My Birding Backstory

I spent many years creeping up on birding. I grew up trout fishing and hiking in the Sierra, spent a decade as a fly fishing instructor, then went into the environmental consulting business. Through all of it I was always aware of birds, always had an eye and ear out for them, but never quite made the transition from causal observer to active birder. Then one Valentine's Day my wife bought me a little bird feeder for the backyard. I filled it up with sunflower hearts and instantly fell in love with a flock of Goldfinches. The rest, as they say, is history.