How The NOU Impacted Me by Kadynn

How The NOU Impacted Me by Kadynn - December 2019 Scholarship Essay

The Nebraska Ornithology Union is a group of ‘birders’ from across the state of Nebraska. Birding is a competitive hobby where one tries to find as many species of birds as possible for their county, state and country. I first learned of this unusual sport when a friend of mine and local member of the NOU led a helpful presentation on how to identify bird species followed by a field trip.
I was hooked. I rapidly fell in love with birding. The thrill of not knowing what species you'll find next never grows dim. The NOU has impacted me in numerous ways, my appreciation for nature has grown tremendously. I now love getting outdoors and exploring nearby lakes and grasslands in hopes of getting that next species.
After joining the NOU, I have thankfully lost interest in video games and now invest all my free time immersed in nature and birding. The joy of hiking through local parks and forest have made me healthier. I can now walk several miles as I eagerly explore nature in search of birds. Fortunately, I have had the opportunity to pay this forward by assisting a middle schooler who recently joined the NOU to sharpen his identification skills who accompanies me while birding.
Through the quest of finding our feathered friends I have been lucky enough to travel to over half of the states and even Central America where I had an eye opening experience of what life is like inside a different country. I was fascinated by the Mayan history we learned while exploring impressive ruins and massive temples. As you can imagine the biodiversity of the ecosystem was unfathomably stunning.
After being an NOU member for nearly three years, I have been inspired by fellow club members to become an ornithologist and help lead the way for future bird research and conservation.