More about me…And why did I create this website? What am I trying to do?
More about me…
My name is Linda Hendricks Spence, and I live in central Illinois. I have a degree in elementary education and environmental education K-12 from Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania. I also took classes in plant selection, plant care, and design from Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania. I am a Pennsylvania accredited nurseryman and horticulturist.
For many years, I wrote a monthly column called Avian Adventures for the Decatur (Illinois) Audubon Society newsletter and I am still teaching Birding 101 to each class of Illinois Master Naturalists. I am currently writing for the Friends of Malheur blog/newsletter – Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Oregon. (Friends of Malheur NWR.)
For ten years, along with my husband Avery Cleon Spence, I tracked species of grassland birds, raptors, and woodcocks, and monitored nesting boxes for the Macon County Conservation District. I also designed, helped plant, and was head gardener of the 2,100 square foot formal native plant garden at Rock Springs Nature Center in Decatur, IL.
I was born and raised in a housing development at the edge of a small town in southeastern Pennsylvania, then lived on wooded acreage in Pennsylvania, later on 57 acres in West Virginia, and now live on a peninsula in central Illinois surrounded by agricultural fields. Each of these places represents different habitats for plants, birds, insects, and animals. My goal has always been to encourage land that is welcoming to wildlife.
Why did I create this website? What are my goals?
This website is for everyone interested in birds. It does not matter if this is your first day birding or you are an expert—there is something here for everyone who wants to make their yard or land a haven for wildlife.
The primary reason I started this website was to help beginning birders. Most of us remember how difficult it is to start. We could identify robins, Blue Jays, Mallards, maybe cardinals—but not much beyond that.
My background in environmental education gave me a foundation in wildlife, botany, and natural resource management. That is when I developed not only an appreciation for birds, but also a desire to understand exactly what I was seeing and why birds behave the way they do.
I remember my first day birding at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. I spent hours identifying water birds and waders, using my binoculars and field guide repeatedly until I could confirm identifications. I identified more than a dozen species that day.
Day 2 was very different. I was surrounded by small, fast-moving songbirds that all looked similar. I could barely keep up with them, and my field guide was overwhelming. That experience is one most birders share when starting out.
To help beginners, my first free eGuide is The American Robin. It teaches how to identify any unknown bird by focusing on field marks, behavior, and structure. Even experienced birders may learn something new. You can download it here: Shop eGuides.
There is also an Everything Bird! section covering species, identification, behavior, and common backyard challenges like blackbird roosts or hummingbirds in garages.
I also write a blog where I share observations from our yard and from travel. I also feature reader observations and encourage submissions.
There is a section for reader writing as well: Natural Thoughts – Poems and Essays, where people can share reflections about nature and the outdoors.
This website continues to grow. I am still learning every day and learning from readers as well. A major focus now is helping people turn their land into wildlife habitat through the Landscaping and Gardening for Birds and Wildlife section.
The heart of the site is our two live cameras: the Bird Feeder Livestream and the Bird Bath Livestream, where you can watch birds interacting in real time.