World Photography Day falls on August 19 each year, a day when people from all walks of life are encouraged to share their world through the lens of a camera and celebrate storytelling through photography.
My experience at the Wildlife Center of Virginia has lived up to my full expectations! As a first-year veterinary student, I wanted to get hands-on experience with the world of wildlife, a division of animal care that I had limited learning experiences in up to this point. I was fully committed to the long hours and difficult cases upon receiving my letter of acceptance then I flew for the first time to Virginia to start my new journey.
On April 27, front-desk coordinator Maliah had the opportunity to re-nest two young Barred Owls. The birds had been found on the ground on April 26 at a property in Albemarle County; they were too young to be out of the nest, but the parent owls were seen close by. After a quick check-up at the Wildlife Center of Virginia, the staff decided to re-nest the young birds.
During that time, I’ve been asked, approximately 6,286 times, “so, what exactly is it that you do at the Wildlife Center?”
They truly bring a smile to my face even on my worst days. I can only hope to make as much of a difference in their lives as they have already made in mine.
Each small piece is valuable on its own, but when those pieces all come together, it becomes something as magnificent as brown, white and gray feathers, sharply outlined against a blue September sky.
I understand what it's like to become attached to an animal that you’ve known for less than an hour.
Mary Oliver introduces her poem “Lead” with a question for her readers: “This is a story / to break your heart” she writes, “Are you willing?”
A lot of the videos were just of the hawks looking straight down into the camera and doing confused head bobs. It was so precious.
Thank you, Barred Owl, for you have gifted me a special memory and a reminder as to why we all do what we do at the Wildlife Center of Virginia, no matter the position.
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See who is currently featured on the Center's Critter Cams!