Meet an AWC Volunteer: Scottie Jackson

Scottie began her volunteer career at the Alabama Wildlife Center after checking out a Black & White article with a list of places to volunteer free time. As a biology student at Samford intent on veterinary school, AWC fit into her schedule well and she spent at least one or two days a week volunteering a shift or even an entire day.

Scottie has expanded her interests to include anything she could do to help wildlife. Volunteering here has also influenced her career focus. Now as a graduate student in Samford’s Environmental Management Program, Scottie has plans to help wildlife and the environment. Scottie currently works with Environmental Education and Birds of Prey at the Alabama 4-H Center.

Scottie has become an invaluable volunteer. Not once but twice, Scottie served AWC during Baby Songbird season as a full-time Intern. After a spring/summer of constantly satiating open mouths, she returned as a seasoned veteran for a second summer and assisted the program by helping not only to feed the babies but also helped with songbird medical care, enclosure habitating, release preparation and planning, natural history research and training.

A volunteer with many hats, Scottie assists with not only animal care as a Clinical Technician every Sunday, but also with a variety of other tasks. Up to any challenge an injured raptor presents, she has spent many hours on the road rescuing and transporting injured birds. She is also a trained member of our warehouse rescue team and our reunite team for both songbirds and raptors. In addition to rescue, Scottie also helps recovered patients return to their homes or to find a new one at her home, which happens to be located in a bird sanctuary. Scottie volunteers at our special events and assists with pretty much anything needed whenever her school schedule allows. Bright and cheerful, she helps every month with new volunteer orientation. As one of the newest members of the Education Bird Program, you can find Scottie volunteering on Mondays with Natchez, Coosa or Ireland.

Thank you Scottie for all your hard work and dedication!