First work weekend

This is our first weekend at work. So far, we haven't been fired, and lots of people have thanked us for volunteering. Our day goes like this...

Arrive and shut off the alarm. (Today, we punched in the wrong code, and a terrible noise sounded until we could get the right code in.)

Then we unlock the doors. Fill the bird feeders. Water the plants on the patio. Fill the dog water. Sweep or blow off the large deck. Put up the sun umbrellas on the picnic tables. Check the public bathrooms and restock TP. Check the museum to see if we need to sweep or if a bat might be inside. Restock the pamphlets. Take out the trash. Wash windows and doors. Wash picnic tables and signs. Sweep cobwebs off tables, doors, windows, and signs. Most importantly, greet guests.

We find out where they are from. If they have been to the Refuge before. What they want to see. We tailor the welcome to their experience and wants. Maybe they just want to use the bathroom. Maybe they just want water refills. Maybe they are avid birders and read online about a single bird sighted here. Maybe they are kids and want to see something cool.

We have kids' bags with good binoculars and lists of creatures to look for. We have a board for people to record their bird sightings. We have a guest register.

Today, we also chased deer away from our feeders. (Can't afford to feed both deer and birds.) We watched a mother cottontail chase two snakes away from her nest of babies. We saw lots of birds as our guests pointed them out.

So far, so good!Read more