The Birdfeeder's Handbook by Sheila Buff

In 2004, E volunteered for a local organization that was helping the Kerry-Edwards campaign. One of the activities for volunteers was neighborhood canvassing, but it was understood that campaigning in California was a waste of time since it was certain to go blue anyway. So the group organized trips for volunteers to travel to Nevada, a swing state, to walk the neighborhoods.

I agreed to go on one of these trips because anything is more fun than sitting at home, and because E promised that we would do fun things on our own, too. In addition to knocking on doors in conservative neighborhoods.

Host families were arranged for all the volunteers, and ours was a very nice couple, Mr. and Mrs. K, who lived not far outside Reno. Their neighborhood reminded me of where I grew up, in Westchester County, New York. The area wasn’t as developed as our Bay Area, and there were pockets of housing, and winding roads, among the trees of the forest. It could have been a place like Chappaqua rolled up, shipped across the country, and unfurled in northern Nevada at the base of the Sierras. We arrived late on a Friday night, and as we looked for their address, I felt very much at home.

The Ks had a beautiful, large home nestled in the trees. In the morning, they prepared a simple breakfast for us out on their back patio. I thought I was in heaven. The Ks had no houses within sight behind their house, just trees. These woods were not dense, but rather open and airy, with no underbrush between the tall pines.

My favorite part of their backyard, however, was a large flat area of tamped dirt adjoining the patio. In this area were several free-standing birdfeeders. As we ate breakfast, Mrs. K refilled the feeders and scattered seed and nuts onto the flat ground. Immediately, birds flew in from every direction to have their own breakfasts, while knowledgeable squirrels and chipmunks darted out from their hiding places to grab what goodies they could. I was delighted. I didn’t want to ever leave this Eden.

Soon after we returned home, I found my self at a library book sale, and I happened across the book I needed: The Birdfeeder’s Handbook by Sheila Buff. We may not live in the woods, but we do have a redwood tree in our backyard. Once I read the book, we’ll have a wilderness menagerie yet.

The Birdfeeder's Handbook by Sheila Buff

Tags: books birds reno kerry+campaign Sheila+Buff