Yesterday was a rough day for me but it ended on a high note.
There are days, and I do have them occasionally, when I wonder why I’m putting so much time, effort and even expense into my blogging. Those kinds of days are to be expected when you’ve been blogging daily for as long as I have but, expected or not, they can still be pretty discouraging. Yesterday was like that until 5:38 in the afternoon when I received the following email from the “Contact Me” page of Feathered Photography (email shared with permission).
Dear Mr. Dudley,
Hello! My name is Yoon Lee, and I am a rising senior living in Seattle, Washington! As of writing I am driving (with my parents) to the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge for a birdwatching road trip, and I wanted to thank you for your inspiring me over the past two years.
I started following your blog in the winter of 2019-2020 and have loved reading your daily posts since then. Your photos inspired me to pick up my own bird photography hobby in freshman year, and it has been priceless in my mental health and in informing my own career – I have since founded my school’s Bird Club, gone on various birdwatching trips (though none so dramatic as this one), and pursued a personal research project on eBird usage through the pandemic. I am thinking of studying ornithology in college as well. Of course, I am not quite there, but since I am headed to a place you’ve talked about a lot in your blog, I thought it would be appropriate to voice my thanks.
I hope you good fortunes in birding and in health, and I look forward to my own birdwatching tomorrow!
Sincerely,
Yoon Lee
When you’ve pretty much dedicated your life, both pre and post retirement, to an attempt to promote an appreciation of and a love for the natural world, you can imagine how much Yoon Lee’s email meant to me.
Thousands of Long-billed Dowitchers at Bear River MBR
This is where Yoon Lee will be today – Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. With our current drought, birds likely won’t be as numerous as this but I hope there’s enough of them to make their long trip more than worthwhile.
When I have another one of “those days”, and I surely will, I’ll remember Yoon Lee’s email and its uplifting and inspiring message. And I’ll keep on keeping on.
Ron
Ron… My husband and I both love your photos and comments each day. We’ve been following for a couple years and want you to know it is a highlight of each morning at the kitchen table to check in on your blog. Please know how appreciated you are!! Sharing your pictures, your knowledge and your unique observations about birds and wildlife (and so much more) gives each us a much-needed spark of joy every day. Thank you thank you!
Fantastic! It’s always nice to be appreciaated!
Charlotte Norton
Moved to sentimental eye leakiness here.
You ARE an inspiration, and the place I choose to start my day, knowing that I will learn, and be (usually) delighted.
I am so very glad that Yoon Lee let you know what your posts mean to her. Life changing posts.
Thanks, EC. Imo, there’s nothing wrong with a little sentimental eye leakiness now and then.
Truth.
Very lovely note! You are still teaching and inspiring others. I hope they will see some birds. My last two trips have been dismal. The water is dropping in the north ponds. There were many pelicans but far away and only a few grebes, no chicks yet. They will see many Great Blue Herons on the west and south ends, a few curlews on the east and Cinnamon teals are everywhere. The large numbers of stilts, avocets and snowy egrets are missing. I hope as they are off nests we will see them.
I figured it would be about like that, April. Hopefully they’ll still find enough birds, and enough variety, to make it interesting for them.
What a lovely message from Yoon Lee, and what a gift to you and to us all, to be reminded that our own actions and efforts can have an impact that reaches far beyond our expectations. A bird club results from your blog — a budding ornithologist is hatched! This is a pick-me-up, indeed! Congrats, Dr. D, and my thanks to you and to Yoon Lee, as well! ♥️
“a budding ornithologist is hatched”
Chris, I loved your entire comment but this part will have me smiling for a good long while!
Happy to be of service! ☺️
Ditto!!!
I fully understand how this feels after my many years of teaching. Such moments seem to be few but all the more precious when they happen. It’s especially rewarding when it comes from someone young and helps them focus on a future direction. I’m sure there were many times in your past career when you had a positive influence, they just didn’t think to tell you. But, everyday is encouraging to me to see how many positive responses you have to your blog. The world needs people like you to continue education and inspiration. Keep up the good work!
Thanks for the encouragement, Dan..
I’ll confess, when I saw that Yoon Lee lives in Seattle (not really all that far from you) and was interested in studying ornithology in college, I was wishing that you weren’t retired and that your paths might cross in the collegiate world.
Thanks for the support. These days it’s many fewer college students but I still get to continue educational outreach with the general public through my Wild Birds Unlimited store. And I don’t have to grade papers or give tests.
Don’t know how you can keep this up every day. No on would blame you if you shifted to a lower frequency. Your commitment is commendable, but there are other considerations in life. I know when I go out into nature, or when just traveling around, I am always on the lookout for the next photo opportunity. Every now and then, I realize that in doing this I’m ‘working’. Sometimes we just have to put the camera down, relax, and be in the moment. Just a thought. Then again, maybe it’s just my issue.🤔
“Sometimes we just have to put the camera down, relax, and be in the moment. Just a thought”
Actually, I get a lot of those moments in the field, Michael. That’s a big part of the reason I photograph birds.
