{"id":411,"date":"2021-05-12T16:58:56","date_gmt":"2021-05-12T20:58:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/perlutlab\/?p=411"},"modified":"2021-05-12T20:57:32","modified_gmt":"2021-05-13T00:57:32","slug":"alumni-guest-blog-by-kylee-dimaggio-grassland-songbirds-and-marine-mammals-have-more-in-common-than-you-might-think","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.une.edu\/perlutlab\/2021\/05\/alumni-guest-blog-by-kylee-dimaggio-grassland-songbirds-and-marine-mammals-have-more-in-common-than-you-might-think\/","title":{"rendered":"Alumni guest blog by Kylee DiMaggio: Grassland songbirds and marine mammals have more in common than you might think…."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When I was in high school, attending the dreaded career fairs, I remember feeling intense conflict within myself. In my mind there were two paths and I had to choose only one: I was either going to be a dentist or a marine biologist. Strange, I know. I grew up watching my parents struggle to make ends meet, and I desperately wanted to break out of those struggles as an adult. I was conflicted between giving myself the life I craved growing up and pursuing my passion.  Without the lectures about pursuing happiness from my high school band teacher, I would definitely be a dentist. Instead, I am entering a career in marine mammal science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Kylee DiMaggio (Environmental Science and Marine Science class of 2019′) with a male Bobolink in Vermont. Kylee is a research assistant at the University of Florida in the School of Natural Resources and Environment, pursing a Masters in Interdisciplinary Ecology. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The path to where I am now was not at all easy. There were several times during my undergraduate career that I genuinely thought I would have to drop my marine science major (darn you, organic chemistry!). Other times, I felt like my dream of working with marine mammals was unattainable. I truly would not be here without the constant support and guidance from Noah, even through the MANY times I cried in his office, stressed about my future. Noah taught me many lessons and helped me to better balance my professional and personal stresses. I\u2019d like to think I taught him something as well: always keep tissues for crying students in your office!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I met Noah in the spring of 2016 in his Conservation and Preservation class in which he spoke enthusiastically about his summer field work in Vermont. As a double major in marine biology and environmental science, I saw this as an opportunity to expand my skill set in the terrestrial environment. At this time, I really had no interest or background knowledge in ornithology. Now, I have a Bobolink tattooed on my calf! Noah took a leap of faith with me, and I dove headfirst into his grassland project, just 30 minutes from my hometown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I spent two full summers on the project and returned as often as I could in the following years. The first was a whirlwind. I had never actively watched birds and there I was on my first day with a bird in my hand! Don\u2019t get me wrong, it was hard work and sometimes I went weeks without finding a nest, but there was something so empowering about opening up the grass and seeing those tiny naked birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To say this project changed my life is not an exaggeration (Noah is reading this and thinking: there Kylee goes with another sappy thank you). I know it seems unlikely that working with birds had a direct correlation to working with marine mammals now; if you had told me this was my path in high school, I would never have believed you. During my time on this project, I learned what my interests were outside of my intended study species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Something I wish had resonated with me more as an undergraduate student was that good things take time. This is yet another lesson Noah taught me. As a senior, I was anxious to enter graduate school right away. When that opportunity didn\u2019t present itself, honestly, I felt like a failure. Now, I see it as a blessing. If I had settled, I would not have found the opportunity that I have now. Which is a project that will propel me into a career studying what I am interested in AND working with my target species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Kylee DiMaggio banding songbirds in the Kakamega Forest with the Kakamega Environmental Education Programme (KEEP) in western Kenya in 2019.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the technical skills and career advice this project and Noah taught me, I found a strong system of support in the birding community. I met people that are now some of my most treasured friends and gained a huge appreciation for the birds along the way. Sharing my love for birds has been a joy and during my study abroad in Kenya, I was proudly \u201cthe birder\u201d of the group. I\u2019ll leave off with a few lessons I learned from this project and the birds: 1) Never settle, good things take time; 2) Take the chance to experience new things, even if they don\u2019t seem to be up your ally; 3) ALWAYS wear your rain pants!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Kylee DiMaggio banding songbirds in Kenya in 2019.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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