Olivia Obert ’25 is a zoology major from Nashua, New Hampshire. She interned at Southwick’s Zoo in Mendon, Massachusetts and received a stipend from COLSA’s SOAR fund to support her experience.
The SOAR Fund supports undergraduate students by providing stipends that can be used to supplement unpaid internships or pay for transportation to interviews and career events. The SOAR Fund accepts applications year-round. While all COLSA students are invited to apply, applicants with financial need are strongly encouraged.
COLSA: Tell us about your internship.
Olivia Obert: I am a bird keeper and training intern. Each day, I clean enclosures both on display in the zoo and behind the scenes, I handle diet preparation and enrichment creation for the various species of birds who call the zoo home. I also assist in the educational bird shows put on at the zoo, as well as assisting staff in training sessions with birds to help establish and reinforce behaviors for both show and husbandry purposes.
COLSA: How did you find out about the internship?
Olivia: I'm always looking at the AZA [Association of Zoos and Aquariums] and ZAA [Zoological Association of America] job boards for open positions, as well as on the employment tabs of institutions more "local" to me. When I saw that Southwick's had a bird specific internship, I checked back almost every day for the application to open and applied the moment I saw it was.
COLSA: What attracted you to the position?
Olivia: When I was originally searching, most of the animal care internships I was seeing posted were broader in terms of animal care, but I was looking to get more experience with birds, as they are where my passion has always been strongly focused. Southwick's was appealing as not only did they offer a bird focused internship, it was obvious from prior visits and conversations with previous interns that they care about what they do and giving real, useful experience to the interns they take on.
"The professors at UNH have been some of my strongest supporters since day one. I have yet to find a professor that didn't want to help. They want to see us succeed, so don't be afraid to talk to them!"
COLSA: Looking back on what you’ve accomplished as an intern, what are you most proud of?
Olivia: I have a lot to be proud of as I begin to near the end of my internship. The two things I am most proud of are the amount I have expanded my knowledge on avian training and enrichment and getting to experience and be a part of the hand rearing of their Eurasian eagle owlet, Alexi. It was a new experience for interns and staff alike, and it gave me a real look into the development and learning curves in animal husbandry.
COLSA: What was the most valuable thing you learned?
Olivia: To give myself grace! I tend to have a bad habit of feeling the need to do everything perfectly on the first try, which bled into things like building my working relationships with the birds.
As I spent more time in my internship and received more advice from staff, I realized that I was putting way too much pressure on myself, and that growth won't necessarily be linear. Accepting that has allowed me to learn and grow much more in this position.
COLSA: In what way(s) has this experience impacted you?
Olivia: This internship has really helped me grow professionally in the zookeeping industry, in my knowledge of avian training and husbandry, as well as in my overall confidence. I am incredibly grateful to the bird department staff for giving me the kindness, mentorship and space to do so.
COLSA: Did you receive any awards or grants that made this internship possible?
Olivia: I received the COLSA SOAR Fund, which helped me pay for travel costs, which was especially helpful when my housing fell through and my commute became much further.
COLSA: Any advice for students looking for an internship?
Olivia: Don't be afraid to make leaps and take risks for opportunities if you're passionate about what the internship is offering! And if things don't happen the way you expect on the first try, be kind to yourself and don't get discouraged!
COLSA: Tell us something you love about UNH.
Olivia: The professors at UNH have been some of my strongest supporters since day one. Whether cheering me on when I started my very first internship working with penguins, or providing academic advice when I was struggling, I have yet to find a professor that didn't want to help. They want to see us succeed, so don't be afraid to talk to them!
