As someone who is always eager to learn, I was excited to be back in a classroom setting to learn everything the DESMAN course had to offer. But, as important as understanding theory is, it can only get you so far. Practical application of conservation skills, whether that be setting up camera traps or writing out budgets, gives students that extra piece to be a successful conservationist. The most significant practical experience, and highlight of my time at Durrell, was the skills development task. Surprising no one, I requested to complete my skills development with the bird department at the Jersey Zoo.

My background is almost exclusively with raptor husbandry and breeding, so getting an inside look at how other groups of birds, such as waterfowl, hornbills, and songbirds, are cared for in a captive setting was an amazing learning experience. Over the course of a few days I spent time shadowing the bird keepers on their daily routines. I started the morning in the food prep kitchen, helping to chop eggs and fruit. Almost all the birds at the Jersey Zoo are herbivores, so it was a lot of fruit, veg, and seed mix, quite different from the rodents and other small prey items I’m used to preparing. Once the food was prepped, I shadowed one of the softbill keepers on their morning routine, servicing the aviaries of wrinkled hornbills, Javan green magpies, pink pigeons, blue-crowned laughing thrushes, and more.