By: Ethan Haiduc-Dale, Former NJSOC Education Intern
As the summer of 2026 comes to a close, I have no hesitation in proclaiming that I truly loved my internship with the NJSOC. My days spanned the ultimate spectrum of work, ranging from the intellectual thrill of designing my own avian research project to the backbreaking glory of shoveling endless mounds of soil and gravel alongside the maintenance crew. When I wasn’t testing my shoveling skills, I was knee-deep in data entry for numerous projects, regularly feeding the Educational Ambassador Animals, and figuring out how to troubleshoot and install the new bird-identifying Terra Listens unit.
None of these wild days would have been the same without the incredible people around me. Working alongside my fellow intern Chloe was an absolute highlight, especially getting to admire the process of her painting her stunning mural. Additionally, my time with Tanya, Allyson, Aliza and Bern was not only super informative, but genuinely fun, they offered a level of support that made every task feel not only doable, but genuinely engaging.
A major highlight of my time here was turning my passion for birds and the forestry knowledge I gained from field work with Professor Frank Gallagher into my capstone project: the NJSOC Forest Bird Survey. I designed the procedure and created a custom datasheet to compare avian richness across different forest typologies present on the NJSOC Campus. I was able to collect data across several separate days and am already formulating ways to return and build on this research.
I am deeply thankful for everything I’ve learned during this experience. This role has sharpened my technical abilities in field work, data entry, and data analysis, while strengthening my skills in project design, student instruction, and time management. Beyond the professional growth, this experience offered fantastic support to me during a challenging time in my life.
I’m excited to take these lessons into my next chapter as I continue building on my love and knowledge of our natural world. I will definitely miss the team at NJSOC, but I look forward to using everything I’ve gained here as I move forward!
