A quick recap on what I’ve been up to academically…
Once again, I’m a student: this time with Project Dragonfly’s Global Field Program at Miami University. As a GFP student, I take online, conservation-themed classes (perfect for this wildlife-lovin’ zookeeper!). My courses are fascinating, and it’s refreshing to work with such likeminded peers and faculty. The real excitement takes place in the summer, though. Each summer, students jet off to attend an Earth Expedition course in exotic locales that focus on local conservation issues. When students return home, themes from these courses can then be applied to everyday life. These international experiences are the real reason I chose to go back to school. The world is my favorite classroom, so if I have the opportunity to learn in it, I’m going to take it. Within two months of my acceptance into the program, Project Dragonfly had me on a plane to Belize for another adventure of a lifetime.
My first GFP course took place in the hot and muggy rainforest of Belize. As a class, we came to Belize from a multitude of places and backgrounds, but had one very important thing in common: a passion for saving for the environment. Which is good, since so did our instructors: two of whom came with us from the States, and several others from Belize.
Along with working closely with The Belize Zoo, our class ventured into the field on multiple occasions – one of my favorites being an early morning birding trip in search of the critically endangered yellow-headed parrot. That dawn hike was exceptionally exciting, and not just for my research group who had never seen wild yellow-headed parrots before… but also for Jamal, the Director of Education at The Belize Zoo, and alum of Project Dragonfly. He’s been working diligently to collect data on critical habitat for yellow-headed parrots, and hoped to have our class assist with his data collection. The Belize Zoo is currently fundraising to purchase an area of land that acts as a “corridor” for wildlife to move from one section of a rainforest to another. If the land is purchased and developed, it could prove devastating for the animals that rely on it. Jamal is hoping to show that yellow-headed parrots use the area, so the area is more likely to remain protected. Before sending us out in search, Jamal told us he typically sees one to two individuals at a time, but sometimes none at all. As the morning progressed, though, my group became increasingly energized. At the end of our data collection period, we had seen fourteen individuals, and heard two. In other words, in a forty-five-minute window, we observed roughly one percent of the total population of yellow-headed parrots in Belize. We were amazed. Our amazement turned to giddy excitement after sharing our data with Jamal, and seeing his genuine astonishment. This moment was particularly defining for me, because it reminded me that everywhere I go there are “wildlife warriors,” like Jamal, fighting for the animals they share a backyard with. I may not have yellow-headed parrots roosting in my backyard, but Jamal does… and he gave me a newfound respect for the wildlife I have at home.
That morning field expedition was a favorite of mine, but it’s only one example I saw of Belizeans getting involved and protecting their natural world. There are many more. Community participation in conservation is vital to making a difference in our world, and it was refreshing to see others fighting the same fight as I’ve been. Sometimes it may seem impossible… but then you meet people like Jamal and you realize we’re all in this together.
I won’t be happy unless I see new places, find fresh inspirations, and meet new people. Every day I grow increasingly eager that my journey in the Global Field Program has only just begun, and that my Belizean adventure was just the start of many incredible learning opportunities. My next Earth Expedition may be unknown, but one thing is for certain… my time with Project Dragonfly will allow me to see those new places, give me that fresh inspiration, and introduce me to dozens of incredible conservationists.
On to my next adventure,
Veronica