Nancy’s interest in birds started when she was just a little girl and saw her first Cardinal. She was so taken by its beauty that her mother bought her a Field Guide. Nancy was just 10 years old and with her mother’s encouragement she kept a look out for new bird species. This was the beginning of a lifetime (in Nancy’s words) “Her love affair with birds”.

Her DH is not as enthusiastic but is always there to lend a hand for any project that needs doing in the back yard to make life more comfortable for her beloved birds. Nancy doesn’t go out in the field to watch birds but does it all from her own garden. Even though she loves taking photos of them watching and studying their habits also fascinate her.

She has “bird planted” her garden over many years paying attention to vines and bushes to create thickets for the birds protection and also for a safe environment for nesting. Nancy makes sure there are berry-producing plants and overgrown areas of grasses and weeds along with Purple Cone Flowers and Black eyed Susan especially for the Goldfinches.

Nancy’s back garden is around 80 ft. x 80ft. but 20 x 25ft. of this is dedicated to her birds. There is also a special area where they take dust baths.

In the fall, there are well over 100 birds visiting Nancy’s feeders. At that time of year, a lot of Grackles and Blackbirds are gathering for migration. On an average she has about 12 different feeders but it does fluctuate according to the season.

The Carolina Wren is Nancy’s favourite bird and she has a pair who winter in her yard and they are fed mealworms. Last summer they brought their young to the feeder much to her delight. They are a very entertaining little bird, making all kinds of scolding noises and little peeps and shows no fear of Nancy or her DH.

There are many exciting moments in her bird observing but the most recent is when she spotted a Pine Warbler and she yelled to DH to come and see the bright yellow bird at the feeder but he just couldn’t understand all the commotion.

Nancy has a wish list and top of the page is the Pileated Woodpecker. I do hope that she gets her wish granted very soon. You deserve it Nancy.