1 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:14,320 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Therapy for Black Girls podcast, a weekly 2 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:19,160 Speaker 1: conversation about mental health, personal development, and all the small 3 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:22,320 Speaker 1: decisions we can make to become the best possible versions 4 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 1: of ourselves. I'm your host, Doctor Joy Harden Bradford, a 5 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 1: licensed psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information or to 6 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 1: find a therapist in your area, visit our website at 7 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:39,479 Speaker 1: Therapy for Blackgirls dot com. While I hope you love 8 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 1: listening to and learning from the podcast, it is not 9 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 1: meant to be a substitute for a relationship with a 10 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 1: licensed mental health professional. Hey, y'all, thanks so much for 11 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 1: joining me for the special bonus episode of Therapy for 12 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 1: Black Girl's podcast. We'll get right into our conversation after 13 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:16,320 Speaker 1: a word from our sponsors. Today we have special guests 14 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 1: Tama Watts, a licensed marriage and family therapist with an 15 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:24,200 Speaker 1: inspiring story. Tama shares how her life took an unexpected 16 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 1: turn after suffering a neurological injury following a routine surgery, 17 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 1: which left her unable to return to the work she loved. However, 18 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:37,520 Speaker 1: through this challenging experience, she rediscovered her passion for birdwatching. 19 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 1: In today's episode, she opens up about how birdwatching became 20 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 1: therapeutic for her, allowing her to connect with nature, practice mindfulness, 21 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 1: and find purpose and joy in observing birds. She also 22 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 1: gives us a peek inside her latest book, Keep Looking Up, 23 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 1: Your Guide to the powerful Healing of bird Watching. Tama's 24 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 1: story is a testament to the resilience of the human 25 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: spirit and the healing power of nature. If something resonates 26 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:08,639 Speaker 1: with you while enjoying our conversation, please share it with 27 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:12,360 Speaker 1: us on social media using the hashtag TBG in session, 28 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 1: or join us over in the Sister Circle. To talk 29 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 1: more in depth about the episode. You can join us 30 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:22,760 Speaker 1: at community dot therapy for Blackgirls dot com. Here's our conversation. 31 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:28,360 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for joining us today, Tamma, thank you, 32 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: thank you for having me. I'm very excited to chat 33 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:33,919 Speaker 1: with you today. If you feel comfortable, can you tell 34 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 1: us a little bit about you kind of started bird 35 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:39,600 Speaker 1: watching after a surgery. Can you tell us a little 36 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:42,400 Speaker 1: bit about that experience and what life was like for 37 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 1: you in the immediate aftermath of the surgery. Yes, certainly. 38 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 1: The best way I can answer that question is to 39 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:51,680 Speaker 1: say how my life was, because that's what I feel 40 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:55,680 Speaker 1: created a dissension for me descending into a deep, deep 41 00:02:55,720 --> 00:03:00,160 Speaker 1: depression and other related conditions. I was very busy, z 42 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:05,880 Speaker 1: I was a mental health administrator, working sixty seventy hours 43 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 1: at a time, and even though I didn't identify myself 44 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 1: with what my profession is and what I do and 45 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 1: give that as part of my profession, I realized that 46 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:21,640 Speaker 1: after the injury following a surgery, needing to abruptly stop work, 47 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 1: it wasn't planned, it was sudden, really created a loss 48 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 1: of what it was I was doing in my profession. Yes, 49 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 1: I'm a mother, grandmother, but for some reason that immediate 50 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 1: loss of that sixty seventy in need in terms of 51 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 1: offering care for others and support, I came into a 52 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 1: deep depression. In addition to that was the severe pain 53 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 1: of the condition that I had, which is chronic regional 54 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 1: pain syndrome. It stills considered rare when I first contracted it. 55 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:59,080 Speaker 1: It wasn't fully understood. It was still emerging as acceptance 56 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 1: of what it was, and so I went through a 57 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 1: lot of trials and errors, and as with medical visits 58 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 1: and medications, that just further descended me in a sense 59 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 1: of hopelessness, like there's nothing that can be done. I'm due, 60 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 1: and so that's where I was. I had shame associated 61 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:18,680 Speaker 1: with not being able to function as I used to. 62 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 1: At one point, I couldn't even hold a pen without 63 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:24,119 Speaker 1: shaking terribly, or pick up I say, a stray dime 64 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 1: because it was flat on the surface, or breastwine teeth, 65 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 1: even just carry a pan of water. Things you take 66 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 1: for grant up quite often. I lost that, and so 67 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:35,840 Speaker 1: it was very apparent to me how debilitated I was, 68 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 1: and that further descended into more depression and stress and 69 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:45,160 Speaker 1: anxiety because of the loss of everything in my mind 70 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 1: at that time, that's what it felt like. And it 71 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: became very dark for me and very isolating, like the 72 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 1: world was continuing to go on that I was in 73 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: this house. I didn't see it as a home. It 74 00:04:56,279 --> 00:05:00,480 Speaker 1: was just this space. I couldn't walk, I couldn't trialize 75 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:03,479 Speaker 1: like I used to. It was a lot. It was 76 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 1: a lot. Yeah, And so you know, one of the 77 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 1: things that you turn to, it sounds like, was birdwatching. 78 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 1: So can you talk a little bit about do you 79 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 1: remember your first time when you went birdwatching? Wasn't an 80 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 1: intentional kind of thing? Did it just happen? What do 81 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 1: you remember about that? First time. I kind of have 82 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 1: like two aspects about my connection with birds and birdwatching. 83 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:27,679 Speaker 1: So I have my connection as a young girl growing 84 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 1: up early on with chickens and my duck, my pet duck. 85 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 1: So I had that. I feel like that was the 86 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:37,840 Speaker 1: root of foundation that was always in me. And both 87 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 1: my parents spent time outdoors, took us outdoors as children, 88 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 1: and so I feel like that was in my cells 89 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 1: and contained in me. Even though beyond that an adulthood, 90 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:52,359 Speaker 1: I was so busy here, there and everywhere. I didn't 91 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:55,560 Speaker 1: pay attention to birds at all during a number of years. 