December 2008 Newsletter - Young Birders Profile
Spotlight on Emily Draeger, age 13

Golden Wings - What year did you start birding?
Emily Draeger – 2008.

GW - What or who got you interested in birds?
ED - My family went to Magee Marsh.

GW Have you had birding mentors or heroes who helped you?
ED – Sarah Winnicki the Ohio Young Birders Club.

GW - Do you have a favorite bird, and if so, what is it and what makes it your favorite?
ED - The Gray Catbird. It involves my favorite animal.

GW - Where is you favorite place to bird?
ED - I don't really have a preference.

GW - What bird would you most like to see, and why?
ED - I just like to see the different types of birds. I don't have a rare species of bird that I would like to see specifically.

GW - Are you interested in any other natural science areas besides birds?
ED - I like animals and waterfalls.

GW - Do you have any other interests/hobbies?
ED - I like to read and play volleyball. I like movies and music. I like to volunteer.

GW - Are any of your friends or family members birders? If not, how do you handle that?
ED - I don't really have any family or friends into birding.

GW - In your experience, what do most people your age think about birding? And if their view of birding isn't totally positive, what can we do to change that?
ED - Not many people my age like to go birding. Now that they have cell phones and the computer, they don't want to get outside in their community for birding.

GW - How could we get more young people interested in Nature?
ED - I really don't have an answer to that.

GW - Do you think the Internet can help foster a community of young birders, and if so, how?
ED - Yes, I think that the Internet could help because many teens/kids go online at least once a day. I know that I sometimes am bored and I type in random words and see what I can come up with. Maybe some teen/kid will type in birds or birding clubs and find the websites on birding and become hooked!

GW - If you could go anyplace in the world to see a bird, where would you go and what bird would you look for?
ED - I would go to Australia and see an ostrich.

GW - Besides the OYBC, what other organizations do you belong to?
ED - I am involved in Girls in Science, Peer Tutoring, Carillon Historical Park Volunteer, and Volleyball.

GW - Where do you go to school?
ED - St. Albert the Great Catholic School.

GW - Do you plan to go to college, and if so, have you thought of where?
ED - I have a few colleges that I would like to go to.

GW - What is your dream job?
ED - My dream job is becoming a teacher of the first or second grade. I have thought of being a park ranger. That is one of my possibilities.

GW - What kind of music do you like?
ED - I like all types of music. My favorite is soft rock.

GW - Do you have a favorite book, and if so, what is it?
ED - I am a mystery lover and I love the Nancy Drew books!

GW - Do you have a favorite movie, and if so, what is it and why?
ED - My favorite movie is Cinderella. I like all Disney movies but Cinderella is my favorite!!

GW – What’s your favorite place to eat or favorite type of food?
ED - My favorite food is tuna fish. I love tuna fish!

GW - What are your favorite Web sites?
ED - bizkids.com and csitheexperience.org and I also like many others but I don't have enough room to list them all!

GW - Do you have any pets, and if so, what are they?
ED - I do not have any pets. I have had fish, but nothing more than that.

GW - Do you volunteer anywhere?
ED - I volunteer at Carillon Historical Park and at my school.

GW - Are you involved with any birding or Nature projects?
ED - No I am not involved with any birding or Nature projects other than OYBC.

GW - Do you keep a life list, and, if so, how many birds are on it?
ED - No I do not keep a life list. Maybe I should start one!

GW - Has becoming a member of the OYBC changed birding for you? If so, can you describe or explain how?
ED - Becoming a member of the OYBC has changed me a lot. I really enjoy the trips that we go on, I have so many extraordinary people my age who are also interested in birding, and it's made my life more complete. I have to thank my parents for finding out about OYBC!

GW - Besides the monthly field trips and annual conference that we schedule, what else can the OYBC offer to their members?
ED - I think that the OYBC offers enough. I haven't been to many of the trips or meetings, so I don't really know what the birders could use or not use.