I started off here 3 years ago with what I’d say is an average interest in a specific wild animal. When everyone came over in the big Reddit API wave, a few people were contributing, and I had a few owl photos I could share. After a month or so, the other contributions dried up, and I didn’t want to see such a fun group stagnate and die, so I figured I’d step up.
I’ve always enjoyed seeing animals when I travel, so I know they are out there, but sometimes owls are a little hard to come by, so one of the first things I did to keep posting regularly was my 50 States of Owls series, where I went through the US from A to Z showing a place one could go visit an owl.
As I kept reading and researching, I started to realize how many awesome things there were about both owl and the humans that try to keep them safe. That got me to really keep learning on my own and just sharing my journey with you guys.
After about 2 years of doing this, reading wasn’t enough. There was too much I wanted to see or experience in person, so I volunteered at a wildlife rescue. We’re suburban, so we don’t get a ton of owls, but we do get some. We service around 5000 animals a year though of nearly all our local species, and getting to know them, they are all fairly equally wonderful. I see so many miracles of nature and during a dark period for my country, I get to spend time surrounded by the most loving and caring people I’ve ever gotten to know. The work is hot, and smelly, we get scratched and bit and sprayed by skunks, but it’s also the most rewarding work I’ve done in my life. I feel I’m saving important lives and making my community a better place. I feed babies smaller than my pinky. I have wild animals fall asleep in my arms after a good meal. I get to set huge raptors loose to regain their freedom after months of care.
I never thought something like this could be real, and you guys giving me your eyes and support as I’ve shared this journey with all of you is what made it happen. I’m truly grateful to Lemmy and all of you that crack jokes with me, ask me questions, tell me you love what I share, or just lurk in the background sending upvotes of support.
I’m happy you got to participate donating those phones! I remember that project. Accomplishing things like that here and getting a few of you to volunteer at your local rescues (I’ve been working hard on ickplant!) really feels like we’re making a positive difference.
So many people reach out and say that the owls or my energy bring them a lot of positive moments to look forward to, and that makes me happy too, see you all find beauty in the natural world and excited to learn along with me. Reddit deciding to not be cool anymore has been such a big lifechanger!
I started off here 3 years ago with what I’d say is an average interest in a specific wild animal. When everyone came over in the big Reddit API wave, a few people were contributing, and I had a few owl photos I could share. After a month or so, the other contributions dried up, and I didn’t want to see such a fun group stagnate and die, so I figured I’d step up.
I’ve always enjoyed seeing animals when I travel, so I know they are out there, but sometimes owls are a little hard to come by, so one of the first things I did to keep posting regularly was my 50 States of Owls series, where I went through the US from A to Z showing a place one could go visit an owl.
As I kept reading and researching, I started to realize how many awesome things there were about both owl and the humans that try to keep them safe. That got me to really keep learning on my own and just sharing my journey with you guys.
After about 2 years of doing this, reading wasn’t enough. There was too much I wanted to see or experience in person, so I volunteered at a wildlife rescue. We’re suburban, so we don’t get a ton of owls, but we do get some. We service around 5000 animals a year though of nearly all our local species, and getting to know them, they are all fairly equally wonderful. I see so many miracles of nature and during a dark period for my country, I get to spend time surrounded by the most loving and caring people I’ve ever gotten to know. The work is hot, and smelly, we get scratched and bit and sprayed by skunks, but it’s also the most rewarding work I’ve done in my life. I feel I’m saving important lives and making my community a better place. I feed babies smaller than my pinky. I have wild animals fall asleep in my arms after a good meal. I get to set huge raptors loose to regain their freedom after months of care.
I never thought something like this could be real, and you guys giving me your eyes and support as I’ve shared this journey with all of you is what made it happen. I’m truly grateful to Lemmy and all of you that crack jokes with me, ask me questions, tell me you love what I share, or just lurk in the background sending upvotes of support.
I’m happy you got to participate donating those phones! I remember that project. Accomplishing things like that here and getting a few of you to volunteer at your local rescues (I’ve been working hard on ickplant!) really feels like we’re making a positive difference.
So many people reach out and say that the owls or my energy bring them a lot of positive moments to look forward to, and that makes me happy too, see you all find beauty in the natural world and excited to learn along with me. Reddit deciding to not be cool anymore has been such a big lifechanger!