What Darwin Never Saw
Biography
Jean DeHorn, Backyard Birder
Jean DeHorn is an avid bird watcher who keeps journals and photographs of her bird sightings all year around. Her husband, Jim, shares her interest, too. Together, they have designed a perfect habitat for visiting songbirds in their small backyard. There are fir trees and hawthorns for protection, open spaces for flying around, and feeders filled with favorite foods right outside their picture window! These are all important needs for songbirds, especially during the winter when their habitats are barren and food may be scarce. "Also," Jean adds, "it is good to have warm water in the bird bath. The water is as important as the food if you want to attract birds to your spot."
Jean has always liked animals, even when she was a young student. She does not remember studying birds as a particular focus in school, but she fondly remembers the first bird that excited her. One day, she saw a large bird with a bright red V on the back of its neck, splashing about in the bird bath. It was just playing around by itself as she watched. She was curious to find out what type of bird it was, so she and her mother did a little research. They looked in a field guide and found that it was a flicker. That excitement of discovery started her on her way to bird watching! She still feels it every time she sees a new bird species.
Jean admits that most people do not think that there is much wildlife in an urban area, but that is not true. She was raised in the city and she saw plenty! As a child, Jean learned to pay keen attention to the details of birds. Watching birds eventually became her lifelong hobby. Now, as an adult, she is a member of the National Audubon Society, an organization devoted to bird appreciation. She also has an interest for gardening and she plants specific flowers in her front yard to attract wildlife. Her native prairie garden includes black-eyed susans, purple cone flowers, butterfly weed, blazing stars, and penstemons.
As a backyard birder, Jean gives important tips to future watchers. She advises that students begin by "noticing anything that seems unusual. It is a great way to start." Jean and Jim have actively been involved with Project FeederWatch for two years. They collect data on special days from November through March and send their reports to Cornell University to be combined with other birders' sightings. The project allows scientists to track the numbers of songbirds birds over the United States and Canada. Without the help of birders like Jean and Jim, this data could not be collected. Jean encourages students to try a bird feeder watch on their own. All it takes is a good spot and a little bird food. She advises them to "enjoy the birds who come to feed near you, but be aware of the responsibility, too. It is fine to feed birds, but don't feed them in the beginning of winter and then discontinue feeding them. They will be dependent on you when the weather turns cold and food becomes scarce!"