92 00:05:56,080 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 1: So then in later years, in the more recent times, 93 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 1: I would say because of the debilitating pain, depression, the anxiety, 94 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 1: the loss, and there was a lot of loss and 95 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 1: Greek about all of this. One of the days, it 96 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:12,360 Speaker 1: was in the morning, I was trying to fill a 97 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:15,680 Speaker 1: medium sized piano water and it was shaking in my hands, 98 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 1: but I was doing it, and I happened to look 99 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 1: up out of my kitchen window up at a tree. 100 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 1: And we have a tree that early on we moved 101 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 1: in here, we had dirt, we planted a little tree. 102 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 1: So I happened to look out and there was this 103 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:31,240 Speaker 1: yellow moving through the trees, and so at first I 104 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 1: thought it was those yellow blossoms on the tree, but 105 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 1: something different was moving and I looked up and I 106 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:39,360 Speaker 1: saw it was this little yellow bird. At the time, 107 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:41,159 Speaker 1: I didn't know what it was called, but it's called 108 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 1: a yellow warbler. So their buttery yellow and then they 109 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:47,000 Speaker 1: have a little bit of red streaking on their chest, 110 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 1: the mail birds do, and that's what that was. So 111 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:53,839 Speaker 1: there's this yellow sticking out, moving around, coming to drink, 112 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:56,040 Speaker 1: and it happened to look at me, just for a 113 00:06:56,120 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 1: split second. Probably it could have felt like time stopped. 114 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:05,920 Speaker 1: It felt like it just stared at me. It casted 115 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 1: beams of sunshine all over my soul because literally, in 116 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 1: that second, there was this different connection that created a 117 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 1: connection to life, to possibilities to see outside, to like 118 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 1: there is life. Part of this is met processing this after, 119 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 1: but at the time it caught me like this, and 120 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 1: then I began to notice it come. And so every 121 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 1: time I would go to the kitchen, which for me, 122 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 1: I'm in the kitchen a lot, maybe more than I should, 123 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 1: but I'm in the kitchen looking and I started to 124 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:40,200 Speaker 1: look up every single time, and it became habit over 125 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 1: many weeks and months, and I would see it out. 126 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:45,000 Speaker 1: I have a seat again, and now I know. This 127 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 1: was during spring migration when the yellow warblers come through 128 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:52,160 Speaker 1: in southern California. So it really drew me outdoors, and 129 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 1: I went outside. I was curious. I began to notice 130 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:59,679 Speaker 1: other birds, many that now live all the year round, 131 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 1: like doves, housefinches for folks who may or may not 132 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 1: know about those, and they tend to be more browns. 133 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 1: When you start to notice, you notice all kinds of variations. 134 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:13,679 Speaker 1: And so that began to help ease me out, little 135 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 1: by little, a minute at a time, ease my way 136 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 1: outdoors and noticing birds. And so that's the connection. M 137 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 1: what a beautiful story. Yeah, I wonder if there will 138 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:26,800 Speaker 1: also will connect into your childhood right when things were 139 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 1: simpler and less complicated, right, since you already had a 140 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:33,200 Speaker 1: connection to birds, right. And the interesting thing is, my 141 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:36,840 Speaker 1: mother was always ahead of her time. She's a Maverick woman, beautiful, 142 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 1: and she's still alive with us, she's ninety one years. 143 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:41,679 Speaker 1: Then she was away ahead of her time, the daughter 144 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:44,560 Speaker 1: of an aa ME minister that she was like all 145 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 1: over the place doing other things unconventionally. So she wanted 146 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:51,000 Speaker 1: us to have a farm. And so this little yellow 147 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 1: duck when I picked it out at the feed store, 148 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:58,720 Speaker 1: it was bright yellow, and I didn't make that connected related, 149 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 1: but that I feel like that's I shared that of originally, 150 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 1: like I think the foundation have been set way back 151 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 1: so that I could then have that much needed assistance, 152 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:10,679 Speaker 1: right right, So can you say a little bit more 153 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:13,720 Speaker 1: about what the bird watching did for you trying to 154 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:15,920 Speaker 1: manage the chronic pain, So you'd already say they kind 155 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 1: of helped to draw you out in one of the 156 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:19,480 Speaker 1: ways that you feel like it was helpful to you. 157 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:22,960 Speaker 1: It reduced the amount of time that I was alidably 158 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:27,280 Speaker 1: focused on the dark spots and spaces of what I 159 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 1: had lost, of my losses, and it really created a 160 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:39,000 Speaker 1: lot of curiosity and that there was these unknown appearances 161 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:42,200 Speaker 1: that were coming. And when that happens, that really is 162 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:46,000 Speaker 1: diversion from your energy and focus away from what isn't 163 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 1: going well, what isn't happening for you necessarily, like for 164 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:52,760 Speaker 1: me speak for myself in that regard, and in doing that, 165 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:58,559 Speaker 1: we now know neurologically, physiologically we can reduce the sensations 166 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:02,760 Speaker 1: of like pain in symptoms of depression in that process. 167 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 1: So that's what it has done for me, and that's 168 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 1: in the home space. I then became so curious that 169 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 1: I got a guide book to kind of figure out 170 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:13,520 Speaker 1: what are these birds I'm seeing? And then I began 171 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:16,359 Speaker 1: to feel confident enough to walk around in my neighborhood. 172 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 1: So I began to go outdoors and get move my 173 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 1: body even a little bit in the way that I could. 174 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 1: I'm not running, I wasn't walking briskly like maybe other folks. 175 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:28,640 Speaker 1: But for me to go out and get in that 176 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:31,480 Speaker 1: fresh air that we now know is also helpful for 177 00:10:31,679 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 1: reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, even a few minutes 178 00:10:36,679 --> 00:10:39,920 Speaker 1: versus staying indoors all the time made a difference. So 179 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:42,680 Speaker 1: doing that over time, I'm not necessary going for a walk. 180 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:44,839 Speaker 1: I was going to go see what birds I could find. 181 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:49,000 Speaker 1: I'm walking, I'm moving, I'm staying out a little longer. 182 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 1: And you know, if I have to pause and lean 183 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:52,960 Speaker 1: up against the fence or sit down on a stoop 184 00:10:53,040 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 1: or something, I do that without Philly, you're not doing 185 00:10:56,240 --> 00:10:59,000 Speaker 1: it right or you can't go the full way. It's like, 186 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:01,240 Speaker 1: I go on the way that I can. So that 187 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 1: allowed me to develop more physical stamina. So at the 188 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:07,560 Speaker 1: same time, I'm kind of getting the benefits of both, 189 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:10,520 Speaker 1: and I'm seeing other birds. I began to feel more confident. 190 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: And this is over a number of years because of 191 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:17,319 Speaker 1: my debilitation that I was beginning to improve and improve. 192 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:20,480 Speaker 1: I finally decided, like, I'm going to join a local 193 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:26,679 Speaker 1: Audubon chapter. And Audubon is a bird conservation environmental organization. 