November 2025 Volunteer of the Month
December 09, 2025
Taking part in almost all of 2025’s community science programs and joining our burn crew, November’s Volunteer of the month David Casey has donated so much of his time to our science department this year!
Thank you David for your continued support- we are grateful to have you volunteer with us!
By Sarah Reilly
Currently working as a nurse for the NYS Department of health and pursuing a master’s degree in ecology, David has still found time to listen for woodcocks, whip-poor-wills, and help with prescribed burns. “Prescribed burns are so incredibly interesting. Participating in the prescribed burns has opened my eyes to the completely unfamiliar concept of fire ecology” and says that “volunteering at the Pine Bush has only enforced my enthusiasm for learning a new field”.
David grew up in the area and returned around five years ago. He remembers when the preserve was a “forgotten area full of trash and motorcycles” and is both impressed and grateful that the preserve has grown back to what it is now. Since joining our volunteer program in 2024, he has enjoyed learning about different plants and animals that reside within the preserve, and the natural processes in this unique ecosystem.
Looking ahead and always wanting to learn more, David hopes to volunteer even more by participating in our bird banding program. He has taken a course on this before and attended a bird banding demo this fall, where he was recognized by science staff for all his contributions to our community science program this year, earning his nomination!
To best sum up his appreciation for the Albany Pine Bush in his own words- when asked his favorite trail or plant / animal, he said “the place where I am right now” and “the one I am experiencing at this moment”.
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