Volunteer Spotlight: Annika Wilcox!
We asked Annika some questions about her time with Wild Ontario. Here’s what she had to say:
1. What is your favourite memory of volunteering with Wild Ontario so far?
It’s so hard to narrow it down! Making training breakthroughs with the bird you’re working with always feels incredible, but my favourite memory would probably be getting to talk to thousands of people about birds during weekend programs at Point Pelee National Park. I’ve gotten to attend these weekends four times now, and each one has been more fun than the last!
2. What have you learned/how have you grown through this experience?
I’ve learned more about birds that I could even begin to summarize during my time volunteering for WO, but what I’m most thankful for is overcoming my fear of public speaking. Before I joined the program I could barely get through presentations in my undergraduate classes, but now I just love it. Being able to stand up in front of a crowd and talk about your favourite thing in the world has become something I look forward to, instead of something to dread – it feels like a bit of a superpower, honestly!
3. How would you describe the bird(s) you work with?
I’ve been working with Einstein the Great Horned Owl and Freyja the Red-Tailed Hawk for more than two years now, and they’re each so different – working with Einstein makes me slow it all down and think about how she is interpreting the smallest changes in my body language, while working with Freyja can be fast and slightly chaotic and so fun! They’re both program superstars, and I feel so lucky to have gotten to contribute to their training these past few years.
4. What is the most surprising skill you’ve learned through volunteering?
I think the most surprising skill that I’ve learned is how I can use a topic like birds to connect with all sorts of people – whether the person is 5 or 85, from Guelph or new to Canada, an ornithologist or someone who barely notices the birds in their backyard, we have something to talk about. That’s a skill that I’ve been able to bring both into my career and to family dinners, and I’m incredibly thankful for that.
Although, perhaps even more surprising is how quickly I can prepare a mouse to be fed to the birds now. That is not a skill I bring to family dinners.
5. What others say about Annika:
“Annika is great at everything we do at Wild Ontario! She’s a great bird trainer, mentor, and is so good at public speaking! It’s awesome to get to learn from her.”
“Annika consistently goes the extra mile when volunteering, and will always takes time to offer advice and input when needed. She’s super knowledgeable and a huge asset to the program. I’m really glad to have met her through Wild Ontario as she has an incredible sense of humour, and is now a good friend!”