194 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 1: They've been around since the late eighteen hundreds early nineteen hundreds, 195 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:34,120 Speaker 1: and so they in different states. They have local chapters 196 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 1: throughout the states, and so I wanted to join. One thought, 197 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 1: how am I going to do this. I don't want 198 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:42,000 Speaker 1: to just show I'm not a birder. I don't look 199 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:45,079 Speaker 1: a lot of these folks. This is uncomfortable, But yet 200 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:46,800 Speaker 1: I wanted to be able to learn more and be 201 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:49,720 Speaker 1: in a community with others that had similar interests, and 202 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:52,960 Speaker 1: so I decided to attend what's called the Christmas Bird Count. 203 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:56,840 Speaker 1: It's an annual event where all over North America people 204 00:11:56,960 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 1: join in teams and they count the birds they see 205 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:03,320 Speaker 1: during and designated two weeks in December. Usually all of 206 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 1: that is tabulated with researchers and scientists to see patterns 207 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:09,840 Speaker 1: of what species may be a decline, what rarities may 208 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:14,440 Speaker 1: be showing up because of climate change, whether whatever the reasons, 209 00:12:14,679 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 1: it really gives a picture, a snapshot of what's going on. 210 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:23,000 Speaker 1: So you're contributing to a broader, greater space than yourself. 211 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:29,520 Speaker 1: And then being in community. The power of community is profound, 212 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:33,080 Speaker 1: and so being with folks that maybe some of them 213 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:34,719 Speaker 1: are a lot of them, no more than you do. 214 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 1: A lot of the new life first started, they knew 215 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 1: all the birds, and I was just finding joy and 216 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:42,880 Speaker 1: just being around others and in that space. Now I'm 217 00:12:42,920 --> 00:12:45,600 Speaker 1: basically a bird lady for sure. But that's how it 218 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:49,200 Speaker 1: grew and grew, is that feeling of connection that the 219 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 1: birds invited me to go further out and to connect 220 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:56,200 Speaker 1: more and more and more, and some of that community 221 00:12:56,240 --> 00:12:58,960 Speaker 1: science that you're talking about, I can imagine kind of 222 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:01,200 Speaker 1: feel some of the need to kind of give back 223 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 1: in the same way that you were doing in your 224 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:07,400 Speaker 1: practice exactly exactly. It's like you just know and it's 225 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:10,000 Speaker 1: it's what you can do, right. I mean, you're one 226 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:12,320 Speaker 1: of several and that's what I talked about in the book, 227 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 1: is like a flock is one of many, and in 228 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:18,760 Speaker 1: a flot birds will fly like if you see geese 229 00:13:18,760 --> 00:13:22,559 Speaker 1: flying in that V formation, or pelicans, you know, certain 230 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:24,679 Speaker 1: species of birds, there's one in front and then you 231 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:27,920 Speaker 1: just have the v so that they can cut the wind. Well, 232 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:30,640 Speaker 1: that one in front is leading the rest, but then 233 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:33,600 Speaker 1: it gets tired, it can slip back into place, and 234 00:13:33,679 --> 00:13:36,040 Speaker 1: another one will take its place and carry the journey 235 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:39,000 Speaker 1: on for the group. And so that's what I say. 236 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:42,880 Speaker 1: And flocks will flock together with different species, some that 237 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:45,040 Speaker 1: eat on the grounds, some that eat in the trees, 238 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:47,880 Speaker 1: and so those in the trees can look for predators 239 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:50,360 Speaker 1: and warn the ones on the ground. And when they're 240 00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:54,480 Speaker 1: mixed together, there's more numbers and a flot, so they 241 00:13:54,559 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 1: present safety for themselves against predation from others, predators, animals. 242 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:04,400 Speaker 1: So whatnot. So that power of community, which is why 243 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:07,480 Speaker 1: I named that chapter bird watching in your community flock, 244 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:12,520 Speaker 1: that powerful sense of belonging is huge, and we know 245 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 1: that that too helps with reduction and depression stress, all 246 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:21,840 Speaker 1: kinds of benefits of being in community, right right, So 247 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 1: besides the power of community, what other kinds of lessons 248 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:29,080 Speaker 1: do you feel like the birds have taught you? So many? 249 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:32,520 Speaker 1: I learned all the time every day about them too. 250 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 1: They've taught me to really accept me and myself. They're 251 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 1: non judgmental. Is how I see birds that they're non judgmental. 252 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:45,640 Speaker 1: Now they may not like you, you know, storming out, 253 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 1: because they'll take flight if you come storming out, but 254 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:51,960 Speaker 1: they're not judging you. They're just responding to you. I 255 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:55,000 Speaker 1: feel like birds represent that there's a reminder for us 256 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:59,000 Speaker 1: to just pause and take notice of what happens to 257 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:01,560 Speaker 1: come by. Whether it's a fly by, a landing on 258 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:04,360 Speaker 1: a balcony ledge, or in a bush or up in 259 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:07,440 Speaker 1: a tree. It's just a reminder to say, just take 260 00:15:07,480 --> 00:15:10,840 Speaker 1: a moment and notice, like what is around. It really 261 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:13,960 Speaker 1: is for me a reminder of gratitude of self acceptance. 262 00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:16,920 Speaker 1: It's like, we'll accept you how you are. Sometimes I'm 263 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:20,120 Speaker 1: out there in my pajamas. The birds will accept you anyway. 264 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 1: And they're everywhere, So there's that reminder can be for everyone. 265 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:29,200 Speaker 1: So that's what for me. Birds remind us that we 266 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:32,280 Speaker 1: belong here just like they belong here. Part of it 267 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:35,720 Speaker 1: is when you feed birds and offer them water, it's 268 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 1: a sense of also doing self care. There's a sense 269 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:43,960 Speaker 1: of a beneficial mutual relationship that you develop when you 270 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:47,480 Speaker 1: feed birds, but even a little hummingbird feeder, usually the 271 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:50,520 Speaker 1: same little hummingbird will come over time. So you develop 272 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 1: this relationship of caring and trust me a hummingbird if 273 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:55,640 Speaker 1: it goes empty, If anybody has a humming barfeed and 274 00:15:55,640 --> 00:15:58,800 Speaker 1: it goes empty, those little hummingbirds are looking zippy like 275 00:15:58,840 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 1: where where's our food? Where are you? We need you? 276 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 1: And so it really does reinforce like a sense of 277 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 1: being needed. There's benefit to it. And so like I 278 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:11,400 Speaker 1: say on conservation or saying, when we do better, birds 279 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:14,760 Speaker 1: do better. So those are some of the reminders more 280 00:16:14,840 --> 00:16:27,960 Speaker 1: from my conversation with Tamma after the break. Yeah, so 281 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 1: you've already kind of outlined a couple of the mental 282 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:32,440 Speaker 1: health benefits. So you know you talked about like a 283 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:36,000 Speaker 1: reduction in stress, reduction in the pain. What other mental 284 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 1: health benefits have you found related to birdwatching. I find 285 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:41,880 Speaker 1: that a lot of folks that I talk with phil 286 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:45,880 Speaker 1: a sense of reduction