About

What is Bird Magic🪶✨?

Bird Magic is a term used to describe moments with nature that are profound, coincidental, and so well-timed that it feels like actual magic. It can show itself in many ways:

A seal bobbing in the ocean, watching and keeping pace with us as we walked down the Oregon coast. Sparking a curious thought that perhaps we were distant relatives of the selkies.

Scattering red sand along the beach as a way to honor the MMIWG movement, when a barn swallow appears. Swooping and diving in between us, it appears to be dancing. It’s movements so full of joy, and the timing so profound, it’s literally breath-taking.

Working in the shed, feeling satisfied and accomplished, when suddenly looking up and gasping. A fully outstretched Polyphemus moth, gently perching itself among the storage items. Its presence feeling as if some ancient spirit stopped in for a visit.

These moments usually inspire awe, curiosity and gratitude for being here to witness the beauty in life.

How birds became my life

The initial incident of “bird magic” came from my childhood when we experienced a tragic death in the family. As we were leaving the church memorial service, we exited the building right as a huge red-tailed hawk careened down, landing mere feet away from us, completely unbothered by our presence. He looked up, then down, squeezed his talons tightly around the small furry target and took off with it to a nearby perch. He sat there and watched us. His gaze followed us as we walked underneath his perch, all the way down the parking lot and continued as we drove off.

In that moment, I was filled with this profound knowing that this was my relative sending a message. He was okay, and we would be too.

My family continued to have these odd encounters with red-tailed hawks over the next days, weeks and years. It became a symbol for us of reassurance, guidance and healing.

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In my 20s, I was really struggling with my mental and physical health. In that time my escape (and eventual antidote) was an obsession with learning the names of all the birds I was seeing.

This was when I got my first pair of binoculars and birding field guide. Eventually I re-enrolled in college classes and the first class I signed up for was wildlife management. I had no idea what it was, but it had always been the one course listed in the class catalogue that intrigued me most.

I fell in love with this class and the science of wildlife management. For the first time ever, there was a school subject that finally clicked. This class opened up an entire world that ignited curiosity and passion. At the end of the semester, the professor urged me to apply for a part-time position with the Indiana DNR. This lead to the start of my wildlife biology career.

After a decade of dedicating my life to this field, I created Bird Magic- a side project that allows me to spend time in the community, helping to connect our neighbors with nature by inspiring love and appreciation of wildlife!