The several-hundred acre wood across the road from me has been reduced to about 50, and along with that reduction came a "clean-up" that removed a lot of undergrowth habitat. I don't see or hear nearly as many birds as I used to. That said, I resolved earlier this year on a walk through that area with the dogs that I need to make a few camera expeditions over there, especially early and late in the day, to see what is moving around and singing.

I have a friend from the neighborhood whose daughters are modern young women, on the surface seemed fairly self-centered, mostly interested in cosmetics and fashion, and I never really had much in common with them on our rare visits at their mother's house. But one of them has become a break-out bird photographer in the last year or so, and I'm impressed with her dedication to traveling around the region to various parks and sanctuaries to get more photos. It shows an appreciation for the world and conditions around her, and I am hoping that I simply misread the young women's behavior and they're all going to blossom into acute observers of the world. Birds are a fabulous first step. :)