of their depression, also a sense 287 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:50,360 Speaker 1: of there's something more beyond you the person going through 288 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:52,520 Speaker 1: a dark time. And like I said, and you can 289 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:55,160 Speaker 1: show up to notice it just how you are. So 290 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 1: if you can't get up off the sofa, right now, 291 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 1: or you can look through a window, hope, or look 292 00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 1: through a door. It also creates a sense of belonging, 293 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:05,880 Speaker 1: like we've talked about, and there's you know, new research 294 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:08,960 Speaker 1: that shows bird's song does help with the symptoms of 295 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:12,560 Speaker 1: reduction and stress, a sense of comb that the sound 296 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:15,800 Speaker 1: of birds creates a sense of comb for us. That 297 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:18,960 Speaker 1: kind of is linked to our natural sense of the 298 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:23,760 Speaker 1: natural world, green spaces, blue spaces, and so hearing bird's song, 299 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:27,240 Speaker 1: particularly in the afternoon has been found to be really 300 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 1: beneficial for those kinds of symptoms of mental health depression, anxiety, stress, 301 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:35,359 Speaker 1: So those are some of the benefits. And spending time 302 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:38,320 Speaker 1: just noticing birds in the afternoon as well. So that's 303 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:39,960 Speaker 1: one of the I think of benefits that you don't 304 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:41,960 Speaker 1: have to just go look at birds in the warnings. 305 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:43,239 Speaker 1: Some people say, oh, you have to get up really 306 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 1: at the dawn and do it not necessarily. So what 307 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:49,840 Speaker 1: does your bird watching practice look like? Is it something 308 00:17:49,880 --> 00:17:52,280 Speaker 1: that you do daily, weekly? What does they look like? 309 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:57,439 Speaker 1: It's definitely daily, and it takes all different kinds of forms. 310 00:17:57,480 --> 00:17:59,720 Speaker 1: I think I'm considered like a hybrid type person and 311 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:01,879 Speaker 1: that's part of what I want to share with folks 312 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:04,119 Speaker 1: that if you'd do birding the way you want to 313 00:18:04,119 --> 00:18:06,719 Speaker 1: do it, it doesn't have to stick to this concept 314 00:18:06,760 --> 00:18:08,840 Speaker 1: that you have to have the ad in certain colors 315 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:11,919 Speaker 1: in certain ways. But every day I go out and 316 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:15,400 Speaker 1: sit with the birds. Sometimes it's ten minutes, five minutes, 317 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:18,440 Speaker 1: and other times it's a couple of hours when I can. 318 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 1: I'll even work outdoors when I'm writing or working on 319 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:23,640 Speaker 1: a project that I can just take my laptop out 320 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:26,240 Speaker 1: there and do that the table doors. I'll do that 321 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:29,840 Speaker 1: and I'm watching birds as I'm working. So to me, 322 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:33,200 Speaker 1: that's like the best office that I can get away 323 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:35,720 Speaker 1: with that. If not, I'll look through the window and 324 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:37,959 Speaker 1: notice because I have a honey BREFFI hanging out near 325 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:41,200 Speaker 1: a tree out near a window. And then I'll also 326 00:18:41,960 --> 00:18:47,399 Speaker 1: at times go on outings that are sponsored by the 327 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:51,320 Speaker 1: local chapter of Audubon that I'm a member of. It 328 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:53,439 Speaker 1: helps invite me into spaces that I may not know 329 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 1: about otherwise. So I learned about new trails, new parks, 330 00:18:57,480 --> 00:19:00,480 Speaker 1: and a lot of the guides are very non eligible 331 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:03,040 Speaker 1: and so they may say, oh, there's the species coming 332 00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 1: through this rare like there's birds that get flown up 333 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:10,359 Speaker 1: course and they're very rare in certain regions depending on 334 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:13,719 Speaker 1: where you live, and so people may not otherwise see it. 335 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 1: So this is an opportunity to go do that. And 336 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:19,000 Speaker 1: that's called chasing a bird, going after the bird, Like specifically, 337 00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 1: I want to go see this one particular bird that 338 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:24,000 Speaker 1: only here, Like for me to see a cardinal would 339 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:27,160 Speaker 1: be a huge thing, like that would be stop everything, 340 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:32,960 Speaker 1: We'll see the cardinal. Or like here's an example early January. 341 00:19:33,359 --> 00:19:35,359 Speaker 1: Did you hear about the snowy owl that was in 342 00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:39,280 Speaker 1: Orange County, California? Idea? See how I mean I hit 343 00:19:39,320 --> 00:19:43,000 Speaker 1: the international I mean it was international news. Great. Yeah, 344 00:19:43,080 --> 00:19:45,760 Speaker 1: so I went up because I live in San Diego County. 345 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:49,200 Speaker 1: I took my granddaughter And so that's the other piece 346 00:19:49,240 --> 00:19:51,680 Speaker 1: of this that's beneficial. When I can, I will take 347 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:55,840 Speaker 1: my granddaughter's my birding buddy that I can coax into 348 00:19:56,520 --> 00:19:58,320 Speaker 1: going with me, and so she's kind of got the 349 00:19:58,320 --> 00:20:00,439 Speaker 1: bug too. But this is like a once in a 350 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:04,439 Speaker 1: lifetime opportunity to see a snowy owl that normally is 351 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:09,640 Speaker 1: up way north, like Alaska Way North and North America. 352 00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:11,720 Speaker 1: And during this period of time it might descend in 353 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 1: the lower price of Canada. But here it was in 354 00:20:15,960 --> 00:20:19,960 Speaker 1: La County, Orange County, so so many people were literally 355 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:22,000 Speaker 1: I hate to use this term, but they were flocking. 356 00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:24,040 Speaker 1: I mean they were in the street, they were all 357 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:26,600 Speaker 1: over the sidewalk. So to be a part of something 358 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:29,840 Speaker 1: that really was historical. So you'll find me doing that 359 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:32,880 Speaker 1: kind of thing. So there's like a brunt and that's 360 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:34,600 Speaker 1: the thing I like. It's like when I choose to 361 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:37,199 Speaker 1: do it, I'll sometimes go with somebody else. A lot 362 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:39,200 Speaker 1: of times I'll walk on a trail where I live 363 00:20:39,480 --> 00:20:42,439 Speaker 1: and just see what I see by myself, and then 364 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:44,639 Speaker 1: when I want to, I can join a full community 365 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:47,520 Speaker 1: of people. I do volunteer for audubon a couple of 366 00:20:47,560 --> 00:20:50,520 Speaker 1: capacities as well, so it has grown for me in 367 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:53,040 Speaker 1: terms of how I contribute back. So there might be 368 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:56,280 Speaker 1: an event like a wetlands event down a main part 369 00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:59,280 Speaker 1: of San Diego County to really restore that back to 370 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:04,159 Speaker 1: the indigenous lands, which also benefits birds and habitat as well. 371 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:07,359 Speaker 1: So that might bring hundreds of people, just like the 372 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:10,359 Speaker 1: snowy al brought hundreds of people and events around that. 373 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:12,560 Speaker 1: So you can pick and choose when you want to 374 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:15,719 Speaker 1: lean in more or just decide to do it as 375 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:18,359 Speaker 1: like a solitude and just do something that's special just 376 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:21,600 Speaker 1: for yourself. I thought that was a long answer. No, 377 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:24,800 Speaker 1: that's fine, but I am curious. Those were people who 378 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:27,160 Speaker 1: are enjoying the conversation and they want to get started 379 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:29,840 Speaker 1: with birdwatching, Like what what do you do? Like do 380 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:32,240 Speaker 1: you just go outside in your neighborhood? Like how do 381 00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:35,960 Speaker 1: you actually get started birdwatching? Okay, well, first I would 382 00:21:35,960 --> 00:21:39,160 Speaker 1: have just say, you know, don't worry about feeling as 383 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:41,320 Speaker 1: though it's for all folks, because a lot of people 384 00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 1: think like birdings just for all folks and it's not. 385 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:46,320 Speaker 1: So I just want to start there. You know that 386 00:21:46,440 --> 00:21:50,760 Speaker 1: it's for every age. Birding is accepting of everyone. So 387 00:21:50,920 --> 00:21:54,920 Speaker 1: to really get started, honestly, you just need a few 388 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:57,760 Speaker 1: minutes of your time. I say, give yourself at least 389 00:21:57,800 --> 00:22:01,800 Speaker 1: ten minutes if you can, and if you can go outside, 390 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:06,119 Speaker 1: just please step outside where the birds are so you 391 00:22:06,119 --> 00:22:08,160 Speaker 1: don't have to go far. So if we're saying at home, 392 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:13,320 Speaker 1: step out and wait and just you can sit, I 393 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:16,280 Speaker 1: would say said, unless you want to stand, but try 394 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:20,040 Speaker 1: to do so as quietly as you can. Just enter 395 00:22:20,119 --> 00:22:24,000 Speaker 1: the space as though you're an uninvited guest, because the 396 00:22:24,040 --> 00:22:28,280 Speaker 1: longer you sit outside or spend time outside, the birds 397 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:30,919 Speaker 1: will start to emerge because they start to feel like 398 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:33,440 Speaker 1: everything's quiet and safe. And then you'll notice even more 399 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:36,119 Speaker 1: birds come forward for you. So the longer you can 400 00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:38,359 Speaker 1: be out there, you'll start to notice more movement and 401 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:41,840 Speaker 1: sounds come forward again. There you are, you're birding, you're 402 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:45,560 Speaker 1: enjoying birds. And then for someone maybe you can't go outside, 403 00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:48,040 Speaker 1: but you look out of the window and just keep 404 00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:50,720 Speaker 1: looking out, you'll eventually maybe notice a bird that way 405 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:53,040 Speaker 1: because your mind's thinking about I'm going to look and 406 00:22:53,080 --> 00:22:55,200 Speaker 1: see if I see any birds, and then you probably 407 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:57,639 Speaker 1: will notice what or you might hear what a crow, 408 00:22:59,040 --> 00:23:01,399 Speaker 1: Maybe it's a raven. It's hard to sometimes sell between 409 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:04,439 Speaker 1: a corona or raven, but you'll hear that or the 410 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:09,040 Speaker 1: dove you know, or finches. I want to invite folks 411 00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:12,480 Speaker 1: to see that as you have started to engage with them, 412 00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:15,360 Speaker 1: because you're taking notice in the way that you can. 413 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:18,920 Speaker 1: I mean, I sometimes notice when I'm driving somewhere, I'll 414 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:22,280 Speaker 1: see a big bird sitting up on a lamp post 415 00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:25,160 Speaker 1: or a light or something, and I'll look and say, 416 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:27,439 Speaker 1: what is that? You know, So you can do it 417 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:29,800 Speaker 1: in different ways, but really to get started, that really 418 00:23:29,880 --> 00:23:32,320 Speaker 1: is what you need is time. And then if you 419 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:36,200 Speaker 1: really want to gil being in a little more, then 420 00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:41,280 Speaker 1: I would invite you to consider buying binoculars because binoculars 421 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:45,119 Speaker 1: allow you to see the birds in more detail, and 422 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:47,840 Speaker 1: someone like myself, I have poor visions, so it really 423 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:51,960 Speaker 1: helps me to really see a lot of details, which 424 00:23:51,960 --> 00:23:55,080 Speaker 1: helps for more appreciation of a bird that you might think, Oh, 425 00:23:55,080 --> 00:23:57,400 Speaker 1: it's just a plain old brown bird. What am I thing? 426 00:23:57,400 --> 00:23:59,400 Speaker 1: You'll begin to see, No, there's like three or four 427 00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:02,320 Speaker 1: different color shades of brown, or there's some other color 428 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:04,560 Speaker 1: in there that you hadn't seen. And it lets you 429 00:24:04,600 --> 00:24:07,840 Speaker 1: see birds further away from you as well, brings them 430 00:24:07,920 --> 00:24:10,639 Speaker 1: up close. So whatever your budget and what you'd like 431 00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:14,760 Speaker 1: to spend or binoculars range across the board and you 432 00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:16,919 Speaker 1: can just go from there. I invite folks if you 433 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:20,000 Speaker 1: want to. There's apps that you can download that are free. 434 00:24:20,960 --> 00:24:26,119 Speaker 1: E Bird Merlin that's for sales, an ID how to 435 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:28,399 Speaker 1: Bond has an app, and those can help tell you 436 00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:31,480 Speaker 1: what kind of bird you're looking at if you want 437 00:24:31,480 --> 00:24:34,040 Speaker 1: to start get curious that way and kind of broaden it. 438 00:24:34,119 --> 00:24:37,240 Speaker 1: Or you can actually get a book a guide book. 439 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:40,879 Speaker 1: This has pictures of the different birds where you can 440 00:24:40,920 --> 00:24:44,080 Speaker 1: find them, so it becomes almost like a detective story 441 00:24:44,119 --> 00:24:45,600 Speaker 1: because you try to figure out what is that this 442 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:47,520 Speaker 1: bird is at that And that's a great way to 443 00:24:47,560 --> 00:24:51,640 Speaker 1: engage children too, not for long at first, it's peaking 444 00:24:51,640 --> 00:24:56,080 Speaker 1: their curiosity, like I wonder what kind of bird that is? Right? So, yeah, 445 00:24:56,280 --> 00:24:59,399 Speaker 1: that's how you get started. M So can you do 446 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:01,720 Speaker 1: this in this city as well? Or do people need 447 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:04,159 Speaker 1: to travel to like the countryside or you know, a 448 00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:07,919 Speaker 1: more rural area to do birdwatching. That's a great question 449 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:12,840 Speaker 1: and the answer is yes, you can bird anywhere anywhere, anywhere. 450 00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:14,240 Speaker 1: And I know that a lot of people feel like 451 00:25:14,280 --> 00:25:16,760 Speaker 1: that because there's you know, sounds and movement and too 452 00:25:16,840 --> 00:25:20,160 Speaker 1: much moving and not as much green space or water 453 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:21,960 Speaker 1: around so that it feels like, well, it's just a 454 00:25:21,960 --> 00:25:24,760 Speaker 1: lot of not that, so then the birds aren't there. 455 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:27,840 Speaker 1: It is true birds are attracted to trees and bushes, 456 00:25:28,520 --> 00:25:31,960 Speaker 1: but birds still are around, so you will see them, 457 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:34,280 Speaker 1: You really will see them in all the spaces. And 458 00:25:34,280 --> 00:25:38,199 Speaker 1: that's what I like about birds. They're accessible around the world. 459 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:40,919 Speaker 1: They don't care what you do or do not have, 460 00:25:41,880 --> 00:25:45,280 Speaker 1: what you look like, what you are wearing for the 461 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:47,000 Speaker 1: most part. But again, if you're out there in a 462 00:25:47,080 --> 00:25:48,439 Speaker 1: white T shirt and that's what you want to do, 463 00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:51,640 Speaker 1: it's fine. Birds are still going to cut and they're free, 464 00:25:51,840 --> 00:25:55,959 Speaker 1: they're flying free, and they're free to us to notice 465 00:25:56,040 --> 00:25:59,840 Speaker 1: and get the benefits from them and that mutual exchange too. 466 00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:05,000 Speaker 1: So you mentioned if possible to wear more muta clothes 467 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:06,800 Speaker 1: because that may kind of help you blend in more 468 00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:09,439 Speaker 1: to the background. Is there anything else we should be 469 00:26:09,480 --> 00:26:12,600 Speaker 1: mindful of. You mentioned kind of entering an environment quietly, 470 00:26:12,760 --> 00:26:15,679 Speaker 1: any other suggestions around how we're supposed to interact or 471 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:18,959 Speaker 1: behave around birds. I think those are the two. Just 472 00:26:19,119 --> 00:26:21,439 Speaker 1: if you can wear colors that kind of reflect the 473 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:24,600 Speaker 1: natural environment, like you're saying, that's why you see folks 474 00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:27,760 Speaker 1: dressed that way, because you're blending in, you're acknowledging kind 475 00:26:27,760 --> 00:26:30,240 Speaker 1: of the earth elements, if you will. And then if 476 00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:32,680 Speaker 1: you're going out into a space, if you can just 477 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:36,600 Speaker 1: remember to walk out slowly like an unadvited guest who's 478 00:26:36,640 --> 00:26:39,560 Speaker 1: just being like, let me enter this space so they 479 00:26:39,600 --> 00:26:41,600 Speaker 1: can get used to knowing who I am. Because the 480 00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:44,119 Speaker 1: birds over time will get to know you. They do 481 00:26:44,200 --> 00:26:46,720 Speaker 