Volunteer Spotlight: Rubina Karimkhani!
We asked Rubina 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 choose just one, since working with amazing people and birds creates new amazing memories everyday! Aside from all the love and friendships made from being a part of the team, I would say getting to work with Raiju, when she was new to the program, will always be amazing to look back on. It’s definitely a different experience to train a new behaviour the bird does not have experience with, and when we first saw progress with her it was a very exciting time!
2. What have you learned/how have you grown through this experience?
I have certainly experienced a lot of growth at WO, as it provided me with the opportunity to finally work through my shyness. Before joining, I would avoid presentations and speaking to strangers at all costs. However through WO, I can now confidently say I enjoy presenting and love meeting new people, which I never imagined to be possible!
3. How would you describe the bird(s) you work with?
I have worked with all three of our American Kestrels, Apollo, Artemis, and Raiju, as well as our Northern Saw-whet Owl, Atwood. However I spent most of my semesters with Indy the Red-tailed Hawk. Working with so many birds of the same species has been amazing, as they all certainly have their own personalities! The kestrels are incredibly speedy and smart, while Indy tends to be a lot slower and requires a lot of patience and trust building. They are all superstars and it’s been amazing to work with them all!
4. What is the most surprising skill you’ve learned through volunteering?
The most surprising skill I have learned through volunteering is probably balancing a large tray filled with water across a room, or cutting a chicken head so it doesn’t explode all over me and in my mouth … unfortunately a skill that has come only with hands-on practice.
5. What others say about Rubina:
“Rubina is a very good friend. I always enjoy having conversations with her about bird training and life because she has such a positive outlook. She is a great collaborator and strengthens every team she is a part of.”
“Rubina is really dedicated to the best practices in animal welfare and training – she’s always trying to learn more and do better for the birds we work with! She also goes above and beyond to make sure her teammates have all the tools they need to succeed and feel comfortable.”