Observations, facts, nuggets and tidbits about nature and wildlife for people who live and work in North Wilmington, Delaware
Hi! I’m Holly!
Your neighbor. A bird, wildlife, and nature-lover. A writer, and a breast cancer survivor.
My husband and I moved to Surrey Park in January 2003. During our protracted house hunt, I was immediately drawn to the wooded community and attractive, diverse-looking homes here. Within the first year, we began planting more shrubs and trees in the backyard, the beginning steps of creating our special natural oasis.
Around 2007, after rescuing two cats, my husband bought a bird feeder. Though we keep our cats indoors, he thought the feeders might be a good source of entertainment for the cats. He was right. The problem was, he didn't keep up with refilling the feeder, and soon it became my "problem." Refilling the feeder wasn't actually a problem -- what became the "problem" was my birding habit.
It started gradually. I observed the birds at our feeder, curious to identify them. Then I wanted to attract more birds, so I bought more feeders, which of course meant more feeder refilling and maintenance. I also needed to buy more feeder poles, shepherd hooks, wall hooks, and soon, squirrel baffles.
Within a year or two, my husband bought me a pair of really good binoculars to help me further observe our birds. As I attracted even more birds, I began experimenting with different bird seed mixes, which led to buying more feeders, and...well, you get the idea. I've become quite obsessed, and I think it's a good thing. Birds are the gateway to caring more about nature, as you'll soon learn more about by following my blog.
In 2022 I spent a year battling two simultaneous breast cancers, and the experience changed my life. Before cancer, I was a driven career woman. I never saw myself fully retired -- I always thought I would be too bored. When one faces a life-threatening disease, it's not uncommon to re-evaluate life. During my odyssey, I spent a great deal of time outdoors. My love of nature carried me through the worst of times. It was then that I realized I need to spend the rest of my life cherishing and helping to protect nature any way I can. I have used the power of my voice and passion to help share information and educate anyone who'll listen. I figure I may only be one person with one small voice, but hopefully I can do some good for the world with the time I have left. And that's what led me to start this blog.