What has been your career path thus far?
Post graduation I took a bit of a break to complete a thru hike of the Appalachian Trail. I started the six-month journey on June 3 and finished November 30. Soon after I completed the trail I received an offer from the Peregrine Fund’s World Center for Birds of Prey, located in Boise, ID. It is an Americorp position and I am a Conservation Educator. Because Covid has forced the facility to be shut down I’m unable to do the educating component, but have focused on bird handling and habitat work. I’ve actually built trail (an SBFC acquired skill) that meanders throughout a native plant garden located at the facility. I also get to work with 27 avian ambassadors that include a harpy eagle, kestrels, milky eagle owl and peregrine falcons. I’m hopeful we’ll be able to open soon and I’ll get to educate the public about these wonderful birds.
What was the most poignant experience you had as a fellow?
It was the Lottie Lake hitch. We were deep in the backcountry and camped next to a beautiful lake. My crewmembers and I were able to swim each day after a hard day of trail work. To top it off we were surprised by Erika Van Havel and Sally Ferguson when they came to meet us with packstock and watermelon. What a treat!
How did you use the information you learned while being a fellow in your coursework or new career?
This fellowship was so valuable in many ways. In terms of academics, the experiences I had and the personal connections I made gave me a broader perspective on textbook information and classroom conversations. I adopted more of a “national” view of wilderness and wildlands, rather than the east coast perspective that my peers had. In terms of jobs, I was able to work at Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge as a biology intern where I was able to work independently in a remote area. I performed some trail work but mainly did water quality testing, education, and other biological field projects.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I’d like to work as a field biologist in either Australia or Central/South America. I plan to continue my Americorps work at the Peregrine Fund until September 2021. After that I hope to start working on my masters and doing field research. Following grad school I hope to be doing some more fieldwork and biology jobs and maybe it will lead me to one of these great places.
