A Birder’s Journey: Spotlight on Elsa Hume

by Camelia Zollars, Public Programs & Partnerships Specialist, and Tara Lemezis, Assistant Director of Adult Learning & Engagement

Birder, Outings Leader, and poet Elsa Hume has been a part of the Bird Alliance of Oregon community since 2021, when she began attending our newly created Bird Days of Summer series. Since then, she’s attended field trips and classes almost monthly and has gone on to lead free outings and Bird Song Walks as a volunteer. In August, she joined us as an instructor for the first time, sharing her beautiful bird poetry with the world while leading our Poet Birds class. Elsa is an inspiration to us, and we’re excited to call her a member of the flock.

Elsa Hume birding
Elsa Hume, photo by Tara Lemezis

We’re honored that you’re a part of the Bird Alliance of Oregon community. How did you first get involved?

The first outing I went on was to Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden for the Bird Days of Summer. We were on the lookout for Green Heron and nesting Bald Eagles, and I just remember feeling really comfortable and at home asking questions and making observations. I had a great first experience! Getting to connect with people in nature was so fun, and I was like, “OK, yeah, this is a thing and something I can get into.”

Our hope with Bird Days of Summer programs is to make space for new audiences to feel comfortable exploring birding and the outdoors. What was it like on these programs for you?

Oh, yes, I remember [going to a] lovely Accessible Perch evening at Laurelhurst Park with Güero Bird Club! We sat in comfy camping chairs and enjoyed fizzy drinks as we watched the park locals like flickers and crows. We were encouraged to write a bird poem and share it with the group. I had a bit of writer’s block that evening, but even so, Camelia and Tara and the rest of the crew expressed joy and appreciation when I shared my poem. That is an example of the vibe I always feel when I’m with the Bird Alliance crew—total acceptance of wherever I’m at in my process of bird appreciation. Now that I think about it, maybe that evening played a role in my gravitation towards writing and sharing bird poetry? Hmm!

Since then, you’ve joined us on all sorts of programming, from Birding Days to painting classes, and our beloved free programs like Bird Song Walks. Can you share a few of your favorite memories from programs you’ve attended?

One of my most memorable experiences was learning about patch birding. I loved the concept of going back to a place over and over again, getting to know the individual birds there and sort of being able to, like, watch the trends of who’s coming and going, and since then I’ve been a patch birder at Broughton Beach and Whitaker Ponds. One of the big things I’ve discovered and really love about patch birding is that since birds have their territories, you really literally are seeing the same individuals often when you go. Like, if I’m passing by this certain part of Whitaker Ponds, I always see one male Anna’s Hummingbird on the same perch, and it’s so cool!

I also had a fabulous time at Jennifer Mercede’s painting class! She taught us to loosen up by giving us exercises like blind contour drawing. By the end of the class, I painted a psychedelic sapsucker scene inspired by a photo of a Red-breasted Sapsucker at Whitaker Ponds. Amazing things can happen when you let yourself wander free!

You’re now a volunteer Outings Leader. What was it like becoming a leader after attending so many programs?

Becoming an Outings Leader was a natural progression because I had a lot of experience seeing you all lead. I got a sense of how to talk to people, make them feel comfortable, and how to make observations together. I realized I do love to share my experiences and teach. My favorite part of leading outings is seeing people who are pretty brand new to birding getting excited and connecting the dots in their brain. Having these special moments is really rewarding.

What are your top tips for someone who is bird-curious but doesn’t know where to begin?

Start going out with people who are more experienced than you. There are endless opportunities in Portland: through Bird Alliance, or you can go out with other local groups like Güero Bird Club, FBC.PDX [Feminist Bird Club Portland], and Queer Flockers.

And interact with your new knowledge, like through an art form, such as photography, drawing, or poetry, because the more you do that, the more you’ll remember the characteristics of birds you’re seeing. Oftentimes, after I go out in the field, I’ll sit down at a coffee shop and go online or use a field guide to look up the birds that I saw. I like to try to draw them and write little notes about some of their main characteristics.

Can you talk about the way nature influences your work as a poet? Also vice versa—does being a poet affect the way you experience nature?

I pretty much only write about nature these days. After an outing, I’ll try to create some sort of deeper meaning out of my experience. I like to write from the bird’s perspective, imagining that they’re having some sort of dilemma, and try to resolve it in the poem. A lot of the time, it’s about being misunderstood by humans. I have this one poem called “Birdy with a Bad Rap” about a starling who is feeling really misunderstood.
To answer the second part of that question, I would say sometimes I’ll have a moment in nature and be like, “Oh, I know what’s happening there because I wrote about this.” It helps me connect and memorize things that I can then share with others.

Elsa Hume, photo by Tara Lemezis

In August, you taught your first official class with us for Bird Days of Summer, combining your love of poetry and birds. How did that class go?

It was awesome! We birded Smith and Bybee Wetlands with our senses open so we could gather moments of inspiration for writing, like the flash of yellow from a warbler moving through the foliage, or the sea of bright white light from the hundreds of pelicans and Great Egrets in the marsh. We initiated the writing part of the outing with an exercise called free association writing where the goal is to get words out on paper while letting go of judgments, writing whatever thoughts come to your mind. Everything has value! Then, we partnered up and wrote a joint poem, which was an exercise in embracing each other’s creative processes and letting things be humorous. We definitely had some good laughs over each other’s lines! I’m grateful for this opportunity and I can’t wait to create and bird and make new friends again soon!!

Last question, and it’s a fun one, because we have to ask. What’s your favorite bird and why?

I’m not sure I can pick an all-time favorite, but I’ll share my favorite bird of the season. And it might surprise you a little bit—it’s a Long-billed Dowitcher! I heard there were some at Broughton Beach where I swim a lot. They were a lifer for me this summer!