Meet a Member: Wendy Wonderley

Photo: Wendy Wonderley birding at Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area.

BY WENDY WONDERLEY

Tell us a little about yourself. Family? Where do you live and work?

I retired as an environmental programs coordinator for the City of Phoenix in 2014, after previously working as a consulting civil engineer in the field of water resources.

My wife, Karen, and I moved to Ellettsville, Indiana, in 2021 and were thrilled with the quality of Indiana birding. We immediately joined Indiana Audubon and Sassafras Audubon Society, our local chapter. We signed up for as many bird outings as possible and are grateful for the help and warm welcome we experienced.

In 2024, I became the leader of Rainbow Birders, a program of Spencer Pride and a space for LGBTQ+ people and allies to come together around a shared love of birds.

What got you interested in birds and birding?

When I worked for the City of Phoenix, I was involved with several large environmental restoration projects—the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration and the Tres Rios Wetlands—and enjoyed seeing the rich birdlife begin to return to the previously dry river beds. In particular I was entranced by the large herons and egrets with their patient stalking.

In 2016, we had the opportunity to visit South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana. After experiencing those amazing African birds, there was no turning back—birding was for me! Since then, I’ve birded on all seven continents and continue to enjoy travel as well as local birding.

What’s your favorite place to go birding in Indiana, and why?

The Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area would have to rank as my overall favorite place to bird in Indiana. I’m awed by the scale of the wetlands and other habitats, and the birds they attract. Experiencing the changes in the birding palette through the seasons is fascinating. I often bump into other birders there and enjoy comparing notes on what we’ve seen. Goose Pond always delivers a wonderful birding experience.

My local favorite is the Sycamore Land Trust’s Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve, which is close to our house and a delightful place to bird. The boardwalk threads through wetland/marsh, open water, and hardwood forest habitats, and one can always encounter a satisfying variety of birds here. With its narrow paths through verdant forest, Beanblossom Bottoms is also my favorite place to simply connect with nature.

What’s one small change you wish more people made for birds at home, in parks, or in their communities?

Maybe this isn’t so small, but I wish more people would recognize our connectedness to nature and our dependence on it. We’re all in this together, and we absolutely need each other as well as the natural environment.

Scaling it back a bit, I’d love for all of us to consider using native plants wherever possible: on our propertie and in our parks and communities. Because they evolved together, native plants give native birds what they need, when they need it.

For example, non-native and invasive autumn olive provides high-carbohydrate fruit that lacks the fats and proteins that birds require, especially when “beefing up” for migration. You can think of their fruit as junk food for birds. More native plants means more and/or healthier native birds!

In your experience, how do shared moments or group experiences help birding stay meaningful—for you and for others?

I think birds are a very accessible way to connect us with nature, and with each other. I love birding with other people! It’s as much, if not more, fun for me to witness someone else getting a lifer than getting one myself. Or to be part of witnessing interesting bird behavior, or just getting a good look at a gorgeous bird. And really, what bird isn’t gorgeous when you get a good look at it?

With Rainbow Birders, I’m honored and delighted to often have these opportunities, and I invite you to join us on an outing. We host free bird outings on the third Saturday of each month, along with a variety of other events. You can also check out our events at spencerpride.org/calendar, join our Rainbow Birders Facebook group, or contact me at [email protected] for more information.

I also encourage you to join as many Indiana Audubon (and other) outings as possible!

Wendy Wonderley will co-lead a free virtual program on Thursday, June 26, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. ET focused on how to leading inclusive bird outings. Learn more and register for the Zoom link at inclusivebirdwalks.eventbrite.com.