Throughout my childhood and early adulthood, I’ve found several ways to express my passion for it. Judging from the strange looks I receive when I inform people that I’m an avid “birder”, I can tell that they’re not used to hearing that come from a teenager. Yes, I may be the the only teenager and the youngest member of the Augusta Bird Club (ABC) by about thirty years, but I haven’t stopped birding because it’s not considered “cool” by some- I continue to do it because I love it. Through the ABC, I’ve volunteered for the Audubon Christmas Bird Count for as long as I can remember, waking up at the crack of dawn to literally go out and count local birds. The data gathered can be used to help understand migration patterns, and determine future potential nesting sites. In addition to the Bird Count, I have also helped lead many bird walks, including one for the Maine Master Naturalists, through the rippling fields and sun-dappled woods of the Augusta