Getting them might be easier for me because, shooting from my pickup, I’m not lugging camera gear or myself around and I spend a lot of time just observing nature while I’m waiting for birds. I never see that as “working”. Not ever. Culling my images? Now that’s work.
Thanks for posting this beautiful and thoughtful letter of appreciation! How nice it would be if Yoon Lee shares some of the trip with you too, Ron.
I hope your recovery is smooth…
Maybe he will, Susan. With the drought and the receding Great Salt Lake I’m worried that they won’t have much luck out there this morning.
It must be extremely gratifying to know you have had such a positive influence. I suspect there are others like Yoon Lee standing in the wings. If my math is correct, you’re in the top 98th percentile of the Birding top 1000 for good reasons. A lot of good reasons.
Thanks very much, Lyle. Based on a lot of diverse influences my standing in the Birding Top 1000 fluctuates almost daily. It isn’t really very accurate for a lot of reasons but I like to keep track of to see trends. I wouldn’t include their box on my blog if they didn’t insist on it as a condition of belonging.
What wonderful person Yoon Lee has become in part because of a wonderful
man and brilliant photographer by the name of Ron Dudley. The younger generation will save the planet. You both give me great inspiration. Thank you.
“The younger generation will save the planet”
I sure hope they succeed, Ellen. Exceptional young folks like Yoon Lee give me hope.
That, plus the lightbulb spark moment are the two things that keep teachers going year after year, often in one form or another, on into retirement. Many of us appreciate your efforts,your accumulated knowledge and your careful curiosity but it is especially meaningful when that comes from the young and even more so when there is the chance that they may go on to carry the torch. Thanks for sharing that special moment and reminding all of us why it is so worth it.
Granny Pat, I love the way you worded your entire comment. Spot on.
Here’s hoping your Sunday is as bright as your yesterday was “blue”. Happy Father’s Day Ron.
Thank you.
Nice gift from Yoon Lee at the perfect time. Angel work for sure. You are very much appreciated Ron. Happy Father’s Day!
Thank you, Kathleen.
Daily… always a “Thank you” for sharing your pictures/adventures/inspiration with us. From a long time follower.
“Thank you”
CJ, I’ll admit that sometimes that “daily” part can be pretty intimidating to me, even after all these years of doing it.
Wow Ron – that sure does give you a warm feeling and definitely pumps you up to go out there every morning and then report your findings along with the outstanding photos each and every morning. Ditto from me and probably from all your followers to Yoon Lee’s expressed feelings. I have taken in a huge amount of added knowledge about birding and science and biology and the environment from reading these blogs over these past years.
Happy Father’s Day to you and all the Dads.
Thanks very much, Everett.
Just never know who you’re going to “touch” or in what way……. Glad Yoon Lee was able to let you know that especially on a “bad day”.
Can’t remember the Biology teacher at San Diego Mesa either who had me looking at Biology differently – he SO applied to everyday life!
Happy Father’s Day! 🙂
Judy, your mention of San Diego Mesa brought back memories. When I was attending Palomar Junior College I was on the track team (javelin) and we often competed with Mesa.
Thanks, Ron. My husband and I have been reading FP every day for the last three or more years. It has given me a positive start to some very difficult days.
“It has given me a positive start to some very difficult days.”
Mary, whether the “positive” part comes at the beginning or the end of the day it’s always welcome, isn’t it.
Nice Job Ron. I reference your blog regularly when telling other nature lovers about the wonderful info and pics that you take the time and effort to share with the rest of us nature lovers.
Thanks so much for your continued efforts Ron!
“I reference your blog regularly”
That’s good to know, Rick. Thank you.
And Yoon Lee reminds us how important it is to help others love our world thanks to both Ron Dudley and Yoon Lee.
Agreed, Mary. Yoon Lee’s message is an excellent reminder to us all.
What a great letter and well deserved!
As a retired teacher I well know and understand your feelings!!
Something like this means a lot to us old, retired teachers doesn’t it, Dick.
What a wonderful note from Yoon Lee. I wholeheartedly reiterate the appreciation and gratitude for everything you put into Feathered Photography. It is meaningful and important to me in many ways. Thank you Ron, and Happy Father’s Day.
Thank you, Mark. And Happy Father’s Day to you.
What a great post and her message came at a time when obviously you needed it the most. Just imagine the number of lives you have influenced in your career. Great job, Ron!
Much appreciated, Cindy. Yes, Yoon Lee’s timing couldn’t have been better as far as I’m concerned.
Wow. This is such a great reminder of the importance of thanking the people who help and inspire us along the way. Kudos Yoon Lee. And kudos Ron Dudley! 🙂
Cathy, I’ve often thought about my own inspiration to focus on the world of science. It was a teacher of Human Anatomy at Palomar Junior College in San Marcos, CA. Before I took that class I had no particular interest in science but after taking it I knew that the life sciences would be where I ended up.
And no, I never thanked him. To be embarrassingly honest I can’t even remember his name. Shame on me.