its habitats and wildlife.
 
► Tammy Lyons helps coordinate Tampa Audubon's Natural Hillsborough programs for the University of South Florida’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
 
► Mic McCarty is planning field trips – even as we all deal with the difficulties of the pandemic. These allow us to explore our local parks and nature preserves as we seek birds and other wildlife. Field trips allow us to appreciate the special area we are fortunate to live in.
 
► Jim McGinity has initiated the Florida Young Birders Club, a project of the Florida Ornithological Society. He will outline the opportunities and activities planned for bird watchers around the state and in our area of Florida.

Tampa Audubon is also working on a list of sites in the area that are handicap accessible. We also work with students and teachers to help them learn about local habitats and wildlife.

There are multiple opportunities to learn, expand your horizons and enjoy this world. Volunteer to share our work, learn about our birds and wildlife and feel a part of your amazing Tampa Audubon Society.