- 05/04/2026CaliforniaRyann Shirey’s flight toward a career in veterinary medicinePerched carefully in Ryann Shirey’s hands, the Guam kingfisher represents one of conservation’s rarest success stories — a species once declared extinct in the wild and now making a fragile return. For Shirey, a PennWest California senior completing an internship at the National Aviary, moments like this are more than memorable. They are the reason she chose a future that blends science, compassion and hands-on discovery.
