Day 29

 So I haven't had a chance to update my blog very much because we are working 12 hour days now that the fair has started. The mornings consist of alot of husbandry and preparation for the first show and the afternoons consist of 4 30-45min shows 7 days a week. The first week of shows were a little slow but the crowds were surprisingly big. Our stadium can fit 5000 people i think and yesturday,it was a tuesday, we filled  a little over half that. Supposly the school system here gives kids a day off to see the fair. I think that is sooo weird.  It also helped that the OU and TexasU game was on saturday. It was a sea of red and orange drunk people. But it was great to see from the ferris wheel. I was sending the score back to the backstage crew as I was riding the ferris wheel. Overall, a successful first week at the fair.
 I have learned so much this far in to the internship like how to unload and load different species of birds, proper diets, husbandry, how things work behind the scenes during shows, proper training techniques and that every bird is different when it comes to their personalities. Granted that the days are really long, I still love being there.  One of my favorites jobs that I have is releasing birds from the texas star ferris wheel. The adrenline that builds during the release of the birds is huge. I posted two videos that were recorded this week of the release of two birds, Mason the harris hawk and Lakota the Lutisitc Redtail Hawk. So if you are interested in seeing a release just click :-)

Last night was great because I got to sit in a room with world renown trainers and pick their brains. Steve began his lecture of " The secrets of training". So far its extremely interesting. I think we are going to continue the lesson on thursday.

Alot of things have happened since the last time I update my blog. But for the most part my day schedule stays the same. I am having an amazing time here in dallas and I love working with everyone here. But reality is setting in. I am heading back to va beach in 16 days and a month after that I will have no job, no house, and will be offically divorced. I am to the point where I just want to stay here in texas. Life is perfect here for me and I dont want to leave. Finding jobs in the animal training world is so hard but I know this is exactly what I want to do as a career. So I am working my butt off to prove to the NEI staff that I am a valuable investment to their company and just maybe I can get a start with them or someone they know. I just cant imagine doing anything else with my life. I am trying to stay as positive as possible but sometimes the weight of this divorce brings me down.  I guess its just one obstacle that will take time to get over.

To make matters worse the attack of the student loans are coming out in full power. I think they call my phone 15 times a day. They are not understanding that I have no income right now. But the only help they can offer me is to pay a large sum and then I have to still pay in November. Ahh!

Well time to go do laundry :-)  But if anyone wants to send me cards or packages I am going to post my Address on here

Katherine Byers (RM 212)
Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham
7900 Brooksriver Drive
Dallas, TX 75247

 I love and Miss everyone and I look forward to sitting down with everyone to share my dallas stories.  Thanks everyone for your cards. I love them and I am starting a nice collection on my wall.
More updates to come...

Day 10:

 So today was the first day off since I have started here on 9/7. This day off was sooooo needed and it felt great to sleep all day. These past couple days have been amazing. Training has really kicked in to gear preparing for the upcoming show next week. All the birds are doing amazing and have progressed a long way since they started their training.
My typical day usually starts with basic husbandry. This includes cleaning enclosures and preparing diets of all the birds on site. This usually takes all of the morning to complete so lunch break comes pretty fast. After lunch is usually the peak training time. So if there aren't any projects needing to be done then we are allowed to watch the sessions. I have been updating my facebook daily with pictures of all the sessions.
I am also beginning to make friends with the staff here. Everyone seems to be extremely accepting and its very cool to talk with people with the same passion as me.

 Tonight we are all going to the dallas zoo to play a prank on the hoof stock keepers.. So I will have pictures posted either tonight or tomorrow.

 I have also started on my skype account now so ifyou are missing my face feel free to shoot me a message or video call. Kat. Byers is my ID and Lovablekitty2000@yahoo.com . So look me up..

Time to run.. But one of these days I will actually have time to keep this up to date lol.

