Interning at the Ohio Bird Sanctuary

 

Hi! My name is Linsey Orlovsky, and I am a senior Zoo and Conservation Science and Biology Double major. During my last semester at Otterbein, I interned at the Ohio Bird Sanctuary in Mansfield, Ohio as a Winter Intern. Not only does the Bird Sanctuary serve as a rescue, rehabilitation, and release facility, but it also serves as an accessible, educational, nature experience,  a great place to hike, and an even better place to go birding. On my last day, I saw three bald eagles!

As an Intern, I helped with all aspects of husbandry for over 40 bird species. This included completing tasks such as diet preparation, sanitizing enclosures, rehabilitation of sick and injured birds, safe handling, positive reinforcement training, and enrichment creation. Some of my non-bird chores involved general upkeep of the visitor center such as clearing sidewalks, sweeping, mopping, folding laundry, and doing dishes. I also had a weekly projects list that included tasks such as deep cleaning rooms, scrubbing enclosure wires, sifting mealworms, and wrapping/baking owl pellets. In addition, a large portion of my internship involved guest interaction. Whether I was working at the front desk, answering public questions, or presenting birds during Keeper Talks, I had many opportunities to engage with people of all ages.

Overall, I found my time at OBS extremely informative, rewarding, and valuable. I was trusted to have my own set of keys, radio, and was often asked to handle and care for birds on my own. While I greatly enjoyed this entire experience, some parts really stood out. My first favorite part was giving Keeper Talks. I started off by watching the staff and then began to handle birds while they spoke. I ended up giving over 12 independent presentations while holding 4 different raptor species on a glove.  I deeply enjoyed creating a fun and informative nature experience for all guests and the broader community. Another one of my favorite parts was training the birds. This involved learning how to handle multiple species, becoming familiar with falconry equipment,  and using positive reinforcement to get birds comfortable with handling and/or to accomplish behavioral goals such as flying from a perch to a glove. Over the course of my internship, I got to train with a black vulture, American kestrel, barred owl, red-tailed hawk, cedar waxwing, and red-shouldered hawk. It was so much fun to watch the birds learn and to be a part of the teaching process.

The best part of all was working up close with so many amazing species and getting to know their personalities. My favorite birds to work with were DJ the red-shouldered hawk and the cedar waxwings. Thanks to the support and opportunities provided by the team I worked with, I have grown professionally, enhanced my skills, and gained valuable hands-on experience.