蘑菇视频

Mars, Pennsylvania, native Mya Lee is spending her summer turning classroom knowledge into hands-on conservation experience through an internship at Stormy Oaks Nature Conservancy 鈥� Wildbird Recovery, Inc., where she helps rehabilitate injured songbirds, swallows and birds of prey.

An honors student at 蘑菇视频 Clarion pursuing a Bachelor of Science in environmental science with a minor in honors interdisciplinary studies, Lee is gaining firsthand experience caring for birds while exploring a career in wildlife conservation. She is also a member of the Golden Eagles swimming and diving team and was a standout diver at Mars High School, where she placed sixth in the state.

At Stormy Oaks, the only wildlife rehabilitation center in Butler County, Pennsylvania, Lee helps care for resident birds that permanently live at the facility because they cannot be released into the wild.

鈥淩esident birds are any birds that are not a candidate for release and live full time at our facility,鈥� Lee said. 鈥淚 will often spend time with birds who are not in outside enclosures, by taking them on walks. Some of our birds are fully flighted, meaning that they can fly, and I must take extra precautions to ensure they do not escape.鈥�

The internship has allowed Lee to directly apply concepts she has learned in the classroom while gaining a deeper understanding of conservation and wildlife management.

鈥淎 lot of what I do is work with the animals I learned about in my coursework. As an environmental science major, I also have reinforced the balance of the ecosystem and management.鈥�

Beyond strengthening her technical knowledge, the experience has helped clarify her career interests.

鈥淭his internship has given me an amazing experience and more knowledge about what I want to do in the future,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t has also showed me just how much work and effort goes into rehabilitation and general care for these animals.鈥�

Lee believes internships are an essential part of preparing for a successful career.

鈥淐ompleting an internship is extremely important,鈥� Lee said. 鈥淣ot only will it give me the experience I need to get a job in the future, but it will also teach me what I do and don't like. It will point me on the correct path for what I want to do for the rest of my life.鈥�

As a rising sophomore, Lee is still exploring where her career will lead, but she already knows the direction she hopes to take.

鈥淚 would like to continue to work with birds and conservation work,鈥� she said.

Through experiential learning opportunities like her internship at Stormy Oaks Nature Conservancy 鈥� Wildbird Recovery, Lee is building the skills and experience that will help prepare her for a future dedicated to wildlife conservation.