I was 14 when I first picked up a pair of binoculars. I had just started volunteering at an environmental center in West Philadelphia, and the director — a man named Tony Croasdale — was a hardcore birder. He would take us out onto the trails to identify birds. There were about six of us: all inner-city kids who knew very little about wildlife or the environment. But somehow, there we were — birdwatching.

I’d always loved animals. For as long as I could remember, I knew I loved learning about them, talking about them, engaging with them however I could. So when we started birdwatching, I fell fast and deep. I became especially good at recognizing bird calls — something birders sometimes call “birding by ear.” I remember Tony asking, “What sound does a cowbird make?” and I could answer right away. Other times, he’d ask me to describe a bird I hadn’t even heard on a walk yet — and sometimes I’d still know it, because outside of the center, I was devouring my field guide and scouring the internet for calls and facts.

When the school year started, the volunteer program wrapped up. No more scheduled bird walks. No obligation to keep studying birds. I had to decide how much of this birding stuff I was going to carry with me.

Then one day, I was walking home from the grocery store when I heard an unfamiliar sound — one that stopped me in my tracks. My arms ached from holding the heavy bags, but I stood frozen, staring up into a tall tree. The song sounded familiar and foreign all at once. I think I remembered it from a video game I’d played. That strange association locked the song into my memory. It was a clear, warbling sound echoing from the treetops, and I needed to know what bird it was.

Eventually, I found myself on the All About Birds website, listening to recordings of every species I thought it might be. I started with sparrows, then finches, then warblers — but none of their songs or calls were quite right. A few were close, but not quite that sound. I even started going on solo bird walks to track it down. Once, I followed the song and caught a glimpse of a small yellowish bird high up in a tree. I couldn’t see much detail, but that yellow stuck with me. I went home and listened to hundreds of calls from yellow birds. This went on for nearly a month.

One day in high school photography class, I got bored with some assignment and pulled up the bird search again on a school computer. I ended up browsing a group I hadn’t looked into before — vireos. And that’s when I found my guy. I literally jumped out of my seat. I stared at the computer screen in shock. I remember my classmates and teacher looking at me like I’d lost it, but I didn’t care — I had found it. The Warbling Vireo!

When I told Tony, he looked a little surprised. The Warbling Vireo is such a plain, common bird — not exactly the flashy kind most people would expect as a “spark bird.” But I’m proud to say it’s mine. That little bird made birding personal. It taught me about persistence, attention, curiosity — about wildlife, and about myself.

And I’ve been birding ever since.

Perch with Jared!

@gracklejoe on Instagram & TikTok

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What’s Your Story?

In an effort to place the spotlight on the birding community I am seeking birders who are interested in sharing their spark bird story to be featured on the Modern Birder Collective. Whether you’re a backyard birder, nature trail birder, or in an urban setting, every birder has a story to tell which can inspire others to discover the joy of birding.

SUBMISSION

Want to share your story on the Modern Birder Collective?

It’s easy! Simply write up your unique spark bird experience and email it to modernbirdercollective@gmail.com. Be sure to include the following:

• Your name as you’d like it to appear in the published post.
• A photo to be used as the featured image.
• Your story, written by you, I’ll copy and paste it directly into the post. It can be as short or as detailed as you’d like to capture your experience.
• Any social media handles (optional) you’d like to include so fellow birders can connect with you and grow the community. 

Looking forward to connecting with you soon & happy birding!