No need to get in a flap over resolutions with the RSPB

RSPB Scotland is calling on people who still haven’t made a New Year’s resolution.

Many people are fed up with the same old resolutions, to exercise more, lose weight, save more money and drink less alcohol, but the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is looking for people who want to make a more selfless promise for 2018.

Recent research shows that volunteering is now among the nation’s ‘top ten New Year’s resolutions’ and RSPB Scotland is calling on people to act on that this year, by signing up to save nature as a volunteer.

The RSPB is looking for volunteers of all ages to join them

With 77 Scottish nature reserves and a wealth of work spanning a huge variety of species and habitats, RSPB Scotland offers hundreds of exciting opportunities to get involved with. Some of the example roles include:

· Seabird photo counters: Analyse drone images of penguin and albatross nests to help us and BirdLife International learn how their populations are faring.

· Volunteer warden: We need local people to join the team looking after our Black Devon Wetlands reserve and the wonderful wildlife that resides there.

· House sparrow surveyor: In Glasgow, house sparrow numbers have declined by over 90% since 1959. Take part in a citizen science project to survey this species, learn what is impacting their populations and devise ways to help them.

· Information volunteer: Excite and teach visitors about the unique wildlife of our Dunnet Head reserve at the very tip of north Scotland.

A number of volunteering chances are available throughout Scotland

Jillian Schofield, head of membership and engagement for RSPB Scotland, said: ‘Committing even a little of your time to planting trees, surveying birds and beetles, helping with research or teaching kids about nature will make a huge difference to Scotland’s wildlife and wild places, now and in the future.

‘We have a fantastic bunch of people from all walks of life currently volunteering with us – our youngest is 11 and the oldest is 89!

‘Without them we wouldn’t be able to achieve all that we do for nature in Scotland, and we’d love even more of you to get involved and succeed in your commitment to volunteering in 2018.

RSPB volunteers can take part in all sorts of activities

‘Even if you can’t manage to take on a volunteering role, you might consider becoming a member of the RSPB this year, it’s another excellent way to help our work for wildlife and the environment.’

More than 2,200 volunteers generously give over 114,000 hours of their time to RSPB Scotland each year, to protect nature right across the country.

To find out more about all of the opportunities available with RSPB Scotland, click HERE.