Reflections on Birds of the Pacific Northwest
Through encounters with birds and wild places, an ecologist explores the science, memories, losses, and joys that shape a life—and discovers how paying attention to nature can deepen our sense of wonder at being alive.
About Marvelous Wings
Birds have fascinated me for most of my life. As a scientist, I want to understand how they live—the extraordinary migrations they make, the adaptations that allow them to survive, and the intricate relationships that connect them to the landscapes around us. But birds have given me something more than scientific questions to ponder. They have brought me joy, solace, and wonder, and at difficult times in my life, they have helped me find my way forward.
In Marvelous Wings, I share encounters with birds and wild places across the Pacific Northwest. Some began with the excitement of finding an unexpected bird; others with a song, a behavior, or simply a moment that made me stop and pay attention. From the remarkable migration of a Swainson’s Thrush to species and landscapes that even longtime residents may never have encountered, each essay begins with curiosity and follows wherever that curiosity leads—into science, memory, loss, resilience, and the pleasures of being alive in a world filled with other living things.
I hope these essays encourage you to look more closely, listen more carefully, and perhaps step outside with renewed curiosity. Most of all, I hope they help you discover some of the wonder and joy that birds and wild places continue to give me.
Available September 2026 from Washington State University Press
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Listen to Marvelous Wings
Working Through the Songbook
Song Sparrows in the Pacific Northwest have up to twelve different tunes that they use to defend their territories and attract a mate. Males must learn those songs and I went to Stossel Creek near Carnation several times to listen for differences. I recorded two individuals that were several miles apart. This male sang eight different tunes during my recording session before heading off to do something else.
The Song of Teal Lake
Teal Lake sits in the Okanogan Highlands, east of Tonasket, a beautiful place tucked along a rural road. This dawn chorus began at 3:30 AM on a June morning. The frogs go quiet a few times and then return. After twenty minutes the birds begin to sing.
I came to Teal Lake early one morning to experience the beauty of the melodies and feel joy and wonder. I pondered the geology as well as looked for the sources of songs I didn’t recognize. It was a good place to ponder life, too.
This recording lasts for four hours with hardly any human-made sounds.
Pure and Clean – Hermit Thrush
Hermit Thrushes sound like a duet between an oboe and a flute. Their song opens with a prelude and is quickly followed by an elaborate flourish. Subsequent preludes are at different pitches, making for a wonderful melody. I hiked into Tiffany Highlands before dawn to look for this species and see if I could hear its magnificent song.
Meet Some of the Birds
The great gray owlet sat right beside the trunk waiting for one of its parents to come with a vole. 
The American Goldfinch reached for a seed to eat, swaying on the gentle stem. 
The Pied-billed Grebe sat in the water with one eye beaded on me. Eventually, it just sank and swam away. 
The male Red-winged Blackbird spread its wings and let out its cong-ka-lee song right at me. 
The Short-eared Owl had been quartering across the marsh when it turned its head to look right where I stood. 
The Song Sparrow tilted back its head and gave its wonderful melody for all to hear. 
Swainson’s Thrushes breed in Washington and spend the winter in Latin America.
The Grace of Flight
The Trumpeter Swan family came flying low over Fir Island to land among the other swans. Their grace and elegance are amazing. This video is slowed down to a quarter speed to help see their stunning flight.