Community found.

I heard somewhere, to find a community, you first need to find a hobby. But not just a hobby- a passion. Looking back over the past three years, I have to admit that it’s true. It’s the whole “work on yourself first” thing, and then the rest falls into place.

I have always loved birds, especially as a kid. I had a vast feather collection in an old, rather large shoe box that I hodge podged a collage to. The collage was magazine cutouts of birds, my mom helped me. Anytime I would find a feather on the ground, I would put it in the box. The most magical feathers were gifts. One time, at a pet store, a store clerk noticed at how I was trying to pull tiny feathers out of the bottom of a Macaw’s cage. She laughed at me - all of 5 years old - and disappeared into the back. She came out holding a few large blue and gold feathers that she had recently cleaned out of the cage. Another time, my grandmother gave me a few tiny feathers from a Ruby-throated Hummingbird. She had found them around an old nest that she had saved.

I have vivid memories of carrying around feathers, holding them behind my back and pretending to be a bird.

When I was 7 years old, I decided that I wanted to study birds. We were living in the Netherlands at the time, and I was watching some show about albatross seagulls on BBC. I saw researchers measure their wings, put bands on their legs, and examine their nests. I was absolutely certain that this was my career path. Of course - life happened and I drifted elsewhere.

I had always talked about buying some binoculars and officiating my birder status, but it wasn’t until we moved here to Oregon that I finally did it. After a quick search on the internet, I ordered a decent (and cost effective) pair of Bushnell 10×42. Birding walks became an after-work and weekend ritual. A few months in, as I was struggling to take an iphone photo of a Red-tailed hawk through my binoculars, I had that moment. The “WTF am I doing?” moment, because after all, I am a photographer! So, after much research I invested in my first long lens: the Sigma 100-400. For a while, it did the trick. But then I wanted more, I wanted to be able to SMELL the birds through my photos - metaphorically of course. This obsession was real, so I invested in my current lens: Sony 200-600.

The after-work and weekend birding rituals continued, and the obsession never went away. I found myself driving to parks on my lunch breaks, occasionally coming back late after finding an owl. My birding walks were always alone - except when my husband came along. Birding felt like therapy and in my mind, required a deeply present state to connect with nature in the way that I wanted to. Birding in groups seemed like the opposite - and for a long time, I avoided it. While I would occasionally see and speak to a few other birders out in the parks during these walks, we usually shared the common perception of needing it to remain solo.

Finding community felt hard, and now I realize it was most likely due to the fact that I was actively rejecting it. I got a phone number here and there, but it wasn’t until I met my friend Mel that a true friendship emerged. I was on a lunch break, at a park near my work. She was off that day. We chatted for a moment about the kinglets dancing around the creek. I asked if she was on instagram, and she replied that she didn’t have social media. I began to say farewell and she asked for my number.

My solo birding walks continued, but with a few social walks sprinkled in. Building a friendship with Mel was easy, and birding with her was fun. She knew when to listen for a bird, pause the conversation, and then continue. She too, was in tune with our surroundings, and we remained connected to nature - together.

After seeing a meetup listed for a bird walk, I asked her if she’d like to go. It was at one of our favorite wetlands, through a local birding community group. Fueled with coffee, we met with the group for a morning walk. It was a rather large group of around 15 people. I was amazed at how much fun I had, as it turned out - the more eyes the better. The group had varying knowledge and experience, some photographers and others with their binoculars. I realized that this was the missing ingredient, so we decided to join in on more walks.

After two group walks, we decided to volunteer to co-lead walks together. We filled the group’s need for walks on the west side, and they welcomed us with open arms. We have now led two walks, and have our third and fourth scheduled for April. Our last walk had over 25 people!

Since joining in on the group walks, we were inspired to create an event company that specializes in bringing birding nonprofits and bird conservation fundraisers to local breweries and vineyards. We are now hosting our first event in June. ALL of this happened because of community. In just a few short years I went from fumbling around with binoculars, to making a best friend while doing what I loved, to co-leading bird walks and starting the event company. All thanks to the birds.

Finding this sense of community has gifted me the guidance of purpose, the thread that makes my passion tangible and more meaningful. I cannot wait to share more about our event, and to see what other surprises this year has in store for us!