Volunteer Spotlight...Jane Ford

I’m a 2017 Spring graduate of the Coastal Master Naturalist program.

You could say I’ve been working and volunteering in the outdoors most of my life. I'm a ‘75 Masters in Outdoors Ed graduate from Indiana University; former assistant director of National Wildlife Federation’s Ranger Rick camp in WNC; 4yrs volunteering at Birds of Prey in the medical clinic; do yearly cleaning checks on Prothonotary Warbler nesting boxes at Audubon Swamp at Beidler Forest, and the past 7 yrs at Charlestowne Landing Historic State Park working in the Animal Forest.  I’ve helped with banding of Purple Martins on Isle of Palms with Jen Terrell and Mary Pringle, too, and hope to make that an annual experience.

Working at Birds of Prey got me up-close and personal with raptors. I was hooked!

Charlestowne Landing is a totally different experience. I'm no longer working to treat & release, but now contributing to the ongoing care of all the precious lives that call the Animal Forest home (numerous shorebirds, wolves, turkeys, vultures, raccoon, eagle, bobcats, deer, opossum, skunk, tortoises, goats, cows, pigs, sheep—and these are just the ones I work with each week!).
The Park is fortunate to have a very hands-on veterinarian whom keeps a close eye on all the residents each week. I’ve learned volumes working with him. That could be aiding to treat turkeys for mites and fleas, to becoming the recorder during a medical evaluation (sedating a wolf, weight check, physical exam, blood draw) to confirm healthiness for transfer.

At Charlestowne Landing I also get to work with Fletch, the black vulture. Training Fletch has been ongoing, training him to come to the glove and/or perch on command. My time in the Animal Forest fills my need to work with and take part in the lives of the animals there.

If anything, I’ve learned to expect the unexpected when dealing with animals, and volunteering fuels my ongoing respect and thrill for learning different behaviors of each new animal with which I come into contact.
It’s my awesome reward to just spend time with them.