Volunteer Powered
Stilt, Curlew, and Avocet at Blacks Creek. Photo by Ceredig Roberts.
Golden Eagle Audubon is a volunteer-powered organization.
We are a positive force for birds in our community only through the support of hundreds of amazing volunteers.
Our volunteers dedicate thousands of hours to Golden Eagle Audubon Society each year, leading field trips, representing us at outreach events, supporting and leading restoration efforts, teaching classes, and much more. We are so grateful for your time and support of this organization!
Lark Sparrow. Photo by Dondi Black.
2025 Volunteer Recognition
Kate Meyer
Kate Meyer has an affinity for plants and birds. After getting our Habitat Patch Program Gold Certification, Kate joined our Habitat Patch Adviser Team. Now she shares her experience with others working to improve their yard habitat. Kate has grown native plants for our Native Plant Network and pitched in at the nursery to take care of the plants. Kate has also spent many hours in the field working at our Boise River ReWild Habitat Restoration sites. She's planted, weeded, mulched and watered. Kate enjoys community science and she participates in the Boise Christmas Bird Count and Great Backyard Bird Count. Thanks Kate.
Andy Meyer
Andy Meyer is an upbeat and hard working volunteer who has become a regular at our Warm Springs Pollinator Garden stewardship events. He's great at the weeding and trimming needed to keep the garden at its best. Andy is working on becoming a Master Naturalist in the Sagebrush steppe Chapter. This year Andy has also helped water at our Valley Fire foothills restoration site and he transplanted hundreds of tiny native seedlings at the Native Plant Network Nursery in the spring. We are happy to see Andy's big smile at our events and glad he's chosen to volunteer with Golden Eagle Audubon.
Christopher Well
Christopher Well jumped into volunteering with both feet in 2024, and we are very glad he did. Christopher started by helping with the Boise Christmas Bird Count and the Great Backyard Bird Count (he's an excellent birder). Then he volunteered for our Outreach Team where he has developed outreach strategy, provided leadership to other volunteers, and worked at a number of outreach events. You may have seen him at our table at the Foothills Learning Center Family Day, the Raptor Fest or Rediscovered Books. Now he's preparing our outreach table for Public Lands Day at Bogus Basin in September. Christopher has also shared his wonderful bird photos with us. Thanks Christopher for helping us grow Golden Eagle Audubon's flock.
Kerry Fitzharris
Kerry Fitzharris is a volunteer who doesn't need to be told anything twice. Most of the time she figures out what needs to be done without any instruction. Kerry's leadership acumen are excellent for her current role as a member of the Bethine Church Boise River Trail Stewardship Team. Kerry's knowledge of plants and birds combined with good intuition and excellent people skills are helping the Team steward the pedestrian-only trail along with the wild habitat on both sides. Kerry also volunteers for our important community science bird surveys; the Christmas Bird Count and the Great Backyard Bird Count. Kerry's big smile and cheery attitude make every event more fun. Say thanks if you see her on the trail.
Frank Mattern
Frank Mattern's tall, lanky frame and his signature hat and glasses have been a welcome sight at Golden Eagle Audubon's stewardship projects for more than four years. Frank spent hundreds of hours working on a Boise River ReWild Habitat Restoration Project plot. He's grown and cared for native plants at our Native Plant Network Nursery. He's cleared brush and done trail maintenance at Hyatt Hidden Lakes Reserve. This year, Frank is a lead for our Valley Fire Habitat Restoration Project in the Boise Foothills. Frank's positive attitude and pure joy at getting the job done well is contagious. Thanks for all your work creating healthy habitat Frank!
Janeil Gilbert
Congratulations to Janeil Gilbert for completing her Sagebrush steppe Master Naturalist class work. We are fortunate Janeil is now volunteering for Golden Eagle Audubon. She loves the hands on activities and has volunteered many hours at the Warm Springs Pollinator Garden and Native Plant Network Nursery at Comba Park. Her knowledge of native plants, insects and birds has grown tremendously, and she's working on improving the habitat in her own yard. Janeil is a friendly, enthusiastic, reliable and hard-working volunteer. Thank Janeil for your passion.
Christa Braun
Christa Braun radiates enthusiasm for birds, native plants and giving back to the community. Like many volunteers, she started simple and took on more jobs as time went by. She started by watering at our Native Plant Nursery, and this year she's hands on transplanting seedlings. She counted birds during the Great Backyard Bird Count at Hyatt Hidden Lakes Reserve. Christa has now graduated from our Golden Eagle Presenter Academy and is making presentations around the Treasure Valley. Her love for birds is apparent as she helps others discover the wonders of our feathered friends. It's our good fortune to have Christa contributing her time and spirit to Golden Eagle Audubon. Thanks.
Teresa Murray
If it has to do with plants and bird habitat restoration, super star Teresa Murray has checked all the boxes since she became a Golden Eagle Audubon in 2023. She jumped in with both feet becoming a plot lead for our Boise River ReWild Habitat Restoration Project. Her plot included Riffle Beach, and Teresa oversaw installation of fencing and signage to protect new willow plantings along the river. She's weeded, watered, and wrapped trees to protect bird habitat. This year she's a regular at our Comba Park native plant nursery. And she volunteers at the Warm Springs Pollinator Garden. Thanks Teresa, it's great to have you on our team.
Liz Vavricka
Liz Vavricka is one of the superstars of our Native Plant Network Nursery at Comba Park. After volunteering to grow and tend native plants at the nursery in 2023, she stepped into leadership as a member of the Nursery Team in 2024. She helped established systems at the nursery that enriched the experience for the hundreds of volunteers who grew, transplanted and watered plants. Lucky for us, Liz is serving on the Native Plant Nursery Leadership Team again in 2025. You are likely to see her smiling face if you volunteer at the nursery. Liz has also volunteered for many of our habitat restoration projects. Thanks Liz.
Julia Zarbnisky
Listen carefully and you may hear the birds singing praise to Julia Zarbnisky. That's because they love all the native plants that Julia has grown, planted, watered, weeded and tended. Julia served as a plot leader for our Boise River ReWild Habitat Restoration project in 2023 and 2024 overseeing the planting and tending of hundreds of plants. She grew hundreds of native plants for our Native Plant Network in her own yard too. She has trays with tiny shoots now. You may also see Julia helping at the Warm Springs Pollinator Garden. In 2024, Julia stepped up to provide leadership for the Sagebrush steppe Master Naturalist chapter we sponsor. Julia is a reliable, hard-working, cheerful volunteer quick to problem solve and help others succeed. Thanks Julia.
Dylon Starry
Dylon Starry is a member of our Native Plant Network Nursery Team. He and his teammates oversee the growing of thousands of native plants at our Comba Park Nursery. Dylon is a guy who works hard but always smiles, and he's eager to learn new skills to care for the environment. He is a former teacher, serving for many years with his wife in South Korea. Dylon is now the Director for Canyon County Parks, spending most of his time at Celebration Park. He is a master naturalist with the Deer Flat Chapter and serves as its Communication Coordinator. Thanks Dylon.
Alec Andrus
Alec Andrus is a Golden Eagle Audubon Field Trip Leader with a great eye for the birds. His joy of discovery is contagious. He loves introducing people to the wonder of birds. Alec has led the Great Backyard Bird Count in downtown Boise for three years, and he was a zone leader for the Boise Christmas Bird Count. Alec also contributes to science by volunteering for the Winter Raptor Survey and Climate Watch. We greatly appreciate all of his time and effort. Thanks Alec.
