Volunteers Mike and his son Cameron made the long journeys from Texas and Kentucky to Volunteer of the Year 2007 - Jack Skalicky Fish Springs NWR is just a wonderful place for nature study and has been a favorite destination of mine since moving to the state of Utah in 2004. My first visits to the refuge were during the May bird-banding program in 2004 and 2005, volunteering about three weeks with the banding operation. In 2005 the Refuge Manager, Jay Banta, decided to stop the bird-banding program and instead focus on weekly and monthly bird surveys. These surveys have been mostly my responsibility since about the Fall of 2005 until present.
The bird surveys for the refuge are always enjoyable as one never knows what strays might show up at this desert oasis. During the past couple of years I’ve documented a few new species for the refuge: Eastern Phoebe, Sabine’s Gull, and a Cackling Goose (if its accepted by the Utah Bird Records Committee), and other infrequent visitors to the refuge: Greater White-fronted Goose, Red-shouldered Hawk, Summer Tanager, Common Grackle, and Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches among others. Aside from these rarities there have been other experiences embedded in my memory: hundreds of Common Nighthawks feeding on insects over the refuge pools during their August migration, the lonely nocturnal song of the Common Poorwill, the slashing Prairie Falcon, the hungry Sharp-shinned Hawk pursuing and then clutching a Townsend’s Solitaire and finally the moon and the silhouette of the Fish Spring Range and the howling of Coyotes. There is still much more to learn about the birdlife at Fish Springs NWR.
Employment: Fish Springs presently has a staff of 3 full time and 1 part time employees. We sometimes hire a seasonal Biological Science Technician for 6 months from May to October. This position offers an excellent opportunity for a person to learn the workings of a wildlife refuge. Biotech positions are posted each January - June on the government's employment site usajobs.opm.gov. This is a general posting for all refuges. It is typically listed as - Biological Science Tech (Wildlife), GS-0404-2/6 Seasonal various locations. We also may hire college students under a student program that is not posted on the usajobs site. Call Fish Springs at 435 831 5353 to verify if we are hiring. Permanent positions don't open very often at Fish Springs, but when they do they will also be posted on usajobs also. Volunteers: At Fish Springs NWR volunteers perform a wide array of functions from maintaining refuge facilities to counting birds. To accommodate these volunteers we provide them with lodging in our bunkhouse, transportation to and from the airport and a variety of subsistence support. Volunteers are needed at all times during the year. Please call Fish Springs NWR for information on volunteering. Current Volunteer projects: Refinish Refuge Interpretive Signs: Best done in March-May. About 4-5 hours per sign. Four signs. Livestock Exclusion Fence Repair:: August-October. A week or more Visitor Survey Assistance: Weekends. April and May. Fish Springs NWR Administrative Volunteer needs * General office support, answering phones etc. Contact Robert Sims
Volunteer of the year 2007 Jack provided a valuable service to the Refuge by conducting bird surveys on the Refuge. Thanks Jack
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Fish Springs NWR has become a special place for a number of reasons: the quiet and solitude and starkness of the Utah West Desert with its rich tapestry of animals and plants, the opportunity to contribute to a scientific database for the birds of Fish Spring NWR, the adventure of traveling the Pony Express Route, and lastly the wonderful people I’ve met at Fish Springs NWR – Jay Banta, Bret and Dana, Robert and many other volunteers I’ve met and learned from during the past few years. As a 30+ year birdwatcher beginning in my home state of Minnesota – and paralleling my career path to Wisconsin – to Colorado – to British Columbia – to Western New York – to Florida – and now to Utah, I’ve been increasingly dedicating my birding skills toward science-based activities. My recent volunteer activity includes surveys of eight blocks for the New York State Breeding Bird Atlas Project 2000 – 05, annual surveys of Breeding Bird Survey Routes in New York State, surveys of four blocks for the Alabama Breeding Bird Atlas Project 2002-06, and surveyed two blocks for the still-to-be-completed Utah Breeding Bird Atlas Project, and now conducting bird surveys for Fish Springs NWR. I’m also still the editor (yup!, since 2000) for the monthly records and newsletter of the Buffalo Ornithological Society in Buffalo, NY. 
