Aaron Umen

Bird Migration in Colorado

May 3, 2021 By Aaron Umen Leave a Comment

Did you know that you can help birds migrate? Aaron Umen, a volunteer at World Bird Sanctuary, explains how:

Residents of Colorado are being urged to ‘kill the lights.’ Why? Because turning off your outdoor night lights can actually help birds migrate properly. Experts have estimated that more than 12 million birds are in the process of migrating from Colorado and Utah. But unfortunately, light pollution confuses the birds during their night travel hours…

Aaron Umen stands by experts’ claims that reducing light pollution could greatly assist birds in their migration process. When the task is as simple as keeping your lights off, why not help birds peacefully and properly migrate? These creatures need our help — so let’s help the birds, Colorado!

Have you ever handled an exotic raptor?

April 15, 2021 By Aaron Umen Leave a Comment

If you visit World Bird Sanctuary, you can! Volunteer, Aaron Umen explains how you can handle a bird of prey for yourself:

Raptors are fascinating creatures. In fact, these birds of prey are among Aaron Umen’s favorite animals of all time! While volunteering at World Bird Sanctuary, Umen has had the incredible opportunity to handle these fiercely intelligent birds.

And now, you can too — if you visit World Bird Sanctuary, that is!

The Handle an Exotic Raptor is an incredible learning opportunity. A chance to get up close and personal with a talon-ted raptor, there’s nothing quite like meeting a raptor! This event is held daily at 2 PM at World Bird Sanctuary. For more information, check out the events page on the World Bird Sanctuary official website.

Where did the birds in OK go?

March 3, 2021 By Aaron Umen Leave a Comment

The winter weather has mixed things up for Oklahomans like never before. This season, even the birds aren’t exempt from the confusion. World Bird Sanctuary volunteer, Aaron Umen, discusses:

In Oklahoma, locals are asking the question where did the birds go?

Of course, it’s not unusual for birds to migrate during the colder months. But something has seemed all together off this year. According to The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, birds have demonstrated unique habits this year. With many birds desperate for food in these weather-torn conditions, some species have started to gravitate toward urban areas, like Oklahoma City. This has demonstrated an increased population of bluebirds — a species that rarely visit backyard bird feeders. Yet, in these birds’ desperation, many are flocking to bird feeders like never before in hope of food.

Australian Open welcomes tennis spectators

February 17, 2021 By Aaron Umen Leave a Comment

Tennis fans attending a Grand Slam in-person… now there’s an idea many would not have imagined months ago! Thanks to the end of Melbourne’s COVID-prompted lockdown, crowds are able to attend the Australian Open.

Aaron Umen and tennis fans alike are ecstatic to see a slight return to normal in the sports sphere. Due to the end of Melbourne, Australia’s lockdown, spectators are now able to attend the Australian Open: in person! This is major for anyone who has missed being able to watch sporting events live and on location. It may be a small step toward normalcy, but it is a major stop nonetheless!

Naomi Osaka partners with Levi’s

February 1, 2021 By Aaron Umen Leave a Comment

Young tennis player, Naomi Osaka is early into her sports career — but she’s already making major waves. Recently named 2020 Female Athlete of the Year, Osaka is on track to dominate the court with her motivational message at the forefront.

Female Athlete of the Year, Naomi Osaka, is making a name for herself in the tennis world. Now, she’s taking her message of strength and persistence to a new audience by joining forces with a new Levi campaign. The campaign is part of the Levi Beauty of Becoming series, which officially debuted in January 2021. In her contribution, Osaka will share her success story as the first ever Japanese born tennis player to win a Grand Slam. (A highlight of this event, of course, was that Osaka defeated her idol, Serena Williams, in the competition for the US Open title.) A young tennis player himself, Aaron Umen is ecstatic to follow Naomi Osaka’s story — wherever it may take her!

How long has Rafael Nadal been in the Top 10?

January 19, 2021 By Aaron Umen Leave a Comment

For tennis fans, it’d be borderline blasphemy to even contest Rafael Nadal’s reign as tennis royalty. He’s certainly earned his right as a legend of the sport. Here’s how long the athlete has ranked in the Top 10:

This week, Rafael Nadal added yet another notch to his incredible belt of tennis accomplishments. He has now been in the FedEx ATP Top 10 Rankings for 800 consecutive weeks. Wow! In fact, he has held the record for consecutive weeks in the Top 10 since November 2020, when he booted Jimmy Connors’s previous record of 789 weeks off the court.

As a lifelong tennis player and fan, Aaron Umen is in absolute awe! When Rafael Nadal finally puts his racket down to retire, how many weeks of Top 10 ranking will he be remembered for? Only time will tell, but in Umen’s view, we shouldn’t expect to see that day come just yet!