Bird Word

Enter the sensory world of feathers, flight and song. Participants will combine bird observations with playful

writing exercises designed to help them step out of their human selves. Prose and poetry on birds will be read for inspiration. Discussions will be held on the power of words to save species in trouble—and participants will be encouraged to put thoughts to action. There will be options to dive deep into one bird that calls you or skim among the many seabirds and songbirds enlivening the coast, forests, and meadows nearby the Sitka Center. Both days of this workshop will feature time in the field, time to write, readings, writing prompts, and sharing.

Marina Richie is a nature writer, presenter, environmentalist, and author of Halcyon Journey, In Search of the Belted Kingfisher ,winner of the 2024 John Burroughs Award for distinguished nature writing, a 2022 National Outdoor Book Award, and a Foreword INDIES Award. In addition to her published essays, poems, science, and environmental articles, she pens a bi-monthly blog that often features birds. She served as the writer for an award-winning series of 67 interpretive panels featuring the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge at 24

locations on the coast. Marina has a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Montana and an undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Oregon. She lives in Bend, Oregon, and writes looking out on a lively bird and pollinator garden.

Pens

Composition notebook

Binoculars

Field Notebooks 31/2 X 5 ½

Handout—prose and poetry examples, exercises—approximately 10 pages back to back

Bird and naturalist field guides for reference and borrowing