Hayley Williams
(she/they)

Shift Lead Manager | Education & Outreach

Hayley Williams' path to Carolina Waterfowl Rescue began in their own backyard.

A lifelong animal lover with a professional and academic background in environmental and natural resources, Hayley's growing interest in native gardening eventually led them to transform their yard into a space designed for wildlife. After having the property certified as a Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation, Hayley began paying closer attention to the birds visiting the habitat they had created.

One unassuming visitor—the House Finch—helped turn that interest into a passion for birding.

Wanting to do more to help birds, Hayley discovered Carolina Waterfowl Rescue's work with songbirds and decided to volunteer. Their original plan was to become a Baby Bird feeder.

Instead, Hayley accidentally attended a Sanctuary volunteer orientation.

They now describe it as the best mistake they ever made.

Hayley began volunteering with CWR's Sanctuary in May 2025 and joined the staff the following month. They became a Sanctuary Shift Lead, joined CWR's Learning Center team in August 2025, and were promoted to Shift Lead Manager in August 2026.

Today, Hayley's work bridges two important areas of CWR's mission: caring for animals and educating people.

As Shift Lead Manager, Hayley works closely with CWR's Sanctuary Shift Leads to provide the support they need to manage the challenges of daily animal care. They also work directly with volunteers to ensure essential tasks are completed correctly and consistently.

That work can involve everything from feeding animals and mucking pens to inspecting enclosures and monitoring CWR's sanctuary residents for changes that may require medical attention. Hayley regularly checks on animals throughout the Sanctuary and helps facilitate their transfer to the rehabilitation team when veterinary or rehabilitative care is needed.

They also lead volunteer orientations, assist with adoptions and administrative responsibilities, and are helping develop CWR's internal educational materials and Standard Operating Procedures to provide clearer, more consistent guidance for staff and volunteers.

Hayley particularly enjoys opportunities to assist in CWR's hospital. Working alongside the rehabilitation team has allowed them to learn more about individual patients, their medical journeys, and their personalities. Much of what Hayley knows about handling and working directly with waterfowl was learned through those experiences.

But Hayley's role extends well beyond the Sanctuary.

As a member of CWR's Learning Center and education and outreach team, Hayley develops educational materials for audiences ranging from young children to adults and participates in programs that bring CWR's mission directly into the community.

Their work has included educational programming such as CWR's Camp Wild Discoveries and the Scouts of America Bird Study Merit Badge program. Hayley also works closely with CWR's domestic education animals, including ducks, geese, chickens, and Beetlejuice, one of CWR's ambassador snakes.

Combining animal care with public education is particularly meaningful to Hayley. Whether working directly with CWR's residents or attending an outreach event, they enjoy the opportunity to share both CWR's mission and their own enthusiasm for the natural world.

Hayley earned a Bachelor of Science from Clemson University in 2016, majoring in Environmental and Natural Resources with a minor in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology.

Before joining CWR, they worked as a contractor in Duke Energy's Vegetation Management Department. After leaving that position, Hayley spent several years pursuing their interests in gardening and landscaping, building upon both their professional knowledge of tree care and their environmental coursework at Clemson.

Gardening ultimately became the gateway to birding, and birding became the gateway to CWR.

Since joining the rescue, Hayley has developed an especially strong connection with Canada geese.

They appreciate geese in part because the qualities that cause people to dismiss or misunderstand them don't tell the whole story. Canada geese may be described as loud, messy, or mean, but Hayley sees fiercely devoted family animals with distinct personalities and complex social relationships. They are particularly fascinated by the willingness of Canada geese to accept orphaned goslings and by how dramatically people's perceptions can change once they take the time to understand the birds.

That desire to help people understand wildlife rather than simply judge it fits naturally with Hayley's role as an educator.

Their interest in wildlife also continues at home. Hayley enjoys native gardening and landscaping specifically for wildlife and treasures quiet early mornings spent birdwatching before anyone else is awake. They admit to having a habit of turning almost anything into an impromptu nature lesson for friends, family, or anyone willing to listen.

Hayley describes themselves as endlessly curious, with a constant desire to learn.

That curiosity isn't limited to wildlife. They enjoy making things with their hands, from arts and crafts to small building projects at home and around the rescue. Hayley is also a car enthusiast and isn't afraid to get their hands dirty working on one.

At home, Hayley shares life with three cats. The newest member of the family has a particularly appropriate CWR connection: the cat began life as a stray kitten living underneath CWR's Baby Birds building.

For Hayley, the importance of CWR's work extends beyond the individual animals currently in its care.

As urban development continues to reduce and fragment natural habitat, wildlife increasingly encounters human-created hazards and environments. At the same time, domestic birds, reptiles, and farm animals sometimes find themselves without owners who can continue to provide the care they need.

Hayley finds purpose in helping CWR provide a place for both.

What began with a garden, a House Finch, and an accidental volunteer orientation has grown into a role that allows Hayley to care for animals, support the people caring for them, improve how CWR operates, and help the public better understand the natural world around them.

For someone who can turn almost anything into a nature lesson, it's a role that fits remarkably well.