Why I Am A Member of Sacajawea Audubon Society
– Steve Eshbaugh, SAS Wetland Preservation Project Campaign Committee
A branch smacked me in the face. My ankle twisted slightly as I slipped on an algae-covered rock. Suddenly, all the pain disappeared. Before me was a bird unlike any I’d ever seen before in my eight years of life. It had a long bill, with gorgeous, mottled feathers. I slowly backed away, keeping an eye on this bird that was clearly sitting on a nest. I veered far to the right, not wanting to spook the bird away. When I was at a safe distance, my legs churned as fast as I could make them, up the hill I scampered. I burst into my family’s home and called for my mother. I’m sure the tone in my voice made her fear for the worst, and into the kitchen she quickly appeared, asking what was wrong. In oxygen challenged words I blurted out that I had discovered a bird on a nest, just down the hill from our house in the juniper forest.
My mom asked if I could find the bird again, and I assured her I knew exactly where the bird was nesting. Back down the trail we went, making sure to give the nest a wide berth. Then my mom saw it too. She knew immediately that the bird was an American Woodcock. She’d seen woodcocks many times before, but I never knew that from her reaction. She excitedly told me everything she knew about that mysterious bird. In the coming months, we sat on the flat roof of our house and watched woodcocks winnow in the night air. I marveled at the sound and wondered if one of those birds was the egg I spotted not long ago.
From that day on, I was hooked on birding. I went on every Christmas bird count with my father and started my life list. And to this day, I marvel at how we as birders can hold the excitement for birds we’ve seen many dozens of times before. I grant you; I don’t hold much excitement over a House Sparrow or Starling or even a House Finch appearing at our feeders. Conversely, no matter how many times I see a Sandhill Crane working our acreage I call to my wife “Sandhill!” Like all of us, I can raise binoculars to my eyes and wonder at the beauty of the bird upon which I gaze.
Sometimes I almost feel sad that others can dismiss our feathered friends as “just another bird.” Then I realize how much richer my life is for taking wonder at the many lifeforms that surround us. Thank all of you for taking part in this strange, comforting hobby. You can ensure these memories for future generations by supporting Sacajawea Audubon Society. I encourage you to become a member today!
