Denali found her way to the Cornell Raptor Program (CRP) in 2018 after injuring her right wing in a car accident. Though her rehabilitators initially thought she would be released, they soon realized her injury was more debilitating than they thought and transferred her to the CRP. Not only does the program provide care for non-releasable birds, it also gives Cornell undergraduate students and community members an opportunity to become involved directly with conservation efforts for birds of prey.
Marin entered the program in 2019, and after a year of training, began hand-feeding Harrison the Red-shouldered Hawk in 2020. Handfeeding is a big commitment for CRP members, who come to the barn multiple times a week to prepare diets, feed and practice behavioral training with their bird.
A semester after beginning to work with Harrison, Marin was introduced to Denali. She was struck by how beautiful the owl was. “I was drawn to Denali immediately. Her soulful eyes, tentative behavior and curiosity spurred me to want to get to know her.”
As a cautious bird, it took months for Denali to recognize and feel comfortable with Marin. She began to gain the snowy owl’s trust by placing food in Denali’s room and immediately walking back out. After a few months of getting Denali to know her, Marin practiced staying in Denali’s room for a few minutes. Over time, Marin was encouraged to bring in new equipment and toys for Denali to play with.
Marin’s main focus with Denali centers on comfort and enrichment. “Denali is very cautious! She’s always hesitant about foreign objects and takes time to get used to them. I rotate objects in and out to show Denali that there’s nothing to be afraid of.” Some of Denali’s favorites include big braided dog toys, tissue paper and a squeaky panda. Marin practices placing Denali’s food in boxes of tissue paper, emptied egg cartons and recycled drink containers for Denali’s enjoyment.
For Marin, the most challenging part of her time with Denali has been trying to understand the owl’s behaviors and facial expressions. Marin’s former mentor, Maia Edwards, who previously worked with Denali, taught her how Denali’s expressive eyes, eyebrows and positions on perches are indicative of how she was feeling that day. Over time, she noticed tiny changes that made Denali uncomfortable— outside noises or foreign objects were typically the cause. Marin was also keen to listen to Denali’s beak noises as they were another sign of discomfort.
Marin looks back on her time with Denali fondly. She’s eager to see Denali with her new hand feeders and is excited to see her grow. In a perfect world, Marin envisions Denali being comfortable with anyone, going on education programs and using her partially flighted behavior to work on a creance (a rope placed outside to simulate flight and allow birds to have time outdoors).
Denali has been a comfort to Marin throughout her entire Cornell career. From her time with Denali, Marin has realized how important it is to be grateful for the small things and that progress looks different for everyone. Marin is excited to embark on her next adventure in extension and outreach after graduation. “Wherever I go, I know my connection with Denali will leave a lasting impact. I am excited to see what the future holds for my career and Denali too!”
Caroline Stamm ’24 is an Animal Science major and student writer for the Cornell CALS Department of Animal Science.