1: get to know you like I'm able to walk slowly 482 00:26:47,160 --> 00:26:49,720 Speaker 1: where the birds don't necessarily fly away because they start, 483 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:54,960 Speaker 1: oh it's her, especially if you feed them. Yeah, so 484 00:26:55,000 --> 00:26:58,399 Speaker 1: are they knowing you through smell? Like how are they 485 00:26:58,400 --> 00:27:03,160 Speaker 1: like developing a relationship with you? I think just from sight? Yeah, 486 00:27:03,240 --> 00:27:04,879 Speaker 1: they see like if you have a bag with the 487 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:08,600 Speaker 1: bird seed or peanuts or with crows, like peanuts by 488 00:27:08,640 --> 00:27:13,040 Speaker 1: the way in the shell, not salt. But anyway, they're 489 00:27:13,119 --> 00:27:16,320 Speaker 1: very smart and so they do see that. So they 490 00:27:16,359 --> 00:27:19,240 Speaker 1: make that association like, oh, this is the food lady. 491 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:23,199 Speaker 1: So if you move gently around and I tend to 492 00:27:23,200 --> 00:27:26,040 Speaker 1: walk on the perimeter on the edges of my yard too, 493 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:30,600 Speaker 1: sometimes they won't take off if I walk very slowly, 494 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:34,840 Speaker 1: so they kind of helped me slow down. And so 495 00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:37,600 Speaker 1: that's how they build in that mindfulness for me. It's 496 00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:39,600 Speaker 1: almost like you can kind of do it as an experiment, 497 00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:41,280 Speaker 1: like let me see if I couldn't walk from here 498 00:27:41,320 --> 00:27:43,960 Speaker 1: to there and not have the doves are a good 499 00:27:43,960 --> 00:27:46,920 Speaker 1: one to use and not have the doves fly off? 500 00:27:48,080 --> 00:27:49,520 Speaker 1: And the first you know, until they get to know 501 00:27:49,640 --> 00:27:53,480 Speaker 1: you got it. Got it? So damma. I do want 502 00:27:53,520 --> 00:27:55,719 Speaker 1: to talk a little bit about like black people in 503 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:59,159 Speaker 1: like our relationship to nature and specifically birding. Right, so 504 00:27:59,280 --> 00:28:03,480 Speaker 1: we know that they're was a pretty well advertised incident 505 00:28:03,640 --> 00:28:06,320 Speaker 1: of a black man in New York birding who had 506 00:28:06,320 --> 00:28:08,479 Speaker 1: the police called on him, right, And so I do 507 00:28:08,520 --> 00:28:10,480 Speaker 1: think that that kind of contributes to some of our 508 00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:13,280 Speaker 1: reluctance to kind of engage in these kinds of spaces. 509 00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:15,760 Speaker 1: What kinds of things do you think are important for 510 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:18,680 Speaker 1: our community to really know about our relationships in nature 511 00:28:18,720 --> 00:28:24,000 Speaker 1: and birds specifically, that's an important question. Yes, it is 512 00:28:24,080 --> 00:28:26,879 Speaker 1: unfortunate that that helps a Christian cooper and it's you know, 513 00:28:27,119 --> 00:28:29,919 Speaker 1: sadly that wasn't the first time. So we know that 514 00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:34,399 Speaker 1: there's a history of a message being said that we 515 00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:37,159 Speaker 1: shouldn't be in certain spaces. And what I want to 516 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:40,680 Speaker 1: say about that is, and I'm pulling this also from 517 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:45,920 Speaker 1: my own immediate ancestors, etc. And our people, is we 518 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:50,120 Speaker 1: have a right to be in these spaces. Our ancestors 519 00:28:50,320 --> 00:28:52,920 Speaker 1: who gave guidance as to how to be on the land, 520 00:28:53,520 --> 00:28:56,560 Speaker 1: how to tend the land, how to care for the land, 521 00:28:56,960 --> 00:28:59,840 Speaker 1: and we have to remind ourselves that is our given 522 00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:04,120 Speaker 1: stand and with that, yes, we need to keep ourselves safe. 523 00:29:04,200 --> 00:29:06,680 Speaker 1: And so if that means not going by yourself, if 524 00:29:06,720 --> 00:29:10,160 Speaker 1: that means creating a buddy system and going together so 525 00:29:10,280 --> 00:29:12,360 Speaker 1: you feel safe. I really want to emphasize that you 526 00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:14,520 Speaker 1: have to go out in the way that each one 527 00:29:14,520 --> 00:29:17,280 Speaker 1: of us feel safe. What might feel safe for me 528 00:29:17,920 --> 00:29:20,800 Speaker 1: may not feel safe for you, may not feel safe 529 00:29:20,800 --> 00:29:24,440 Speaker 1: for another person. Rightly so each of us. And it's 530 00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:27,680 Speaker 1: acknowledged that there are folks that feel threatened from us 531 00:29:27,680 --> 00:29:32,360 Speaker 1: in terms of their insecurities, their constructs. It's their problem 532 00:29:32,480 --> 00:29:34,840 Speaker 1: that ends up making it ours. But what I want 533 00:29:34,840 --> 00:29:38,240 Speaker 1: to encourage folks to have that acknowledgement, So I'm not saying, 534 00:29:38,280 --> 00:29:42,960 Speaker 1: you know, being naive about risk to us as pupil. 535 00:29:44,040 --> 00:29:46,960 Speaker 1: At the same time, I really want to underscore the 536 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:51,840 Speaker 1: importance for us to remember what our ancestors represented and 537 00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:55,520 Speaker 1: gifted to us in terms of their knowing that we 538 00:29:55,640 --> 00:29:58,440 Speaker 1: have in us that same knowing that we have a right. 539 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:01,240 Speaker 1: And really I want to sail us necessity to take 540 00:30:01,320 --> 00:30:05,360 Speaker 1: care of ourselves by being back on the land. Go outside, 541 00:30:05,840 --> 00:30:08,600 Speaker 1: be outside. You're supposed to be here there And this 542 00:30:08,640 --> 00:30:09,960 Speaker 1: is why I'm wearing this. I don't know if you 543 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:12,920 Speaker 1: can see it, because the sun cofa bird, which represents 544 00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:15,760 Speaker 1: casting back up to our ancestors. I got this Amali 545 00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:19,920 Speaker 1: was gifted to me. This is important. You have to 546 00:30:19,920 --> 00:30:23,560 Speaker 1: remember that our connection with the land with birds of 547 00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:29,440 Speaker 1: all domesticated and otherwise goes through history and time beyond us. 548 00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:32,640 Speaker 1: And besides, like traveling in groups, are bringing a buddy? 549 00:30:32,680 --> 00:30:34,640 Speaker 1: Are there other things you would suggest for a safety 550 00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:37,000 Speaker 1: well if you want to go yourself, letting someone know 551 00:30:37,040 --> 00:30:39,480 Speaker 1: what your plan is, how long you anticipate to go, 552 00:30:40,080 --> 00:30:43,400 Speaker 1: carry your phone with you for sure, carry a whistle 553 00:30:43,440 --> 00:30:46,200 Speaker 1: if you'd like. If you're going to a park, a 554 00:30:46,280 --> 00:30:48,920 Speaker 1: state park, for example, check in with the ranger station. 555 00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:51,960 Speaker 1: There's another layer. Take the time to do all of these, 556 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:54,840 Speaker 1: and that doesn't take long to just sign in on 557 00:30:54,880 --> 00:30:57,640 Speaker 1: the sheet that you're there in the park. We're talking 558 00:30:57,920 --> 00:31:00,920 Speaker 1: state parks and whatnot. Where you might want to venture 559 00:31:00,920 --> 00:31:03,120 Speaker 1: out on your own or even with others, you still 560 00:31:03,160 --> 00:31:06,440 Speaker 1: should I really highly recommend just go into the ranger 561 00:31:06,760 --> 00:31:11,600 Speaker 1: station sign in so they know you're all the property somewhere, 562 00:31:12,000 --> 00:31:14,480 Speaker 1: and there's usually some valuable information that you can get 563 00:31:14,480 --> 00:31:17,360 Speaker 1: while you check in. There might be a certain bobcat 564 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:19,920 Speaker 1: siding or bear siding that you need to be aware 565 00:31:19,920 --> 00:31:23,240 Speaker 1: of so that you adjust your course. There might be 566 00:31:23,280 --> 00:31:26,000 Speaker 1: other information that's helpful for you to enjoy spending the 567 00:31:26,080 --> 00:31:28,840 Speaker 1: time there, or some special offering or event that you 568 00:31:28,920 --> 00:31:31,760 Speaker 1: might not have known if you hadn't checked in. Check 569 00:31:31,840 --> 00:31:34,760 Speaker 1: before you leave your home, go online and look at 570 00:31:34,800 --> 00:31:37,120 Speaker 1: the space you want to go to. Do they have 571 00:31:37,160 --> 00:31:40,320 Speaker 1: the things you need for some folks that have additional 572 00:31:40,560 --> 00:31:43,320 Speaker 1: needs that they have. Do they have a bathroom? Is 573 00:31:43,360 --> 00:31:47,520 Speaker 1: there accessible parking? What are the type of roads or trails? 