Ask the Expert: An Interview with Bird Supervisor Lindsay

Lindsay Ireland is a supervisor in the Detroit Zoo bird department. For the past 19 years, she has spent her days caring for the Zoo’s feathered residents — especially her favorite species, penguins.

What do you do at the Detroit Zoo?

I oversee the husbandry and the care of the animals in our department and ensure our zookeepers have everything they need to provide excellent care to the birds who call the Zoo home and ensure everything is running smoothly.

What is your favorite part of your job?

Before I became supervisor, it was going into the habitats, watching the birds and observing their behavior — they are so complex and intense sometimes, in ways that I don’t think many people realize. By watching and working with them, I could understand their thinking and why they behaved a certain way. Now, I get to help zookeepers grow those skills, which I love.

Do you have a favorite animal to work with?

Penguins are my ultimate favorite. My second favorite is trumpeter swans. It’s amazing how big they are, and their courtship behaviors are cool to watch.

Do you have a favorite memory from your time at the Detroit Zoo?

A lot of my favorite memories have to do with raising penguin chicks. Of course, they are adorable. It’s amazing to see them hatch, grow and develop. I’ve helped hand-raise chicks, which is incredible and something that even most zookeepers never experience, so some of my fondest memories are there.

How did you get into animal care?

Growing up, I always had pets and loved animals, but I didn’t know animal care was an option until college. At the time, I was undecided but leaning toward a criminal justice degree. I had a friend in the zoology program, and after chatting with him, I decided to sign up for a zoology class — and that was it. I switched my major, did an internship and fell in love with this field. It was a big change, but I don’t regret it at all.

Do you have any advice for young people looking to enter the animal care field?

I always recommend that young students become interested in understanding animal behaviors, whether through bird watching or spending time at a zoo. Volunteer if there is a humane society or somewhere you can get hands-on experience. While I love my job, some tasks are not glamorous or fun, so you need to learn at a young age if this is what you want to do.