Gone Birdin'

I created this blog as a place to reflect on memories out in the field but also a place for people interested in birds to enjoy a bit of bird photography. Looking through photographs of birds, whether they are taken by amateur or professional photographers, never gets old for me and I figure there are people out there who feel similarly.  

My intention is to also provide insight into some of my favorite birding spots. Moving somewhere new and figuring out where to birdwatch has been intimidating for me in the past. I ended up stumbling on a few outstanding blogs where local birdwatchers described their experiences at various locations; I feel indebted to them for offering such invaluable resources. My expertise surely doesn’t compare to many of those authors, nor do my photography skills, but I figure there is no harm in giving back what others have helped me with.  

My birdwatching journey began years ago while enrolled in a Vertebrate Zoology course. The professor announced we would embark on a “bird walk” every Friday and should obtain a pair of binoculars. I had two thoughts in that moment: “What is a ‘bird walk’?” and “Where am I going to get binoculars?” I didn’t have anything against birds, I just never paid much attention to them. I recalled a pair of old binoculars I’d seen lying around the house as a kid and asked my father if I could borrow them for class. Come Friday, we were divided into groups and set off around campus, binoculars in hand. At one point, our group leader pointed out a bird perched on a chain-link fence. I focused my binoculars on the bird and was in disbelief at what I was seeing. The bird’s entire backside was an unimaginable shade of cobalt blue and its breast a vivid rust color. This was a street I parked my car on almost every day and had walked down hundreds of times. How had I never noticed this bird? It was like I was wearing a blindfold up until that point and suddenly couldn’t stop noticing birds of all shapes, sizes, and colors wherever I went. Who knew a Western Bluebird could change my entire life?

Breathtaking birds are all around us! When I slow down and take a second to look around, I’m always amazed at what I’m able to see. A good pair of binoculars helps too 😉.  

Thanks for visiting and happy birding,
Tori