Protecting a unique California treasure with the Catalina Island Conservancy

My name is Miranda (Mira) Delfino and I am a rising senior at the University of Southern California majoring in Environmental Studies (BS). This summer, I interned at the Catalina Island Conservancy. I received the Cathy and George Huber Endowed Scholarship, and it was a Wrigley Institute Environmental Summer Award to support my internship.

As a fifth-generation Californian, I have spent my entire life enjoying the unique climate and region that allows one to spend four seasons spending significant time outdoors. From the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains to the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, I have been blessed to have a variety of experiences in the natural environment. This life experience has instilled in me a deep and abiding interest in environmental issues and sustainability. Both inside the classroom and in the field, I have observed the interconnectedness between human well-being and the health of our ecosystems. The challenge of addressing climate change, conserving natural resources, and promoting sustainable practices has motivated my focus on environmental science, as it involves both problem-solving and the opportunity to make a tangible, positive impact on the world. Furthermore, the pursuit of environmental sustainability aligns with my values of social responsibility and ethical stewardship, making it a meaningful and fulfilling area of focus for my career.

I applied for this internship because I admired the Catalina Island Conservancy’s work as a manager and responsible steward of Catalina Island. The values that the Conservancy seek to promote match my desire and career aims to make a positive impact through conservation, study, and scientific research. I longed to support that mission while developing my research and data-gathering skills. Thus, I appreciated the opportunity to work side-by-side with Conservancy scientists in various disciplines, from wildlife biology to botany, learning skills and practices in the field. 

Some of the key work I engaged in this summer involved long-term vegetation monitoring on Catalina Island to determine the impact of the changing climate and interaction with invasive species. I also had the opportunity to survey rare and endemic plants, such as the stream orchid. Working with the Conservancy’s Wildlife team, I had several opportunities during the day and night to monitor animal populations, including sea birds and mule deer, to get an accurate assessment of the island’s population. One of my most memorable experiences this summer was when I accompanied a Conservancy biologist on a flight around the island while we conducted fox telemetry. Viewing the island and the fox population from a small four-seater plane is an experience I will long remember.

In addition to an amazing set of memories and hands-on fieldwork skills, the internship on Catalina Island allowed me to build a new network of mentors among the scientists and conservationists I worked with.  From them, I also gained new ideas about career paths and possible graduate study opportunities. I was given many different opportunities to explore different aspects of fieldwork, which gave me an enhanced sense of direction for my career. Moreover, I left the experience inspired by a renewed love of scientific research and a desire to collaborate with like-minded scientists.

Finally, I came away from the internship with a new appreciation and respect for the diverse and amazing ecosystem of the Channel Islands. My enthusiasm and desire to protect and preserve this unique California treasure was strengthened by the once-in-a-lifetime experience of working and living on the island this summer. More importantly, the internship served to validate and reinforce my desire to focus future professional efforts on working in the field of environmental science and sustainability, in an effort to continue to preserve and protect the planet for future generations.