In our special posts “Birds of a Feather – Voices for Audubon North Carolina” we feature stories from our supporters, donors and volunteers. Thank you to our supporters for sharing their stories of how they fell in love with birding, the importance of conservation, and why supporting Audubon is such a critical resource for North Carolina.
By Lena Gallitano, Audubon North Carolina Board Member, in Chapel Hill, NC
I’m not sure just when I began seriously watching birds but I began my life list with a White-breasted Nuthatch January 1, 1981. But the joy of birding for me is no longer tied to my life list but rather to seeing and spending time watching those that are familiar.
Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Photo by Jason Edwards.
Recently, Raleigh had a gully washer thunderstorm and I happened to see a Ruby-throated Hummingbird perched on a bare branch in the heavy downpour. My first thought was “You could be nice and dry under one leaf!” But as I continued to watch, I realized she was having a wonderful spa experience! Tail flicking, wings fluttering, and head thrown back catching the drops on her throat, she was having a terrific time! When she’d had enough, she took off slow and heavily loaded with rain drops to find a protected perch.
In a few short weeks, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds will be heading to the tropics for the winter. As they leave, I always wonder if the little hummers I’ve enjoyed in my garden will find safe haven along the way and for the winter. Will they find feeders? Or flowers that provide life-sustaining nectar? Will their previous winter habitat be intact? Will they survive the long migration across the Gulf? Find suitable habitat on their return? These are just a few of the challenges all migrating birds face.
While it’s easy to enjoy our birds here, we also need to think about them on their wintering grounds. The habitat at their destination is just as important as our own backyards. Recognizing that birds don’t stop at state lines or even international borders, Audubon has launched the Flyway Initiative as part of their strategic plan. Here in North Carolina, we’re looking beyond our borders along the Atlantic Flyway to work with other states as well as Nicaragua and The Bahamas to protect habitat for migrating birds. This is critical work we can all support to ensure “our” birds thrive and their numbers continue to grow. And next year, I’ll again be looking for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds to grace my garden after spending a winter in the tropics.
