Believe it or not, Donna’s obsession with birds only started getting serious 4 years ago. Up until that time she just looked at them in passing. You will agree, I am certain, that she has come a long way, as we all know and appreciate her magnificent photos.

She is so keen that even after working nights she often stays up during the daytime if there are some interesting birds around. She watches from every window and through the living room storm door and during the spring migration she may only get a couple of hours sleep.

Donna often goes out in her boat and DH accompanies her as he is very supportive and gets quite excited if there are lots of birds around for her to capture. If it is quiet he does a spot of fishing. The only time DH gets a bit grumpy is when there is a lack of birds and fish at the same time. They enjoy each other’s company and especially being out on the water together.

I think most of us have seen that camouflage outfit that Donna wears. Well it was her DH that got it for her last winter because of the cold. She says it makes little difference to her getting close enough to the birds as she gets plenty of photos through windows, from the truck and at docks where the birds are semi – used to people. She doesn’t use a scope but relies on her own abilities to gradually take a step closer and then closer until she gets the photo she wants.

Twelve months ago she and DH did an exciting trip to Finland. While he was on business she had a couple of bird watchers show her around. They took her all over Turku and Helsinki and even took a boat to Tallin Estonia for some sight seeing and bird watching. Over two days she saw 80 new birds.

I asked Donna what her answer would be to the following question: “You have been granted a wish but one only. Out of all the birds you haven’t yet seen, which one would you choose?” A very easy one to answer, she said “I want to see and photograph an Atlantic Puffin.”

She has had quite a lot of success with her nesting boxes of which she has ten. Last year she had 2 broods of Bluebirds, 1 brood of Titmice and Carolina Wrens and in the honeysuckle vine 4 broods of Northern Mockingbirds. There must be something about that sweet honeysuckle. There was one Carolina Wren who tried to build a nest in a plant at the front porch but DH thought it was weeds and pulled it all out. His ears are still burning.

There is no expense spared when it comes to feeding her birds. She has 24 feeders out now, being winter and she has to refill them every second day. I won’t list all the sacks and bags of food but I will tell you that they have 12 loaves of French bread. It costs her around $100 per month to keep them well fed.

Donna’s property has been certified as a “Mini Wildlife Refuge” and each week her photos are published in the Newspaper by a local lady who is an Author and Bird Expert and who has been a real godsend in helping Donna with any birding queries.

One of her most memorable experiences came when she watched a pair of Loggerhead Shrike Fledglings being taught by mum to hunt for bugs. Over a period of two weeks they got used to seeing her and eventually let her get fairly close. This experience also produced her favourite photo, which she has included in this feature for us to enjoy.

Thank you Donna – you are a remarkable lady (Birdlady)

For those who don’t visit the Feathered Friends Gallery regularly I would like to tell you that Donna has become a grandma for the first time on the 15th February. Her daughter gave birth to little Chantze Wayne and he weighed in at 5lb. 14oz.