Final Thoughts - My future in Nature Interpretation
I chose the role of a nature interpreter to continue to strive for the conservation of birds of prey and other wildlife. As someone has worked with raptors for 5 amazing years now, I cannot tell you how excited I was to take this course to further my skills in this area. Most of my experience has been working with non-releasable birds of prey including falcons, owls, hawks, eagles, and vultures. I have worked as an educational ambassador and trainer with Pacific Northwest Raptors on Vancouver Island and with Wild Ontario’s volunteer program here at the University of Guelph. Both of been amazing opportunities to learn and grow in this field. I have had the pleasure of working with some incredible mentors throughout this period which has shaped my interests in the nature interpretation field and allowed me to hone my abilities in educational communication and animal training. By combining the resources and ideas I’ve learnt from this course, my passion for raptor conservation, and the applicable skills I have acquired through various positions, will allow me to continue in this area and carryout a fulfilling career. As this course comes to a commence, it’s time to consider the main takeaways and how these concepts will apply to my future in nature interpretation.
As a nature interpreter and bird enthusiast looking to progress in the education branch of wildlife conservation, it is imperative that I implement essential principles to be the best learning outlet for visitors to foster positive and enlightening experiences. Thus, the ethics I want to consider include accessibility, proper welfare of animals, respect for nature, and authenticity.
Ensuring maximum inclusiveness for all members of the public is necessary for conservation education. When working with non-releasable raptors, most educational events incorporate visual presentations or close encounters with the educational ambassadors to inspire the individual to appreciate and connect with the animal. To increase inclusivity the proportion of visitors engaged, proper accessibility measures must be established. This includes accounting for diverse physical abilities (visibly, auditory, mobility) and comprehensive levels (age, learning styles,). It is important to have accessible ramps, walkways and bathrooms for strollers, wheelchairs, and other physical disabilities (Beck et al., 2018). Catering to different age and knowledge levels is also crucial for uttermost outreach. For example, younger age groups tend to do better with shorter presentations and partaking in non-competitive educational games or activities, whereas senior audiences would benefit from in-depth information and minimal movement (Beck et al., 2018). Not to mention all the other age brackets between the two that require unique accommodations.
Providing appropriate living conditions and welfare practices is another ethical concern to remember. When working with live animals it is critical that they are mental and physical health is prioritized. Size of enclosure environment, access to enrichment, and human interaction are all variables to assess to ensure proper welfare of educational ambassador animals (Baird et al., 2016).
Authenticity is another important moral as well as involvement tool. A quote from Dacher Keltner in chapter 21 of our textbook describes the empowerment authenticity provides to interpretation: ‘In various studies we’ve asked people, “What’s running through your mind when you feel awe, and they’ll say things like, “I want to make the world better’” (Beck et al., 2018). When people connect with live animals or real props like feathers, skeletal systems, or taxidermy, they are more likely to care about their future conservation.
Beliefs and Responsibilities
Along with advancing research, public education is powerful tool to manage wildlife populations and preservation. One aspect of education that is fundamental is keeping up with current findings. This includes monitoring population statuses, rules and regulations, interesting facts, and innovative training techniques. As a nature interpreter I also would incorporate my respect and recognition. There are a few responsibilities to integrate to serve these beliefs:
Verify information authenticity used in presentations and programs.
Continuing to update findings with novel research.
Encourage safe appreciation practices and not to disturb wildlife.
Consider the best environmental sustainability when conducting educational programs.
Inspire people to make a difference (avoid using rodenticides, put up owl boxes, improve compost/recycling habits, reduce disposing waste next to roadways)
There are many approaches in nature interpretation depending on audience, budget, and purpose. Some strategies I would like to use in future interpretation positions consist of enhancing interpretation through maximizing the involvement of various learning styles, inspire individuals through experimental learning activities, appreciate historical and cultural significance, and boosting engagement through multi-media platforms.
Our world is made of a variety of learners, each benefiting from different learning styles. To optimize the impact of each educational interaction, it would be advantageous to include a technique to accustomed to each learning style: visual, auditory, and tactile. Working with live raptors is a great approach to appeal to the masses but especially to visual learners. Seeing the birds up close, examining the details, and learning their story will connect individuals to the animal, forming a deeper appreciation for the species. Some examples of this approach can include meet and greets, flying demonstrations, and bone/feather displays. To cater to auditory learners, these visual representations can be accompanied by captivating storytelling and presentations. Teaching the audience about the animals, while demonstrating their natural behaviours, is not only super engaging but highly informative. Tactile learning is a hard style to address working with live animals. One of the best strategies in the avian field would be to include touchable stations incorporating feathers, skeletal systems, eggshells, nests, pellets, or preserved remnants, would further improve the authentic interpretation for the individual.
Experimental learning approaches can also excite and inspire meaningful interpretation. One of my most memorable lectures was a nature walk in the Arboretum. My class was using this time to walk around the landscape and observe Ontarian birds in their natural environment. I learned so much walking with Chris Early, our leader on the walk, regarding identification and observation strategies that I still use to this day. These interpretive experiences are affective and long-lasting. Leading an evening owl prowl would be a fun activity to try!
Another approach I would want to incorporate is connecting these birds to their cultural and historical significance. History is an important aspect of interpretation as we learned in this course. In unit 6 we discussed how nature is everchanging, as it always has. Thus, historical, and cultural considerations are a necessity for raptor education and conservation importance. When working with Bald Eagles I come to learn a lot about their history and their cultural importance in indigenous communities. One important fact I learned was that eagle feathers are protected by Canadian laws and can only be kept by those who are indigenous (Hamilton, 2023). I have learned that enriching my interpretation of nature with its historical background is an asset in teaching and understanding.
Finally, I would want to use technology in my approach to raptor education. As someone who enjoys working with multi-media (photos, videos, posters, etc.), creating digital content can also be an effective method in this field. This will reach further audiences and also available to all accessibilities. Some examples could include short educational videos, photos from the wild, infographics, surveys or quizzes, and livestreams.
Working as a raptor trainer and presenter has been an astonishing experience that has driven a true passion of mine. Please enjoy some of my favourite photos I’ve taken working in this field over the last few years!
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Sagamore Publishing.
Baird, B. A., Kuhar, C. W., Lukas, K. E., Amendolagine, L. A., Fuller, G. A., Nemet, J., Willis, M. A., & Schook, M. W. (2016). Program animal welfare: Using behavioral and physiological measures to assess the well-being of animals used for education programs in Zoos. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 176, 150–162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2015.12.004
Hamilton, W. (2023, June 1). The significance of Eagle Feathers - Canada-UK foundation. CANADA. https://www.canadaukfoundation.org/newsletter/the-significance-of-eagle-feathers#:~:text=Eagle%20feathers%20are%20considered%20very,for%20his%20or%20her%20role.