RB: May I ask how old you are?
Mali: 14
RB: How long have you been volunteering at Ravensbeard?
Mali: I have been volunteering since Summer 2023, so two years.
RB: How did you find Ravensbeard and what drove you to volunteer there?
Mali: A few years ago, I found four baby wrens in the grass in our yard, while walking to our pool. I did not see a nest to put them back in. We had the Christmas Owl book, so I knew about Ellen and Ravensbeard. We called her and she told us to bring them to Ravensbeard. Once there Ellen gave me a tour and invited me to feed them and return to help take care of them. I already loved birds and was a member of Young Birders Club of NY. Ellen seemed impressed at how much knowledge of birds I already had. What really surprised her was when we got to Sequoia’s cage, a Great Horned Owl, she flew close to me and hooted, so I responded back. Sequoia and I had a long conversation back and forth and Ellen was stunned because Sequoia normally doesn’t interact with strangers like that. Later that summer, I was on a hike and I heard peeping by the porta potty at Poet’s Walk trail head and found another group of baby wrens. Once again, I brought them to Ravensbeard and Ellen allowed me visit and help to take care of those baby birds, too. I found out I loved helping rehab birds, and asked Ellen if I could volunteer, and she said yes. From then on, I started volunteering once a week on Fridays shadowing Jessica.
RB: I understand you are being homeschooled. How has volunteering at Ravensbeard fit in with your studies? What are some of the memorable lessons that you learned at Ravensbeard?
Mali: Ravensbeard has been part of my science lessons for school. I’ve learned a lot. Many times, during my volunteer hours, Ellen would need to help an injured bird and she let me assist. I’ve learned how to give medicine, splint and bandage legs and wings. I’ve helped dissect the brain of a bird and whole body of a Barred Owl. For school I would keep a journal of what I learned on each visit and then draw what animal I helped with that day. Also, sometimes when I got home my mom would help me research more about the animals or the questions Jessica or Ellen gave me. When Siena, our resident Red-Tailed Hawk, had Bumble Foot, I gave my research to Ellen, which actually helped her care for her. Being homeschooled, I’ve had more flexibility in my schedule to volunteer during the day. One important lesson is when helping injured birds is that death is natural but it’s OK to be sad about an animal passing away.
RB: What do you enjoy doing the most at Ravensbeard?
Mali: Many things! My favorite is interacting with all the rescued animals like feeding them, helping hold them, giving food and medicine. I also enjoy giving tours and assisting at education events with Jessica and Ellen.
RB: On a day we happened to overlap volunteering, the first thing you did when you came in was to give Opie a bath. I found that to be incredibly sweet. Did you do that often?
Mali: Yes, I gave Opie a bath a lot. I felt bad when I came and saw his tail black from his poop. I certainly didn’t want that dirty tail wrapped around my arm. He didn’t really enjoy his baths. We used baby shampoo and two different tubs because usually in the first one when we’d start, he would poop, so it became a joke that we always scared the sh*t out of him, and then we needed to move him to the next tub to clean him up and finish the bath. He always got nice and clean, then smelled nice with his hair fluffy and his tail would be white again.
RB: Do you miss Opie? What were some of your favorite moments with him?
Mali: Yes, I really loved Opie, holding him and having him cuddle up, and showing him at events. Opie first came after I started volunteering so I got to see him grow up at Ravensbeard. I had a small pink harness that I would use on my stuffed animals that I gave to Ellen for Opie. At first, he was even too small for it but he grew into it and I got to walk him around outside in it. One memory that I laugh about now but not when it happened was when I was feeding him a leftover mouse, he was so excited that when I put it in front of him, he grabbed it right out of my hand and nipped my finger. I learned my lesson to drop them in his cage fast.
RB: Funny, I had a similar experience. He can be fast when he wants to. I heard you volunteer at other animal welfare organizations. Can you tell us more about that?
Mali: I also volunteer at Pony Up Rescue Collective in Tivoli. The horses there have either been abused, overworked, abandoned or from the kill market. The founder, Kelsey finds the horses. She is very caring and will bid at auctions as much as she can to get the horse released. Then, on the farm, volunteers help her with feeding, mucking, training, and socializing them to then find loving homes. She teaches volunteers so many things about horses. I’ve been able to teach her about birds and nests because there are so many barn swallows and house finches in the barn.
RB: What are your goals & aspirations for the future?
Mali: One of my major goals is to be a bird and wildlife rehabber. I am determined to get my license when I am 16. I want to keep volunteering at Ravensbeard along with riding horses. Maybe someday I’d like to go to veterinary school and have more chances to keep working with Ellen.
RB: You are an impressive young lady. Thank you.
Question for Adrienne, Mali’s mother
RB: How has volunteering at Ravensbeard helped with Mali’s development?
Adrienne: When Mali graduated from elementary school she was burned out of traditional public school. She also has a visual processing disorder, making it challenging to participate in our district’s classes using their Mac books. So, we knew we had to do something different for her middle school education. Mali does best with hands on learning, especially with subjects that she has a natural interest in. She also likes to be active and gets bored sitting at a desk doing busy work. Ravensbeard along with her other homeschool classes and programs has kept Mali engaged in her own education. The excitement of learning is still alive in her and volunteering at Ravensbeard has helped keep that spark. It has also helped build her confidence in her own mental and physical capabilities. We are extremely grateful to Ellen and Jessica allowing her to have this unique opportunity and education.