Q+A with Aquarist Intern Hailey Binkley

Are you interested in having a future as an aquarist intern? If this is why you are here, you are on the right page. Panoramic Ocean is so psyched to announce the second interview with Ms. Hailey Binkley. 

On Panoramic Ocean, I'm excited to host a SECOND Q+A with Ms. Hailey Binkley. You, our amazing readers, felt so inspired by her original Q+A that we decided to bring her back to dive further into her experiences in the conservation field. She is a past Aquarist Intern at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, with a resume like none other. 

Without wasting any further time, let's quickly ask some questions and get responses from Ms. Hailey.

National Aquarium in Baltimore Maryland. 

I'm so happy to be back! I picked the National aquarium because they are the fourth largest aquarium in the U.S. Go big or go home! I initially saw their intern advertisement posting on the TAMU Wildlife Job Board ( a fantastic resource for wildlife intern/ job postings). After submitting my application, I landed an interview with my future supervisor. I know firsthand how intimidating an interview can be. It is important to remember that an interview goes both ways. While the facility is looking for the best candidate for their program, you are, in turn, looking for the best facility to fit your needs. During my interview, my supervisor was extraordinarily kind and someone I would enjoy working with. Many people get so caught up in trying to find a job they forget to ask themselves if they want to work for that specific company or person. The best thing to do is start looking for internships early, so you have time to be picky about the facility you work at. If a hirer gives you a bad vibe, it's okay not to take the first job that offers you a position.

What made the National Aquarium pick you for an internship?

 I'm incredibly fortunate to have gained hands-on animal experience through FFA before my first internship. Since I would be traveling across the country for my internship, I made it clear that I wanted to make the most of this experience and work as many hours as possible. That and arranging my schedule to fit theirs showed the National Aquarium how dedicated I was. During my interview, I did my best to connect with the interviewer to come across as someone they would enjoy working with.

In your own words, how would you describe the NA intern program?

The National Aquarium is heavily dependent on its volunteers, which means interns and volunteers get to help in so many aspects of animal husbandry! As the Aquarist intern, I had two primary mentors who trained me in their daily duties. Essentially basic husbandry for fish and aquatic invertebrates. As my confidence rose with these preliminary tasks, my mentors could refocus their own time on maintenance. This maintenance needed to be done but wasn't part of their daily routine. The National Aquarium gives its interns the fantastic opportunity to shadow other internship programs around the facility. This shadowing is a great way to see how different departments work and get a basic overview of animal husbandry for a variety of species. The hands-on aspect of their internship allows for growth. I handled fish (including elasmobranchs) and aquatic invertebrates, watched and scribed for medical procedures, and assisted with animal training sessions.

Behind the scenes of Hailey's internship. 

How has this experience influenced how you approach animal care?

 The animals that the public can view at any zoo or aquarium act as ambassadors for their species. It is the facility's responsibility, the caretakers, and the public to advocate for a high standard of welfare for these animals. 

Walk me through a typical day in "A Day in the Life of Intern Hailey?"

My morning routine began with going through a gallery to check on each tank's life support systems. I recorded the pressure of the sand filter pumps, tank temperatures, chiller temperatures, PH levels (if the tank included live plants), heater temperatures, ozone measurements, UV measurements, and tank water levels. 

After those measurements were complete, I would go out to the viewing windows and perform a basic welfare check on the animals. I look for any abnormal behaviors during a welfare check and check the quality of the habitat. After that, I proceeded with any necessary cleanings, siphoning, water changes, or filter backwashes. 

After cleaning, I then began food prep. Food preparation consisted of frozen feeds such as caplin, mackerel, kelp, shrimp, smelt, krill, and mahi-mahi. In addition, live meals include crickets, blood worms, brine shrimp, and earthworms. Various ingredients are used in animal diets to ensure all species meet their nutritional needs, giving the animals a high standard of welfare. After all the feeds were prepared, I then fed out the tanks. Out of all my tasks feeding the different species was the most tedious and my favorite. It was essential to be patient with animals if they were pole fed or to ensure everyone was eating if the food was broadcasted into the tank. 

Assisting with the work up of a 300 lb roughtail stingray! We were giving the stingray a basic check-up, and I was allowed to restrain the stingray's tail (it was huge). During the procedure, they trimmed his barb, and they let me keep it! It is one of my most incredible memories.

Hailey assisting with the work up of a 300 lb roughtail stingray.

What advice would you give someone who wants to intern at the NA?

 Be empowered to ask questions! Ask to be taught different maintenance skills and ask them to explain things if you don't understand why they are doing something. As I've said before, definitely ask to shadow the other programs they have, such as the Amazon Rainforest, Australian Wild Extremes, and Dolphin Discovery. The team from these areas will be more than happy to walk you through your day and also let you participate in some of their daily activities! You get what you give, so it is crucial to make sure you put in the effort to make the experience worth your while.

Hailey visiting the dolphin team. 

You can read more Q+A and journal entries at Panoramicocean.com #bepurposeful