Connecting birds with people...and people with birds
Pat Shaughnessy with a savannah sparrow, TLBO (Photo by NCC)
Much is written about the importance of getting young children out into nature, while their joy of engagement with natural life is unmitigated. We should not overlook the idea that that joy is not restricted to children.
Pat Shaughnessy is 83 years young, and has been a loyal follower of the Tatlayoko Lake Bird Observatory (TLBO) since her son Peter took on the oversight of the observatory as part of my NCC job duties. She loves reading the TLBO daily blog and often submits comments about the posting. She visits the observatory whenever she is in the valley visiting during bird banding season (August and September).
White-winged crossbills, Tatlayoko Lake Bird Observatory, British Columbia (Photo by Steve Ogle)
Our bird banders love giving our visitors and volunteers birds to hold and release back into nature, after first adorning the bird with a unique leg band and measuring and weighing the bird. When Pat did this recently with a savannah sparrow, her face still expressed that joy and awe that comes with holding a live, breathing bird.
Supporters like Pat remind us of the importance of our land acquisition and subsequent stewardship and communications.
About the Author
Andrew Harcombe is the BC Region’s special advisor for stewardship.
