Cool birbs.

When I was a child I would spend hours staring at my father's (and my grandfather's) thick Audubon Field Guide to North American Birds. The book was textured on the outside, almost like snakeskin, and the interior was filled with birds, arranged beautifully by color. I had only seen a few of the avian creatures - the usual Northern Cardinal, chickadees, sparrows and jays that frequented my grandparents' bird feeder. My life has become way more bird-centric since then. I play a board game called…

The birding community is a special one. In my experience, they take care of the land where they're seeking a glimpse of the next rare bird. They smile at their fellow binocular-ed passersby, share good spots (but not all of them), and pick up trash as they go on their way. The hobby is (mostly) a respectable one, involving an appreciation for living things. It's allowed me to be more present, soaking up the quiet beauty of most surroundings. It's tough to be a birder in New York City. The same…