Last Friday, I accompanied my oldest sister Rachel, who has been living with me and my wife for fifteen years, back to Maine. Rachel will be living near one of our sisters who lives in Stockton Springs, a small community on a peninsula that juts out into Penobscot Bay.
My ancestry, on both my mother’s and father’s sides runs deep in Maine—back to the 1600’s. While I am originally from New England, severe childhood asthma resulted in my moving to Tucson at the ripe age of six years old. My grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins are all originally from Maine.
I Arrived in Tucson in 1965 and have only been back to Maine on a few occasions over the last fifty-nine years. In 1975, I spent part of the summer in Orrington, Maine with my uncle. In 1978, we traveled as a family to Maine. Twenty-three years passed before I got back to Maine, when we had a lovely family reunion in 2001. Now, after another twenty-three-year gap, I finally got back there, briefly.
As you might imagine, I went prepared with my Swarovski binoculars to do some birding, as time permitted. I still have my hand-written records of the bird species I observed in Maine in 1975. Several years ago, I entered this information into my eBird account, so I have an electronic record of my bird observations at a very special place to my family.
Many of my ancestors lived in or spent time in Ellsworth, Maine which is home to Birdsacre. The property was owned by Cordelia Stanwood, acknowledged as the first female ornithologist. She was born in 1865 and died in 1958—the year before I was born. My father personally knew Cordelia, as he was born in 1928.
On Monday of this week, I visited Birdsacre. It has been forty-nine years since I was last there. It was a sacred, spiritual experience for me, as I reflected on my early interest in birds, and how that interest has molded, shaped and influenced my entire life.
Tears filled my eyes as I walked the trails of Birdsacre. I pondered the direction my life has taken and the opportunities I have had and the places I have traveled to—all because of my love of birds. I’ve visited Africa twice, South America twice, Trinidad & Tobago, Costa Rica, Belize, Jamaica, Bermuda, Mexico, and so many other places.
I humbly acknowledge that my life has been rich and fulfilling because of my love of birds. The decision—over twenty years ago—to open a backyard wild bird store was on the forefront of my thoughts. Through this experience I have been able to share my love of birds with thousands of people.
There was a time when we had three stores—one each in Prescott, Sedona and Flagstaff. Our business has touched the lives of so many individuals. The free weekly bird walks that we offer have been life-changing for so many. The products we sell, especially optics, have helped individuals create their own connection to nature through their experiences with wild birds.
It all started in New England. Later, my love of birds grew and flourished and blossomed here in Arizona. I am eternally grateful for my love of birds, which is my personal connection to nature.
My birding this past weekend in Maine was a full-circle experience. Seeing bird species there was like seeing old friends. Over the decades, birds have awakened and quickened within me my love of being outdoors in nature. How grateful I am for the opportunity I had this past weekend to go birding in Maine.
Until next week, Happy Birding!
Eric Moore is the owner of The Lookout, in Prescott, where you will find a Hallmark Gold Crown Store, wild bird products, and Swarovski and Vortex optics. Eric has been an avid birder for over 55 years. Eric can be contacted at eric@thelookoutaz.com.
