Volunteer with us!

Currently accepting new volunteers at our WEST Warwick, RI facility

Volunteering at Rhode Island Parrot Rescue is educational, satisfying, and fun! We house an array of parrots at any given time, including small birds like parakeets, cockatiels, and conures, to larger birds like macaws, cockatoos, African greys, and amazons. Each bird deserves regular individualized care, so we greatly appreciate your help and so do our feathery friends!

PLEASE READ THE BELOW REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES BEFORE APPLYING:

  • Here at RIPR we take our mission seriously. As a new volunteer you will be guided through our online training platform to ensure consistency of proper care and cleaning throughout.

    We offer ongoing monthly trainings for those who are eager to work more hands on with our residents.

    There is a $29 onboarding fee for which you will receive a staff T-shirt, name badge, and access to your individualized training course.

    • Volunteers must be at least 18 years old (15-18 only with a parent or guardian present).

    • Each volunteer must make a minimum commitment of 6 hours every other week.

    • Volunteer shifts run from 9 am-3 pm.

    • Students, veterans, and retirees may select a 3 hour shift when available.

    • Every volunteer takes a risk of being bitten and must sign a waiver form releasing Rhode Island Parrot Rescue from liability.

    • Volunteers must show proof of valid driver's license/ID Card.

    • Working with birds is LOUD, all the time! Please keep this in mind if you are sensitive to loud noises. We provide earplugs when possible.

    • Dusting

    • Cleaning water and food bowls

    • Cleaning cages: replacing old newspaper and scrubbing perches

    • Sweeping and mopping the floors in the parrot rooms

    • Socializing with the parrots and giving them treats

    • Bathing birds with a warm water spray under the supervision of management

    • Cleaning the outdoor parrot aviary, restocking them with new toys, and socializing with the parrots

    • Assist with toy making (materials provided)

If you feel that you can handle all of the above, want to work with birds, and have the time in your life to offer to Rhode Island Parrot Rescue, then fill out the volunteer application! We need friendly faces!

If you LOVE parrots but do not want to work in close contact with them, we have many other projects that we'd love to utilize your skills for such as fundraising, administrative duties, carpentry, marketing, and watering plants — to name a few. Please tell us about your skills in the application.

Once we receive your application, our volunteer coordinator will be in touch with you via email within a couple days.

We truly appreciate the wonderful work our volunteers do to make a positive difference in our parrots’ lives, and we look forward to welcoming you as a volunteer!

A volunteer working with a macaw.

IT ALL STARTS WITH POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

Our volunteers build trust with the flock through daily socialization and training!

A cockatoo in a cage surrounded by toys.

CLEAN-LINESS IS NEXT TO BIRD-LINESS

Our dedicated volunteers keep our birds healthy with our daily cleaning routine. Because we clean every day, it only takes a few hours in the morning and our volunteers have plenty of time to socialize with the birds!