JOYS of BIRD WATCHING

Watching the birds around us, learning about them, drawing pictures and writing about them has been a hobby of mine since childhood. My mother liked to keep a list of the birds we saw around our farmhouse when I was a child; She stimulated my interest in reading and writing about the wild creatures. My daughter and I have been enjoying them this winter around our home…along with the four-legged critters.

Two poems appear, The Red Winged Blackbird and Lord Baltimore Oriole, in my children’s anthology, Tales of Adventure and Discovery. I also have sketched and painted pictures of birds.

Mother’s interest in birds continued, even when she had Alzheimer’s. My husband built a bird feeder to entertain her while she lived with us. I have fond memories of our conversations and recording birds that visited. Even then Mother could recognize the various species and told me stories about her grandmother enjoying the various birds on their farm in all seasons.

I still have two of Mother’s bird books…one she used with her students when she was teaching in one-room schools and the other by James Audubon. I can remember her excitement when the Audubon book arrived in the mail…a large format book with his paintings of birds. She had saved her egg money to buy it.

Interest in our feathered friends can lead into many enjoyable activities for youngsters and adults:

Journaling

Art

Scrapbooking

Researching facts and fiction

Taking walks as we look for different birds

Simply recording those we see.

Writing stories and poetry about birds and animals

Bird watching is an activity you can engage in no matter where you live and regardless of the time of year. It’s an activity one can do alone or in groups, with family and with strangers. Because of my mother’s interest in birds when I was growing up, I’ve always enjoyed these feathered friends.

While you’re bird watching, you may need something to snack on. Why not try making:

COUSIN ANNA’S MOLASSES DROP COOKIES

Cream together 1/2 cup shortening, 1/2-cup sugar, and 1/2-cup molasses. Add 1 beaten egg, 1/2-cup sour milk and 1-teaspoon vanilla.

Sift together 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 3/4 teaspoons baking soda, 1/2-teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2-teaspoon cloves. Add to creamed mixture and mix well.

Drop onto greased cookie sheet by teaspoon. Bake at 375 degrees C. for 10 – 12 minutes.

(You can add raisins, currents and/or chopped nuts to the batter.)

(Mary Emma Allen researches and writes from her woodland NH home.)

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