I’m not exactly sure when I became a casual birder. Maybe it started back in kindergarten, when our “science” class consisted of coloring pages of different birds native to the Northeast. I still remember carefully copying the red and yellow stripes on a red winged blackbird and trying to get the throat color correct for the cedar waxwing.
I admit, I’ve loved watching the birds in my backyard since I was small, first the ones that came to the bushes and trees in my parent’s home in Wilbraham, and now the urban dwellers who come to the fountains and feeders I have in my much smaller city plot. I’ve been privileged to have a cardinal family choose the evergreen by my front door as their nesting site (it was so cool to watch the babies!) and I wait every summer for the goldfinches to come visit the sunflowers that grow in my neighbor’s yard.
Perhaps that’s why Robert Tougias’ book “Birder on Berry Lane” piqued my interest so much when the press release about its publication came to my email. I’m already very vested in the wildlife that visits my modest plot. And then there’s the fact that he happened to grow up exploring the wild places in Longmeadow.
Tougias’ book isn’t your typical birding guide. It’s more of a journal, following the different birds that visit his yard- and their life cycles - through the 12 months of the year. It’s also a picture of life in rural Connecticut, where Tougias now makes his home. Filled with anecdotes and tips on how to observe the world around you, it might just be an ideal read for what for many may be a quieter summer this year.
If you can’t find his book right away, Tougias was kind enough to share some beginning birding tips with me. You’ll find them in the feature on page 9.
Exciting News! Prime is now on Facebook, too! You’ll find our newly relaunched page at facebook/primemagazineofwesternmass, and to kick off our jump into social media, we’re hosting a contest! Like Prime’s new page, and you’ll be entered into a drawing for one of three books - a copy of “Birder on Berry Lane,” featured in this month’s Prime, “The Golfer’s Book of Wit & Wisdom”- filled with quirky quotes from golf players and legends, or “Pink Sneakers” - the fun, first novel by 88-year old Springfield author Dolores Yergeau (featured in the January 2020 issue of Prime). Winners will be announced in the August issue!
I hope you are all staying safe and healthy as we all learn to cope with life under the continuing coronavirus pandemic. If you are feeling the effects of loneliness and isolation, please reach out to the people at your local senior center. The building may be closed, but thy are still there to help make connections and find support. As always, thanks for reading,
Debbie Gardner
debbieg@thereminder.com
