Zoo InternQuest is a career exploration program for high school students. For more information see the Zoo InternQuest Journals. For more photos see the Zoo InternQuest Photo Journal.

When Kristi Bruce, a bird keeper at the San Diego Zoo, told us that birds have more personality than any mammal she’s ever worked with, I had a hard time believing her at first. But after she introduced us to shy birds, impatient birds, inquisitive birds, decorated birds, birds with sass, and birds in love, I now have no doubt in my mind that being feathered comes with an exceptionally large package of personality.

As a keeper, it is Ms. Bruce’s job to cater to each bird’s attitude so that they can showcase their personalities to the public. Inside one of the Asian aviaries, we gloved up to take on the task of feeding one of the bird species. After taking a pinch of delicious-looking mealworms, our only instructions were to “throw them one at a time into the air.” Doubtfully, I tossed one unlucky mealworm into the empty air. Just as it was about to fall back to Earth, five birds swooped down to pluck the worm from its descent! Kristi Bruce and other avian keepers let the birds exhibit natural behaviors such as this so that visitors to the San Diego Zoo can be amazed by and enamored with what these feathered animals can do. More than this, keepers maintain the mental and physical health of the birds in this free-flight environment.

While we were feeding the birds, Ms. Bruce answered the questions of any inquisitive guest passing by, connecting them on a more personal level with the birds that need our help to survive in the wild. With one-on-one talks backed by a colorful chorus of birds, Ms. Bruce does wonders for the conservation of animals in the wild from within the Zoo’s aviaries.

Lauren, Conservation Team

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