Day 3

 What a great day!.. Today I got to see Steve Martin work his magic TWICE. The first time was with some corbids (Ravens and Crows). They were having issues coming near the bird door at the bottom which is used to load them in to travel crates. Steve started small with just stepping in and giving them small amounts of food through the bigger door. He did this a couple time before he moved down to the ground with them. He finally got the birds to be right in front of the bird door without them freaking out. It was crazy. This took all of maybe 15 mins. It was sooooo cool.  The next event was with a hornbill. This hornbill had never worked with steve so as soon as he stepped in to the birds enclosure the bird jump back in to the far corner to get as far as he could from him. So steve understood that behavior and stepped out and closed the door. The little steps were needed. Steve started with giving the bird blueberries (Her favorite) in her bowl. He waited for her to take the fruit from the dish before placing more in there. Once the bird was okay with steve being right there, steve moved to the front of the enclosure and open the door handing her a blueberry. Once she took it he would close the door. Steve repeated this step 7 more times . Once he noticed he had her trust he stepped in and started giving her fruit while he was in her space. She was perfectly fine. He even began to let her head fall backwards to allow steve to give her scratches.. It was soooo cute and so amazing. He had never worked with this bird and within 10 mins she was allowing him to touch her.  I couldn't believe what I was seeing. The connection that they had at the moment was strong. Steve believes that the relationship with the birds should be a partnership not a battle of who is dominate. This thought would be great for relationships with animals or people.  The rest of the day the gang and I worked on getting 500lb tents up  and putting up their heavy siding. We also discovered how mean Red Ants truly are and how fast they can react to intruders. They litterally covered about 2x6 feet area. Looked like a streak of red covering the tent. One thing I learned about fire ants is that they dont all bite randomly, one ant will send out a chemical cue telling everyone to bite at one time. So not only are you getting attached by ants you are getting I nice bite from every freaking one of them at the same time.. Freaking sucked. Around 6pm we called it a night a went home. Interns decided to do left overs for everyone so we just chilled again with a cold beer and good company. However, I was exhausted so I went to bed early.  Truly was an inspiring day.

Day 2

First day at work.. It was great. It was only my self, 1 staff member and 2 other interns there because the other staff had the next two days off. The work day went fast because we had alot to get done. Unfortunetly, the tropical storm was moving through so we did it all in pouring down rain.  I looked like a hot mess . One of the assignments that we had was to do food prep so we watch jose (Staff) show us the proper way to do things and the amounts each bird gets.  Also got to see a training session with the ravens and crows. These birds are soooo smart but their current issue involves their new enclosures. They are not liking the Bird door attached to them. So Jose tried to get them more comfortable by feeding them around the door. They were way to scared to even come close. Another big project that we had was building a weathering tent for the Birds of Prey when the rest showed up.  The top part of this tent was sooo heavy and the rain didn't help at all. We ended up leaving the top part of the tent so we could do small repairs the next day when we returned.  On this day we also got to try a new resturant. Its called One podner. It was real southern cooking lol but it was good.  I praying the so called dallas 10 doesn't catch up with me lol. Good thing I am poor haha. After work the other interns and I decided that we are going to cook dinner for everyone.  So we all went back to our apartments and cleaned up so we could go shopping for supplies. While I was in the shower a huge tornado touched down two miles from our apartment. It was so big that it made the news and all my friends and family were texting me to see if I was okay. I swear I did not hear the alarms go off. I was so surprised because It could have been worse and closer to my place. My guardian angel was surely looking out for me that day. We finally got to the store and bought our stuff then returned back to the apartment.  We ended up having spaghetti, chicken, and a nice salad.  It really hit the spot after a long day at work.  It was really nice to sit back with a beer and socialize with the staff as well.  Finally hopped in to bed about 11pm. It was a great day.

Day 1

 I finally arrived in Dallas Texas around 3:30pm. Flight was good but because of the tropical storm that was moving through it was really bumpy. Read my book "Wesley the Owl" (Amazing book!)  and listened to music.  I was picked up soon after I landed by Marco a staff member for NEI (Natural Encounter Inc.).   We left the airport and went to the fair grounds to see the spot that I will be working for the next six weeks. I meet some ofter staff members and of course Steve Martin himself. I was so nervous but he was very nice. Once 5 pm hit we packed up and went to the apartments. I first had to check in when we arrived  and figure out where my room was located. The apartments are pretty cool. I took the bedroom on the second floor and I love it. Kinda a loft set up were as my roommate has the first floor room.  After getting settled in I went over to another staff members apartment with everyone to enjoy a beer and get to know each other a little better.  It was a great night but I was soooo happy to go to bed.

9 days left

 Looking around the house I am noticing so many things that still need to be taken care of.  Part of me wants to jump right in and just packing things away but the other part of me doesn't want to. It really shouldn't be this hard for me. I am getting the chance to do something amazing and career changing but the only thing I am thinking about at this time is how much I am going to miss my friends, family and animals.  I just wish I could take them with me to texas. Pack them up in my suitecase just in case I need my support system. I can honestly say I have never been away from family ever. I have always had someone there that was only a car ride away.   My animals are a different story... I am going to miss them like crazy. I know I will have people here in virginia beach taken care of them but I still worry. These animals truly mean the world to me.

  I guess I just wish that I wasn't so afraid to be doing this alone.

On a positive note... I had a great day yesturday. Went with mom and her friend to ECSC (East Coast Surfing Competition) to support my step sister in the swim suit contest and Josh Turner Concert. Sooo much fun just hanging out and absorbing virginia beach at its best.

Erin has the Orange Flower in her Hair

Actual Surfing portion of the Weekend Event.. MMMM surfers

Mom and I on the Beach

And of course Delicious Josh Turner...

