Volunteer Spotlight - Frances Mielach

This month we shine the volunteer spotlight on Frances Mielach! She first found our organization when she brought in an injured bird. Frances bumped into our Director of Rehabilitation, Cathy Malok, who helped shed some light on what we do here. Feeling inspired, she went home and applied to become a volunteer right away. Her favorite part of getting to be here is seeing the releases! The beauty of watching our patients fly free again makes all this hard work worth it. Fran is a devoted volunteer: helping train newcomers, donating supplies, and always looking to help in whatever way she can. Whether it's meticulously organizing things in the infirmary or staying after her shift is done for all the finishing touches, she truly goes above and beyond in every way. She loves all birds, wild and domestic, but is partial to owls and makes sure to visit our resident owls whenever she is here. The most important bird in her life is her beloved Dutch-blue lovebird, Periwinkle! Growing up, she would feed the wild birds after school every day until they memorized her schedule, marking the start of her humble bird-loving origins. When not at The Trust, Frances also enjoys skiing, hiking, cooking, and entertaining friends as well as gardening, and creating a bird-friendly home and backyard. As a trained toxicologist, Frances helps educate others about the use of harmful pesticides and their effect on our birds. She plans to reach homeowners by presenting this program at venues like gardening centers and gardening clubs about non-toxic alternatives that can prevent harm and save lives. Through and through, Frances lives out the mission of The Raptor Trust, and we could not imagine our team without her. Thank you for all you do, we love you!