I have always turned to birds as an escape from stress or just a way of relaxing. It took many years from showing a slight interest in birds to becoming an active birder. Nature has intrigued me from a very young age, having grown up with parents from farming and pioneering stock, albeit in a town. We always had vegetable and flower gardens as well as fruit orchards, chickens and geese. My parents even delved into rabbit farming and also allowed my sister to keep an aviary of budgies and pet rats and mice. Because I was forced to perform many duties with regard to making all these projects a success, I never really showed a great interest in them. I must, however, hasten to add that I did enjoy the benefits to their fullest.
When it came time for me to do my homework I would find the most comfortable spot in the garden where I could enjoy the fresh air, smells of the garden and sound of the birds. A garden without birds has never been the same to me. I would spend whole afternoons doing my homework there in between watching birds and their activities and eating fruit and raw vegetables, fresh out of the garden. Although it never entered my mind that I was slowly developing an interest in things natural and in particular birds, I secretly treasured my sanctuaries in the garden when I felt stressed or out of sorts for any reason.
By the time I was 11 and spending time on my grandparent’s farm with my cousins I started realizing that a dove was not just a dove and there were different types of sparrows. There were Egrets and Herons and the ones that really confused me were the big eagles, medium eagles and little eagles, the brown eagles, grey eagles and black eagles. Of course I know now that they are falcons, kites, buzzards, eagles, vultures and other birds of prey. Back home I would start paying more attention to my “bird watching” and try to distinguish between the different species. At this stage I never realized that there were books available to assist me in my interest, hence although I noticed differences, I was unable to identify the birds. Way back then it was also unheard of for parents to take an active interest in children’s whims and fantasies unless it was prowess in sport or an academic flair. I was well supported with my school achievements, my cricket, soccer and athletic activities but not my real interests. In retrospect I can only surmise that because my interests were not, in my parents generation’s way of thinking, career-building interests, they were not worth cultivating or encouraging. Since my bird watching interest was not shared by anyone else in the family, it was never discussed nor encouraged but still the activity continued.