And to top the night off had a great conversation with my  buuuuudddy. Its great to have such a good friend that had so much in common with me. FTW

Alright.. Time to go for a run and then pack or vice versa.. Depends on this heat

Song of the Day: Kings and Queens by 30 seconds to Mars

Texas State Fair

 Here is the website of the Texas State Fair. I will be working with the Birds of the World Staff. So if you are in town or know people in town send them over :-) From what I hear this show is pretty good.
http://www.bigtex.com/sft/
"Steve Martin's free-flight BIRDS OF THE WORLD showcases feathered friends from around the globe + a singing showstopper. Four shows daily in the Band Shell. Sponsored by Kroger. FREE."

Introduction to my Life

 So I am starting my life...I have accepted an internship in Dallas, Texas and I depart Sept 7th. I am so nervous about this trip because I can honestly say that I have never truly been on my own. So this is a brand new adventure for me and I can't wait to start it.  In the past year so much has happened to get me where I am today. All though a lot of it was very hard for me, i feel that I have pulled through this with a new confidence in myself. I have gained new friends and discover new romances that mean the world to me. My goal for this blog is to give my mind a break from all the thoughts flowing through me as well introduce the new me to the world.
      As of a couple weeks ago my internship in Dallas, Texas didn't exist. My supervisor at the Virginia Aquarium suggested to me to look in to this company called Natural Encounters Inc. when I express my passion for animal training.  So as soon as I got home I looked up the company and wrote an e-mail to Steve Martin himself (Not the actor lol). Here is a copy of the letter that I sent him. I have took out last names of some people mentioned just to be safe.
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Attn: Steve Martin:
My Name is Katherine Christine Byers. I am 24 years old and will be graduating from Old Dominion University in August with my undergraduate degree in Biology and minor in Oceanography. Currently I am doing an internship at the Virginia Aquarium working with the animal ambassadors. My supervisor is Carol Ann C.  and she is the Conservation Education Specialist there. She is also the one that suggested to me to contact you about doing an internship or even employment. As an Intern, I have been working  closely with Carol Ann learning everything that I can about animal handling and training. So far I have been participating in training session with turkey vultures, sugar gliders, and a cockatoo. These session consisted of cues like asking for a vocal response, movement towards a particular position, and asking for a body part. I have also been taught how to observe an animal and it's behavior that way I can understand their behavior and how they are feeling during the session.


I love the fact that animal training is kind of like a foreign language between myself and the animal. Using this language allows me to communicate with them by giving familiar cues. Most of the time the animal completely understands what I am asking by following through on the behavior .In addition, I also enjoy bridging the animal and letting them know that the action they just performed was done correctly and that I am so proud of them. I can't explain the feeling that I get when I give a brand new cue and the animal performs it. But I have also learned that patience is very important and it's takes time to build the animals trust. The whole process to me is just completely amazing and it drives me to learn as much as I can about it.


After learning everything that I have thus far about training, I have begun working with my personal animals at home. I can see a huge behavioral change in my own dog, making things so much easy around the house and its great! She seems to be loving the extra attention and the reinforcements seem to be a plus as well.


During my time at the aquarium I have become even more passionate about animal training and how beneficial it can be when working with animals. I would love to continue this as a career and I would love to learn from the best. It would mean the world to me if I could work with you and learn even more about animal training. I am willing to give 110% and would thrive completing any challenges you would give me. I am outgoing and love animals so I believe this career path is perfect for me.


Currently I reside in Virginia Beach, Virginia but I am willing to relocate for any position. I am officially done with my last class on August 13th. So if you decide to give me a chance to prove that this career choice is perfect for me and my dreams then I can leave right after my final that day. I really do want this and it would mean the world to me to have this opportunity. I encourage you to call my supervisor and ask her about me. She actually went to one of your seminars and enjoyed everything about it. She even said it gave her chills to hear about one of your experiences you talked about. So I am sure she would love to hear from you. Thank you so much for taken the time to read this and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,


Katherine C. Byers
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 About a week later I had a response to my letter asking me when we could set up an interview. I was so excited. I couldn't believe that someone actually read my letter. Totally amazing! After doing two interviews with them I was finally offered my position.
 
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Hey Katherine,
I was wondering if you would except the intern position with NEI in Dallas for the Birds of the World show this fall?
Amy
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 I was 1 out of 3 people chosen from the US and there were also 3 from outside the states. So being selected as an intern is a huge deal.  Now I am just enjoying my last 10days here with my friends and family before I leave for 6 weeks.

My goal at the end of this internship is to absorb as much as I can and Impress the hell out of them. It will be interesting to see where this step will lead me.

Song of the Day: Beautiful Tragedy by In This Moment