574 00:31:47,920 --> 00:31:50,720 Speaker 1: Are they steep? Are they flat? Is it smooth? Because 575 00:31:50,760 --> 00:31:53,000 Speaker 1: some folks that use wheels and buy wheels, I mean 576 00:31:53,120 --> 00:31:56,840 Speaker 1: everything for wheelchairs to strollers to bikes. Can you do 577 00:31:56,880 --> 00:31:59,400 Speaker 1: that if you advise someone who's going with you for 578 00:31:59,400 --> 00:32:02,160 Speaker 1: the first time. I also really emphasize reduced the amount 579 00:32:02,160 --> 00:32:04,040 Speaker 1: of time you do it the first time, because there's 580 00:32:04,080 --> 00:32:08,080 Speaker 1: time spent getting there, lanning being there, and then time 581 00:32:08,120 --> 00:32:10,680 Speaker 1: to get back and so you want to account for 582 00:32:10,720 --> 00:32:13,400 Speaker 1: all of that. Do you need your medication? Do you 583 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:16,800 Speaker 1: need layers of clothing depending on weather? So checking some 584 00:32:16,920 --> 00:32:18,880 Speaker 1: of that and it's not to feel like, oh, that's 585 00:32:18,920 --> 00:32:21,520 Speaker 1: all burdens up. You can do that very quickly online 586 00:32:21,560 --> 00:32:23,280 Speaker 1: a lot of the times, and you can get into 587 00:32:23,280 --> 00:32:25,640 Speaker 1: abbit of doing it, so it doesn't take away from 588 00:32:25,640 --> 00:32:28,360 Speaker 1: the fun in doing that, it prepares you to have 589 00:32:28,600 --> 00:32:33,000 Speaker 1: even more fun. And then if you're really traveling distances 590 00:32:33,040 --> 00:32:36,040 Speaker 1: that you're familiar with, there are people that can be 591 00:32:36,080 --> 00:32:38,280 Speaker 1: your guides that you can pay a small fee for 592 00:32:38,840 --> 00:32:40,680 Speaker 1: and some of them are offered free. You just have 593 00:32:40,720 --> 00:32:42,720 Speaker 1: to reach out and try to coordinate with someone that 594 00:32:42,760 --> 00:32:45,640 Speaker 1: can go with you, that knows the terrain, knows the area. 595 00:32:45,760 --> 00:32:48,480 Speaker 1: If you're wanting to connect with birds in particular, in 596 00:32:48,520 --> 00:32:51,920 Speaker 1: addition to maybe spending time now and other wildlife, but 597 00:32:51,960 --> 00:32:54,600 Speaker 1: you're really wanting to see birds, people that are local 598 00:32:54,640 --> 00:32:56,760 Speaker 1: to an area. Let's say you're traveling to Costa Rica 599 00:32:56,880 --> 00:32:59,720 Speaker 1: or somewhere to another part there's outside where you normally live, 600 00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:03,400 Speaker 1: connecting with others, and a lot of people volunteer their 601 00:33:03,440 --> 00:33:05,560 Speaker 1: time because when they come to your space, they'll ask you, 602 00:33:05,600 --> 00:33:08,200 Speaker 1: could you show me around in your city your town 603 00:33:08,840 --> 00:33:12,560 Speaker 1: as well, So again it's that reciprocal relationship, and then 604 00:33:12,600 --> 00:33:16,120 Speaker 1: that can increase your sense of safety because it's you're 605 00:33:16,120 --> 00:33:19,280 Speaker 1: with someone that knows and they also know what they're 606 00:33:19,320 --> 00:33:23,840 Speaker 1: looking for, so also increase your enjoyment. Got it, Thank 607 00:33:23,880 --> 00:33:27,040 Speaker 1: you for that, Tima one from my conversation with Tamma 608 00:33:27,240 --> 00:33:41,760 Speaker 1: after the break. So I have a couple of rapid 609 00:33:41,800 --> 00:33:43,440 Speaker 1: fire questions that I want to ask you, and you've 610 00:33:43,440 --> 00:33:45,240 Speaker 1: already answered a couple of these. I want to see 611 00:33:45,240 --> 00:33:47,240 Speaker 1: if you have some additional insight to give us here. 612 00:33:47,360 --> 00:33:50,240 Speaker 1: So can you tell me the rarest bird you've seen? 613 00:33:50,400 --> 00:33:53,040 Speaker 1: Was it the snowy owl or something else? That's a 614 00:33:53,080 --> 00:33:56,560 Speaker 1: good question. I think it might be now the story owl. 615 00:33:56,640 --> 00:34:00,120 Speaker 1: And I also saw Annie it looks a walk like 616 00:34:00,160 --> 00:34:03,400 Speaker 1: a raven, and a raven looks like a bigger crow 617 00:34:03,920 --> 00:34:05,880 Speaker 1: with the beak is a little different, but they look 618 00:34:05,920 --> 00:34:08,200 Speaker 1: so close. But just imagine like a big, big crow 619 00:34:08,680 --> 00:34:12,000 Speaker 1: like a raven. But this one had a oddly shaped beak. 620 00:34:12,760 --> 00:34:16,239 Speaker 1: And that bird is really from deep in South America. 621 00:34:16,280 --> 00:34:19,080 Speaker 1: And it was up here at a local park, and 622 00:34:19,120 --> 00:34:20,880 Speaker 1: it was hard to find that. People kept saying, we 623 00:34:20,920 --> 00:34:25,480 Speaker 1: had to go several times and I found so before 624 00:34:25,600 --> 00:34:28,319 Speaker 1: I would have said maybe that bird before now the 625 00:34:28,360 --> 00:34:30,640 Speaker 1: snowy owl. So you're right, I think I'm gonna have 626 00:34:30,640 --> 00:34:32,239 Speaker 1: to if I have to only say one, I guess 627 00:34:32,280 --> 00:34:34,920 Speaker 1: I am going to say the snowy ow. Okay, So 628 00:34:35,120 --> 00:34:37,480 Speaker 1: tell me when you set off on an adventure to 629 00:34:37,520 --> 00:34:39,759 Speaker 1: find a special kind of bird. Was this also the 630 00:34:39,760 --> 00:34:41,920 Speaker 1: snowy owl? Or what other adventures have you gone on 631 00:34:42,000 --> 00:34:44,840 Speaker 1: in search of a particular bird? So yes, the convenience 632 00:34:44,840 --> 00:34:46,960 Speaker 1: of the snowy owl is yes. It took me two 633 00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:49,080 Speaker 1: hours to get there. You know, I'm in San Diego County. 634 00:34:49,120 --> 00:34:50,840 Speaker 1: It's an Orange county, so that was a bit of 635 00:34:50,880 --> 00:34:53,360 Speaker 1: a trek, but that wasn't like too much. And I 636 00:34:53,400 --> 00:34:55,480 Speaker 1: talked about this in my book in the chapter called 637 00:34:55,640 --> 00:34:59,400 Speaker 1: migration bird watching in My Environment, And I kind of 638 00:34:59,400 --> 00:35:02,120 Speaker 1: mean that ironment meaning travel when you really start to 639 00:35:02,120 --> 00:35:05,880 Speaker 1: go farther out beyond your home in your neighborhood. And 640 00:35:05,920 --> 00:35:09,440 Speaker 1: so I talk about in that chapter because each chapter 641 00:35:09,520 --> 00:35:11,680 Speaker 1: opens with a story of light, and so the story 642 00:35:11,760 --> 00:35:14,880 Speaker 1: I chose to Sharon that was to see the tufted 643 00:35:14,960 --> 00:35:19,480 Speaker 1: puffins that come in once a year or about four 644 00:35:19,520 --> 00:35:23,520 Speaker 1: and a half months. They fly into Oregon on the 645 00:35:23,560 --> 00:35:26,799 Speaker 1: coast of Oregon in a town called Cannon Beach, and 646 00:35:26,880 --> 00:35:32,520 Speaker 1: they land on this large monolith that's grassy has burrowing 647 00:35:33,160 --> 00:35:36,960 Speaker 1: and for generations these birds come from sea. They spend 648 00:35:37,080 --> 00:35:39,120 Speaker 1: the rest of the time out at sea. People don't 649 00:35:39,200 --> 00:35:41,319 Speaker 1: really even know what they do at sea. They spend 650 00:35:41,360 --> 00:35:44,600 Speaker 1: the whole time out and then around April they come 651 00:35:44,640 --> 00:35:48,439 Speaker 1: in to nest and they usually have one little bird 652 00:35:48,480 --> 00:35:51,480 Speaker 1: which is called the puffling, which is and it's a 653 00:35:51,560 --> 00:35:56,239 Speaker 1: two little vol fur. And then around April May, Joring, July, 654 00:35:56,400 --> 00:35:59,719 Speaker 1: around July August maybe said, they fly back out to 655 00:35:59,760 --> 00:36:02,719 Speaker 1: see again, and then they repeat that the next year. 656 00:36:02,880 --> 00:36:04,480 Speaker 1: So to catch them you have to go at a 657 00:36:04,520 --> 00:36:07,960 Speaker 1: certain time through all this huge monelith, which is difficult 658 00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:10,120 Speaker 1: to see. I mean, there's abundance of time at certain 659 00:36:10,160 --> 00:36:12,520 Speaker 1: peak times of the year. And so as a little girl, 660 00:36:12,640 --> 00:36:15,080 Speaker 1: I always thought they were the most interesting little birds. 661 00:36:15,120 --> 00:36:17,400 Speaker 1: And if for folks that may not know, a puffin 662 00:36:17,520 --> 00:36:21,719 Speaker 1: looks almost like a penguin, but with more white in 663 00:36:21,800 --> 00:36:25,120 Speaker 1: its face, an orange like a reddish orange, and yellow 664 00:36:25,320 --> 00:36:29,960 Speaker 1: triangular type shape beak, and they kind of look very odd, 665 00:36:30,280 --> 00:36:33,320 Speaker 1: kind of penguinisque type. So as a kid, that was 666 00:36:33,360 --> 00:36:35,839 Speaker 1: so appealing to me. I'd see the the National Geographic 667 00:36:36,560 --> 00:36:40,640 Speaker 1: and most puffins are in like Icelands and other locations 668 00:36:40,760 --> 00:36:42,759 Speaker 1: far far away. So I thought, one of these days 669 00:36:42,880 --> 00:36:44,600 Speaker 1: I am going to go see one. I'm going to 670 00:36:44,680 --> 00:36:46,680 Speaker 1: have to find a way to go to this far 671 00:36:46,800 --> 00:36:49,640 Speaker 1: far away land, And like I advise in my book, 672 00:36:49,760 --> 00:36:53,400 Speaker 1: when you're going on a trip, why not take a 673 00:36:53,480 --> 00:36:57,360 Speaker 1: look at your route and see if there's any bird sanctuaries, 674 00:36:57,960 --> 00:37:01,319 Speaker 1: state parks, something along the lines that you might find 675 00:37:01,440 --> 00:37:04,960 Speaker 1: that there's birds there that you want to see along 676 00:37:05,080 --> 00:37:07,359 Speaker 1: the way. You might take fifteen minutes out of your 677 00:37:07,440 --> 00:37:09,719 Speaker 1: day or a couple of hours on your way to 678 00:37:09,800 --> 00:37:11,600 Speaker 1: your journey. And so I did that. I was taking 679 00:37:11,640 --> 00:37:14,240 Speaker 1: my son up to eastern Washington, the state of Washington, 680 00:37:14,760 --> 00:37:17,880 Speaker 1: to spend some time at a family property friends for 681 00:37:18,000 --> 00:37:20,200 Speaker 1: him to work on it during the summer. And so 682 00:37:20,360 --> 00:37:24,799 Speaker 1: I thought, well, Whip Sanctuary, Whip Parks, wildlife place can 683 00:37:24,840 --> 00:37:27,480 Speaker 1: I stop along the way and see? And so then 684 00:37:27,520 --> 00:37:29,000 Speaker 1: I thought, well, I have to come back down to 685 00:37:29,480 --> 00:37:32,000 Speaker 1: south again, to California, So what's a lot of the 686 00:37:32,080 --> 00:37:34,919 Speaker 1: coast over there? And that's what I learned that there's 687 00:37:35,040 --> 00:37:38,680 Speaker 1: tepped a peppers there. So I made a whole plan 688 00:37:38,840 --> 00:37:43,280 Speaker 1: and trip around fulfilling my childhood dream of seeing these birds. 689 00:37:43,840 --> 00:37:46,399 Speaker 1: And so that's what I did. I had an ocean view. 690 00:37:46,680 --> 00:37:49,440 Speaker 1: I made sure to get a nice little suite, had 691 00:37:49,480 --> 00:37:51,960 Speaker 1: a little fireplace in there. It had a patio so 692 00:37:52,080 --> 00:37:53,800 Speaker 1: I could see right on the beach. It was a 693 00:37:53,840 --> 00:37:56,560 Speaker 1: couple of days. It wasn't long once I got there, 694 00:37:56,880 --> 00:37:58,239 Speaker 1: but I just said, do you know what I'm going 695 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:00,719 Speaker 1: to give myself? It was self care. It was like 696 00:38:00,880 --> 00:38:04,240 Speaker 1: my own retreat, just a little time away by myself. 