
My friend Bryan Pfeiffer is a writer, educator and field naturalist. He used to be a professional birding guide. He knows all about birds and dragonflies and moths. He knows where they live and what they eat and what it smells like where they live and eat. And even though we’ve been friends for a long time, Bryan has never taken me birding because I’ve never been interested in birds. Then I turned fifty and became interested in birds and I think that my sudden interest has more to do with my growing desire to know these places where birds live–and be absorbed in them.
So Bryan took me birding.
Some writing by Bryan:
Wonderful show, passionate and full of heart! I love getting to know people through you. Thank you.
Thanks Ruby!
I too since covid have grown to
Love birds. Thank you for your show.
Carolyn
I’ve been more and more interested in birds too. And I thought your observation that you are now moving into your observer years was right on the money. No better teacher than Bryan. His newsletters open my eyes to the nature I might just pass by. Yes, getting to know a place overtime-Hubbard Park in Montpelier for me-makes me more aware of my own place in the ecosystem. Let’s go birding sometime!
yes Susan!!
My face is sore from grinning through the whole episode… Grinning with joy! It is so uplifting to hear you and Brian interacting in the field or rather, in the bog. As a grown-up nerdy kid who could spend all day sitting in the grass watching insects crawl around to see what they are up to, and who revels in birdsong, this episode just hit my sweet spot. Brian is a Vermont treasure.
What a joyful and infectious 17 minutes. Bryan is, as he always is, effusive, engaging, and enlightening. Thank you.
so original a conversation, I felt I was eavesdropping. thank you for being. 2 friends talking about birds and life observations. Wow!
Fabulous!
That was a TOTAL DELIGHT!!!!! I will happily die in a bog with Bryan and you and the orangest orange orioles and the yellowest yellow warblers.
Wonderfully done.
How terrific to hear Bryan share both his knowledge and heart-felt observations. And that Erica was able to observe and share along with Bryan. Thank you both for taking us along. Smile… sigh.
Hello Erica,
Bryan and you so helped Laura and I get through our weary weather day today. I hope one day he finds the bog of his dreams. Keep going, loved this rumble strip.
G & L
Terminal Bog!!!!
Great stuff, Erica!
I’ve listened to this episode 3 times already, and I suspect I’ll come back to it again.
I’m so grateful to have found your podcast, via Scott Carrier & Home of the Brave, in turn found through a Radiolab stories on chasing down pronghorns & hitching across the country.
Robin
Victoria, BC, Canada