March Volunteer Newsletter
As the weather warms, the birds are singing, the flowers are blooming, and that means there is a growing need for helping hands at Tracy Aviary and Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai. Here are just a few of the many faces we’ve seen around our campuses this past month. As always, we are incredibly grateful for our volunteers—Tracy Aviary and the Nature Center wouldn’t be the vibrant places they are without your support. If you or a group would like to get involved, please visit our website for more information: https://tracyaviary.org/ways-to-support/volunteer/.
Planting trees and shrubs around the base station with Youth Build Group.
Youth Build Group posing in front of the amphitheater at Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai.
Our volunteers, Zack and Logan, are gearing up for the Seed and Scion Swap at Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai on March 15. Over 300 people attended this event!
A group of 75 volunteers participated in Utah State University’s Environmental Science Planting Day by planting over 200 native species around Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai on March 29.
One of our volunteers, Denise, is spreading mulch at Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai.
Planting trees at our nature center for Utah State University’s Environmental Science Planting Day.
Volunteer Jaz is laying out various seeds for the Seed and Scion Swap at Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai.
Volunteer Spotlight of the Month
March’s volunteer spotlight is Terry Curling. Terry is from Dover, England, and he has been living in Utah for 47 years. Terry has been volunteering with us since 2020, which makes him one of our longest and most dedicated volunteers at the Nature Center at Pia Okwai. Is it any surprise that Terry is our star standout of the month?
What is your favorite season, Terry?
I enjoy Spring because everything is fresh and new. It really greens up.
What is your favorite thing to do in Utah?
I like to visit the mountains. The Uintas are nice; I like it up there.
What is your favorite bird?
I have a lot of Juncos at my house, and I enjoy watching them. They’re not as common as sparrows, who are kind of annoying because they eat so much food. The Juncos are much more friendly.
Why did you choose to volunteer at the nature center?
I like to support the community, and Tracy Aviary needs the support. The people at the aviary are friendly and fun to work with, and they do a great job of showing their appreciation for their volunteers, like with the volunteer banquet every year. That means a lot to us.
What is your favorite thing to grow in the garden?
I love growing vegetables in general, but I especially like tomatoes, peas, squash, lettuce, spinach. I don’t like eggplant too much. I have some fruit trees, as well. I grow apples and peaches.
What is a message that you’d like to share?
I’d like to see the environment improved in the city because it’s where most people live. You see a lot of trash in the streets. I’d like to see more natural landscaping, finding ways to conserve water, and reducing the amount of artificial turf and rock. There’s also too many people growing weeds because they don’t care about gardening, and we should find a way to clean that up.