Explore the Wild
Birding is now having its moment, but Meg Brown developed her interest in 2004. While she and her husband Steve always enjoyed being outdoors, when they met up with some avid-birder friends in the Rocky Mountains, Meg quickly caught the birding bug. She saw a grouse putting on a big display and was hooked. The Browns continued meeting up with these friends for vacations where birding was a big focus.
After retiring, Meg and Steve joined Beckham Bird Club and started going on field trips with other members, at which point Meg says they realized, “We don’t have to go out of state to see some of these birds.” Some of their favorite places to birdwatch are the Mammoth Cave area, Bernheim Forest, and the Parklands of Floyd’s Fork.
Birding is a balm in many ways. “It gives you a sense of peace,” Meg says. “You feel the interconnectedness of nature. It really hits home.” She says she gets antsy when she can’t get out and observe or listen for birds.
In addition to Beckham Bird Club, Meg participates in citizen science projects using Cornell Lab’s eBird, an app that allows birders to note which birds they see and hear and the location. This data is used by other birders and scientists to track bird locations and trends.
By Carrie Vittitoe
P.S. You may be interested in going here this spring: A Spring Day Trip In The Heart Of The Bluegrass.
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