O’Hara resident Sarah Jones calls herself a lucky duck.

After retiring as a first-grade teacher from the Wilkinsburg School District, Jones spread her wings and found a new passion — birds — while still keeping her love for teaching close.

She began volunteering in 2014 at the National Aviary on Pittsburgh’s North Side and has since dedicated more than 3,000 hours to the center.

She engages with visitors, guides student groups through the more than 500 birds on-site — and has surprised herself by becoming comfortable sharing space with the aviary’s Eurasian eagle-owl, Dumbledore, which has a 6-foot wingspan.

For her efforts, Jones, 71, was named the Aviary’s 2023 Volunteer of the Year.

“Volunteers such as Sarah are crucial to the National Aviary, and we are beyond thankful for her invaluable contributions to helping us fulfill our mission,” volunteer manager Teri Grendzinski said. “Sarah’s amazing work with our educational programming and her engaging personality have immensely impacted the youths who walk through our doors.”

For Jones, an O’Hara resident for more than three decades, spending time in the Aviary’s walk-through habitats and up-close encounters has stoked her love for teaching in the years since she left the classroom.

“When they first asked if I wanted to teach classes, I thought there was no way I could remember all the facts and statistics,” she said.

“But they train you to handle a penguin, and who can say no to that?”

Visitors to the Aviary have the chance to view more than 150 bird species from around the world, many of which are threatened or endangered in the wild. There is someone new to meet or something to learn with each visit, Jones said.

In March, two Eurasian eagle-owl chicks, each the size of a lime, hatched at the Aviary.

The month before, a male Andean condor named Bud was welcomed to the facility from the Dallas Zoo.

Jones started teaching classes at the Aviary through Penguin Encounters, a unique educational opportunity where visitors get close to the African penguins while they waddle about. Little by little, she was introduced to more exotic creatures.

She has worked with an array of animal ambassadors that reside at “America’s Bird Zoo,” from the Eastern screech owls to the macaws.

“The first time I was with the Eurasian eagle-owls, I thought they were ginormous,” Jones said. “I said this might not be the place for me.

“Now, Dumbledore is one of my favorite birds to handle.”

With her role as volunteer comes advocacy for the Aviary’s conservation efforts. Jones educates guests on ways to help save birds and protect natural habitats.

“Two of the main things that bring me back to the Aviary every day are the joy on a child’s face when they meet one of our birds for the first time, and the kindness of the staff whom I get the pleasure of working with,” Jones said.

“Those factors are what I like to call ‘a huge chunk of wonderful.’

“I knew nothing about handling birds when I started, but they walk you through every step.

“I’m honored beyond belief, and this only happens to me because of the volunteer staff that supports me.”