697 00:38:05,239 --> 00:38:09,680 Speaker 1: And I walked around little town and met up with 698 00:38:09,760 --> 00:38:13,239 Speaker 1: a guide. I planned ahead and I called nonprofit organization 699 00:38:13,960 --> 00:38:18,399 Speaker 1: that helps you learn about the puffins. It's called Haystack Rock. 700 00:38:19,000 --> 00:38:21,760 Speaker 1: And so I connected with her, Jesse, which she's mentioned 701 00:38:21,760 --> 00:38:23,600 Speaker 1: in the book. And she was able to show and 702 00:38:23,680 --> 00:38:25,760 Speaker 1: guide me and help me see the birds and understand 703 00:38:25,800 --> 00:38:27,719 Speaker 1: about them, because I really wanted to make sure I did. 704 00:38:27,800 --> 00:38:30,360 Speaker 1: And so this is something that ever considered too. It 705 00:38:30,560 --> 00:38:33,440 Speaker 1: was a really nominal fee to be able to have 706 00:38:34,440 --> 00:38:37,640 Speaker 1: a deeper appreciation for this childhood dream I had. So 707 00:38:37,760 --> 00:38:41,080 Speaker 1: I also recommend that again, you know, some volunteer to 708 00:38:41,160 --> 00:38:45,200 Speaker 1: do it. And that's what I did. Nice, not a 709 00:38:45,239 --> 00:38:48,720 Speaker 1: beautiful experience. So tell us a little bit. We've already 710 00:38:48,760 --> 00:38:51,080 Speaker 1: talked a little about the book and kind of gotten 711 00:38:51,080 --> 00:38:53,359 Speaker 1: a beautiful story really behind the name of the book. 712 00:38:53,440 --> 00:38:55,600 Speaker 1: Keep looking up? So what can we look forward to 713 00:38:55,760 --> 00:38:57,560 Speaker 1: in the book And how do you want readers to 714 00:38:57,880 --> 00:39:01,120 Speaker 1: actually use the book. Thank you, So the book, I 715 00:39:01,280 --> 00:39:03,240 Speaker 1: really just to say that there hasn't been a bird 716 00:39:03,760 --> 00:39:06,600 Speaker 1: watching a birding book like this before. I guess I 717 00:39:06,680 --> 00:39:11,280 Speaker 1: want books approach to still as more than It's different 718 00:39:11,320 --> 00:39:15,320 Speaker 1: than just your traditional birding book. So it is a 719 00:39:15,440 --> 00:39:19,520 Speaker 1: narrative memoir. The power of story is very important to me. 720 00:39:19,880 --> 00:39:23,040 Speaker 1: I know that that is a connector soul to soul 721 00:39:23,200 --> 00:39:27,520 Speaker 1: for us to really have opportunity to share our stories 722 00:39:27,840 --> 00:39:31,280 Speaker 1: as part of healing, which is why in each chapter 723 00:39:31,680 --> 00:39:34,279 Speaker 1: opens with a personal story of mine related to that 724 00:39:34,440 --> 00:39:38,560 Speaker 1: chapter's topic. Each chapter has a topic and it has 725 00:39:38,640 --> 00:39:43,440 Speaker 1: a subtitle topic related to the bird that really emphasizes 726 00:39:43,480 --> 00:39:49,760 Speaker 1: and reinforces that connection between us as humans with birds 727 00:39:50,120 --> 00:39:53,239 Speaker 1: are and how they can gift to us and vice versa. 728 00:39:53,520 --> 00:39:55,759 Speaker 1: There is a part of it that has some guidance 729 00:39:56,280 --> 00:39:58,440 Speaker 1: in it, so there is a part that has is 730 00:39:58,520 --> 00:40:02,640 Speaker 1: like a mini guide book perch after and then at 731 00:40:02,680 --> 00:40:05,520 Speaker 1: the end of each chapter there are reflective exercises. So 732 00:40:05,680 --> 00:40:08,880 Speaker 1: this is where the clinical mental health therapist part of 733 00:40:09,000 --> 00:40:12,000 Speaker 1: me came forward and really wanted to invite folks to 734 00:40:12,280 --> 00:40:17,000 Speaker 1: help deepen your reader's connection with the chapter you just read. 735 00:40:17,400 --> 00:40:20,239 Speaker 1: How does this apply for you. How can you integrate 736 00:40:20,320 --> 00:40:23,600 Speaker 1: this in for you and have this relationship that's only 737 00:40:23,800 --> 00:40:26,960 Speaker 1: unique to you and personal to you, which is so powerful. 738 00:40:27,400 --> 00:40:31,520 Speaker 1: How does this reinforce and help lift your story? That's 739 00:40:31,560 --> 00:40:34,600 Speaker 1: what the reflective or exercises are for, is to connect 740 00:40:34,640 --> 00:40:37,040 Speaker 1: in that way too. So and there is that piece 741 00:40:37,080 --> 00:40:39,440 Speaker 1: of it that I really am wanting to emphasize a 742 00:40:39,600 --> 00:40:44,520 Speaker 1: way of acknowledging depression and stress and lost and greed 743 00:40:44,800 --> 00:40:48,200 Speaker 1: of loved winds, anxiety, all of those that often have 744 00:40:48,320 --> 00:40:51,520 Speaker 1: a lot of stigma attached to them. I was called 745 00:40:51,680 --> 00:40:53,799 Speaker 1: I felt like I was called to. The stories came up. 746 00:40:53,840 --> 00:40:56,480 Speaker 1: It was not easy to write about them, and including 747 00:40:56,680 --> 00:41:00,920 Speaker 1: regarding my mother with her Alzheimer's. But I know too 748 00:41:01,000 --> 00:41:03,759 Speaker 1: many people I speak to that have know someone or 749 00:41:03,840 --> 00:41:07,440 Speaker 1: they are the caregiver and what that is about. And 750 00:41:07,680 --> 00:41:10,160 Speaker 1: there's the joy and the love in that, as well 751 00:41:10,200 --> 00:41:13,279 Speaker 1: as the challenges being in appropriate love caring for a 752 00:41:13,360 --> 00:41:19,480 Speaker 1: loved one. I wanted to address these real life experiences 753 00:41:19,760 --> 00:41:22,560 Speaker 1: in a way that invites others to feel that they 754 00:41:22,640 --> 00:41:26,680 Speaker 1: can too, and how the connection with birds is what 755 00:41:26,960 --> 00:41:30,400 Speaker 1: can really invite you to as you would choose to. 756 00:41:31,600 --> 00:41:34,800 Speaker 1: It's another strategy or a tool You know, as therapists 757 00:41:34,800 --> 00:41:37,120 Speaker 1: we talk about what does your toolbox look like? What 758 00:41:37,360 --> 00:41:39,960 Speaker 1: is in your toolbox with you know, when you're feeling depressed, 759 00:41:40,000 --> 00:41:41,799 Speaker 1: what can you reach in the toolbox and pull out 760 00:41:41,880 --> 00:41:44,279 Speaker 1: to help you? Is it take a walk, is it 761 00:41:44,400 --> 00:41:46,440 Speaker 1: to journal, is it to take a nap? Is it 762 00:41:46,520 --> 00:41:49,800 Speaker 1: your medication? And so I say, can you take a 763 00:41:49,840 --> 00:41:53,319 Speaker 1: few moments and notice the birds? Because again we now 764 00:41:53,440 --> 00:41:56,000 Speaker 1: know that that can help. Just take a moment, be 765 00:41:56,120 --> 00:41:58,120 Speaker 1: in the present moment instead of worrying about what you 766 00:41:58,200 --> 00:42:01,239 Speaker 1: didn't do yesterday or moments ago, or what you're going 767 00:42:01,320 --> 00:42:05,200 Speaker 1: to do. It helps you get mindful. Now you've answered 768 00:42:05,200 --> 00:42:08,239 Speaker 1: the beautifully. Think you've hit it. Yes, yes, And you 769 00:42:08,320 --> 00:42:10,239 Speaker 1: can use it in different ways, so you can use 770 00:42:10,280 --> 00:42:12,359 Speaker 1: it and there are exercises that you can go back 771 00:42:12,400 --> 00:42:14,279 Speaker 1: and use. That's the other thing, thank you. You can 772 00:42:14,360 --> 00:42:16,960 Speaker 1: go back and use the exercises time and time again. 773 00:42:17,120 --> 00:42:19,239 Speaker 1: That's the other piece that I really want to emphasize 774 00:42:19,320 --> 00:42:22,960 Speaker 1: that it's not a one time and it's done and 775 00:42:23,000 --> 00:42:25,040 Speaker 1: you can go back and use it as much as 776 00:42:25,080 --> 00:42:27,560 Speaker 1: you're like perfect. I think that will be a beautiful 777 00:42:27,719 --> 00:42:29,520 Speaker 1: edition for a lot of people's too. Backs that I'm 778 00:42:29,600 --> 00:42:32,080 Speaker 1: really glad that you wrote it and share those stories 779 00:42:32,160 --> 00:42:34,680 Speaker 1: with this. So where can we stay connected with you? 780 00:42:34,760 --> 00:42:36,919 Speaker 1: What is your website as well as any social media 781 00:42:37,000 --> 00:42:40,360 Speaker 1: handles you'd like to share. So my website is Tamilwats 782 00:42:40,680 --> 00:42:43,480 Speaker 1: dot com. I spend a lot of time on Instagram, 783 00:42:43,840 --> 00:42:45,400 Speaker 1: well not a lot of time, but that's where I am. 784 00:42:45,760 --> 00:42:49,840 Speaker 1: I'm still trying to get on social media and I 785 00:42:49,960 --> 00:42:52,400 Speaker 1: am connected. I'm on the board of autom on California, 786 00:42:52,920 --> 00:42:55,759 Speaker 1: so I cross over in those spaces. You'll see me 787 00:42:55,880 --> 00:42:59,799 Speaker 1: offering webinars like on myful Bird sit coming up. It's 788 00:42:59,840 --> 00:43:03,839 Speaker 1: a work part series through Audubon California in conjunction with them, 789 00:43:03,880 --> 00:43:06,400 Speaker 1: you'll see that me. I'm associated with that, but I 790 00:43:06,440 --> 00:43:09,239 Speaker 1: think going to Timbowats dot com is a great way 791 00:43:09,320 --> 00:43:12,080 Speaker 1: to just keep up with where I am at what's offered. 792 00:43:12,200 --> 00:43:14,000 Speaker 1: I try to make sure to hear of that information. 793 00:43:14,080 --> 00:43:16,000 Speaker 1: So folks that might want to partake some of those 794 00:43:16,040 --> 00:43:18,520 Speaker 1: webinars to kind of get a sense of what birds 795 00:43:18,520 --> 00:43:22,080 Speaker 1: are about, we'll have that opportunity. Okay, And where can 796 00:43:22,160 --> 00:43:23,839 Speaker 1: we find the book? Can we also grab that from 797 00:43:23,880 --> 00:43:27,600 Speaker 1: your website? The book is anywhere you buy books, So 798 00:43:27,760 --> 00:43:29,480 Speaker 1: if you like to buy your book at a particular 799 00:43:29,560 --> 00:43:34,279 Speaker 1: indie bookshop. Please you order it through their Amazon. It's 800 00:43:34,600 --> 00:43:38,120 Speaker 1: in trade paperback, it's an e book and now the 801 00:43:38,200 --> 00:43:41,319 Speaker 1: audio will be released and I narrate it, so it's great. 802 00:43:41,360 --> 00:43:43,640 Speaker 1: And there is a meditation in their mindful Meditation in 803 00:43:43,760 --> 00:43:46,239 Speaker 1: the book too that I narrate. They can listen to it. 804 00:43:46,880 --> 00:43:51,200 Speaker 1: So anywhere you buy books, Barnes, a, Noble, Target, Walmart, everywhere. 805 00:43:51,280 --> 00:43:55,800 Speaker 1: It's being released worldwide. Got it. We will definitely include 806 00:43:55,800 --> 00:43:57,759 Speaker 1: all of that in the show notes. Thank you so much. 807 00:43:57,800 --> 00:44:01,680 Speaker 1: It's spending some time with today. Thank you. It was fine. 808 00:44:01,800 --> 00:44:04,160 Speaker 1: I love talking about birds and especially with me talk 809 00:44:04,200 --> 00:44:06,600 Speaker 1: to Joey. Thank you so much. Thank you for being 810 00:44:06,680 --> 00:44:12,320 Speaker 1: with us. I'm so grateful to Tamma for joining us today. 811 00:44:12,760 --> 00:44:15,359 Speaker 1: To learn more about her incredible work, or to grab 812 00:44:15,400 --> 00:44:18,160 Speaker 1: a copy of Keep looking Up, visit the show notes 813 00:44:18,200 --> 00:44:21,680 Speaker 1: at Therapy for Blackgirls dot com slash bird Watching, and 814 00:44:21,800 --> 00:44:23,879 Speaker 1: don't forget to text two of your girls to tell 815 00:44:23,960 --> 00:44:26,880 Speaker 1: them to check out the episode as well. If you're 816 00:44:26,920 --> 00:44:29,400 Speaker 1: looking for a therapist in your area, check out our 817 00:44:29,480 --> 00:44:33,080 Speaker 1: therapist directory at Therapy for Blackgirls dot com slash directory. 818 00:44:33,640 --> 00:44:35,800 Speaker 1: And if you want to continue digging into this topic 819 00:44:36,000 --> 00:44:38,640 Speaker 1: or just be in community with other sisters. Come on 820 00:44:38,760 --> 00:44:40,920 Speaker 1: over and join us in the Sister Circle. It's our 821 00:44:40,960 --> 00:44:43,560 Speaker 1: cozy corner of the Internet designed just for black women. 822 00:44:44,040 --> 00:44:46,880 Speaker 1: You can join us at Community dot Therapy for blackgirls 823 00:44:46,920 --> 00:44:50,680 Speaker 1: dot com. This episode was produced by Frida Lucas and 824 00:44:50,719 --> 00:44:53,880 Speaker 1: Elise Ellis and editing was done by Dennis and Bradford. 825 00:44:54,560 --> 00:44:57,120 Speaker 1: Thank y'all so much for joining me. I look forward 826 00:44:57,160 --> 00:45:00,839 Speaker 1: to continuing this conversation with you all real soon. Take 827 00:45:00,920 --> 00:45:01,319 Speaker 1: it here