Ornithologist Career Research Paper

Words: 466
Pages: 2

When I was four years old, I decided I wanted to be an ornithologist. Most four year-olds I know (and even some eighteen years-olds I know) do not have the slightest idea of what they want to be when they grow up, but I was certain ornithology was the path for me. I first showed interest in birds as a toddler, when I stood with my face and palms pressed to the window, squealing with delight at the chickadees and nuthatches flitting through the trees. As I grew, my love for birds grew stronger and stronger. Whether it be paddling the bayous of Arkansas searching for the elusive Ivory-Billed Woodpecker, traipsing through garbage dumps to find Golden Eagles, or simply admiring the adventurous avians circling my feeder, birding has always been my greatest passion. Fourteen years later, the little girl who proudly declared to her parents she wanted to be an ornithologist still desires to pursue a career in science. …show more content…
Throughout my childhood and early adulthood, I’ve found several ways to express my passion for it. Judging from the strange looks I receive when I inform people that I’m an avid “birder”, I can tell that they’re not used to hearing that come from a teenager. Yes, I may be the the only teenager and the youngest member of the Augusta Bird Club (ABC) by about thirty years, but I haven’t stopped birding because it’s not considered “cool” by some- I continue to do it because I love it. Through the ABC, I’ve volunteered for the Audubon Christmas Bird Count for as long as I can remember, waking up at the crack of dawn to literally go out and count local birds. The data gathered can be used to help understand migration patterns, and determine future potential nesting sites. In addition to the Bird Count, I have also helped lead many bird walks, including one for the Maine Master Naturalists, through the rippling fields and sun-dappled woods of the Augusta