Rose connects with her neighbours and helps them set up traps and bait stations in their backyards to create a pest-free neighbourhood. Rose’s exceptional efforts and dedication in creating a pest-free haven for birds are invaluable. If you want to learn more about her volunteering experience, continue reading.
Rose has chosen to be part of conservation and environmental projects as she believes volunteering is essential for community organizations and projects. She started volunteering ten years ago as a guide for Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi.
This involvement made her transition from work to retirement a much smoother process. Her love for the bush and the birds led to her involvement with PFK. Here was another wonderful community organization with endless opportunities to be involved. Rose made the choice to keep her volunteering very local. Her aim has been to increase the bird population in her neighbourhood by helping the community around her monitor predators in their backyards.
When asked what inspired her to start volunteering, Rose said that there is so much to be gained from volunteering. "Being involved in really worthwhile projects is so rewarding. It allows you to share your expertise and continue learning, to work with others who generally have a common interest, and to contribute in a variety of ways depending on your available time, skills and fitness level. There is always somewhere or someway that you are able to contribute".
Rose has particularly enjoyed getting to know people in the immediate neighbourhood while volunteering for the environment. She gets to visit different households and talk to people about the impact of rodents in the community. "It’s very much a ‘here comes the rat lady’ scenario but it is great chatting about the purpose, the process and the results of each baiting pulse". She is grateful to all her loyal backyard baiters for their personal efforts to check bait stations and feedback.
"If you’re considering volunteering, I would suggest following conservation organizations on social media or signing up to their newsletters. My Facebook feeds include PFK, Predator Free NZ, Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi, Rotoroa, Auckland Zoo, all with great stories to tell and endless ideas for volunteering".
Rose’s vision is for her local area to be like Miramar peninsula in Wellington, with one trap or bait station to every three houses, the rodent population reduced to a very low level, and to have a thriving local bird population.
If you’re interested in volunteering for conservation and environmental projects like Rose, get in touch with us by email, we have many opportunities available. Volunteering is an essential part of community organizations and projects. It allows you to share your expertise and continue learning, work with others who generally have a common interest, and contribute in a variety of ways depending on your available time, skills and fitness level and it keeps you connected!