Keith Michael Letter

Jan 13, 2013

Dear Keith,

It was good to see you recently at the Nutcracker performance. It was the first time I’ve seen your ‘new’ choreography of the classic and both Jeri and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was also a treat to meet your mom and sister.

I am sort of amazed to find out about your involvement with NYC Wild. Had no idea that you are such an avid birder and nature enthusiast although when I think about it I guess it shouldn’t surprise me.

I guess I became aware of birds as more than background objects back in the 60’s when I lived on the coast of northern Massachusetts near the Plum Island Refuge. I remember seeing Snowy Owls there up close and personal for the first time. They would sit on fences and stare at us people on the road staring back at them. To say they got my attention is an understatement.

In the 70’s I bought an old mill house in Vermont which was a birders dream. Eagles, Hawks, Owls. Nuthatches and Pileated Woodpeckers were abundant. Cedar waxwings, Grosbeaks and Woodcocks visited seasonally. I even had a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker that liked to peck around on my woodshed. It was hard not to become a birder there.

When we moved to NY one of the first visitors we had at our apt on W 85th  was a small Owl who use to sit on the branches of a tree outside. And one day while sitting in Poets Walk in Central Pk a large Hawk (maybe Pale Mel) landed in a tree near me clutching and then making lunch of his unfortunate prey. It was not pretty but it was sure real. On some days I would venture out to Jamaica Bay to watch the Skimmers, Cormorants, Teals and other great birds there.

Jeri and I go Puerto Rico almost every fall. Magnificent Frigatebirds, Egrets and Herons are plentiful. A Little Blue Heron visits us at first light each morning. Surprisingly there are more Dove around the beach than Gulls.

On a recent visit with a friend in Fla, a fine wildlife photographer, J and I saw everything from Roseate Spoonbills to Burrowing Owls to Bald Eagles and Osprey to God knows what else.

Your nature walks look fascinating. I would love to go on one sometime with you but it would have to be on one that doesn’t require serious hiking. I have trouble with my feet and legs so I’m a very slow walker now.

I’ve always known that you’re a brother. Now that I know you’re a serious birder, you’re a double-brother. .

Love from Jeri and me,

Mike