It was not until I was a student at the same college which Mother attended for her first two years that I learned she had been a member of the Audubon Club. What did the club do? Of course, they went to the woods for bird-watching. When I asked if that’s how she met her college beaus, she had laughed a fun-loving collegiate giggle.
If I’m not mistaken, it was Dr. S.W. Witmer who served as advisor to the club. He was a professor at the college during the span of years that Mother and I were students – 26 years apart. Online today, I find that “discovery was one of his greatest joys” and that he was also a poet. Did he further impart and encourage these gifts in Mother who had a love for both poetry and “discovery”?
Fast forward to our “ranch days” together. . . I found a beautifully-bound book in her library from “The National Audubon Society.” Recalling her Audubon Club membership during her college years, I inquired about the source of the book, her bird-watching experience wintering in Florida, and – again – whether this was how she met eligible young men as a college student. This time, we both giggled, recalling college memories.
At the “ranch,” we would pursue this interest in bird-watching! It definitely fit our setting next to our old woods.
Bird Bath
On a very hot, humid day in Central Illinois, Uncle Max had tilled the ground for “Dad’s Garden.” We bought our first bird 
bath at a local landscaping firm.
The SARS epidemic – “Avian Influenza” – became news headlines in 2003. That was the year in which Dad was admitted to hospice. His condition was weakening. We knew nothing about SARS aside from what we learned from the media, but we took a precautionary step. When a caregiver suggested that perhaps we would want to remove the water from the bird bath, we quickly responded by filling it with flowers. We, of course, did not want to put Dad at any higher risk.
In this photo of Mother on a very quiet and serene Sunday in 2007, the bird bath is partially hidden by the butterfly bush in the photo.
Bird Feeder
A few years later when the SARS epidemic was no longer in media headlines, we bought our first bird feeder. Being close to the woods, many trees, and squirrels, we soon replaced it and bought one that was advertised as “squirrel resistant.” Hmmm. Still the squirrels came. We finally found one which locked the lid into place and helped to keep squirrels from entering.
Shepherd Hook
One of our very generous caregivers brought her shepherd hook from her garage for us to use with these early birdfeeders. Soon we were gifted by another caregiver and her family with a second birdfeeder.
So grateful for these thoughtful gifts! … especially when I would see Mother at daybreak singing and talking to her birds!
Bird Book
Published in 1994, The National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds, Eastern Region is a lovely book. The first half of the book includes four-color photos of birds, names, size in inches, and a page number leading to the last half of the book with a full description. In the book, we used red tabs to mark those birds which frequently returned to the feeder. We kept it close to the window where Mother is standing so that we could look up those we did not readily identify.
Bird Food
As we observed the turnout of an array of diverse birds at the birdfeeder, we began to see a connection between the kind of bird food du jour – and the size of the turnout! We made quite a number of changes over the years to see which product brought the largest and most diverse turnout to the “table.”
Birding Hat
From the kitchen sink, we had a wonderful perspective on the birds at the
feeder and we did not really need a hat. If we had needed one, Mother’s hat would surely have been a great pick.
Binoculars
… And we were so close, we did not need binoculars!
The brilliant cardinal
One of many long-lasting memories of nature surrounding us at the “ranch” was witnessing the most magnificent cardinal I had ever seen! I just happened to look out at precisely the right moment. Being the most brilliant shade of red, he emerged as only a tiny speck from the top of the green leaves of 
the tall trees close to the highway. He was strong, beautiful, and gracefully propelled as he swooped in, creating a huge dramatic arc. And he landed right in front of me – on our birdfeeder – heartily partaking of our offering. An indelible memory! After years of having one of the best city views in downtown Chicago, I was awe-struck by being back close to the wonder of nature. Mother’s still-present interest in bird-watching which had prevailed since her undergraduate days had re-awakened me to the drama in nature.
The GPS of that amazing cardinal – a gift for caregivers!
During a couple of our years at the ranch – in the mid-2000’s – caregivers began to arrive talking about their new GPS. It sounded quite novel to me, but I knew I would not be needing a GPS for my road travel to and from Chicago. However, for caregivers – those who travel within a region to deliver care to an always-changing caseload – this would be an ideal gift.
The Wonder of It All
How did our friend, the cardinal, know the “ranchers” prepared for his arrival? How did he know to set his GPS with our address as the destination?
Oh, the wonder of it all!
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NOTE: Bird-watching paraphernalia can be found in our Gift Gallery.
Author: Susan Troyer
