To pursue her new passion, O’Kane moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where she started a PhD and enrolled in an ornithology class, mainly because there were no “Birding for Dummies” ones. The coursework was every bit as engaging as the spot of nature right across from her apartment: Warner Park. The countless hours she spent there bird-watching served a dual purpose. It soothed her soul after the trauma of the previous year and inspired her to share this love with others. Soon, O’Kane, a journalist who had specialized in human rights violations in Latin America before switching gears and becoming a Journalism professor, found a way to combine these interests. She started a program that paired children from disadvantaged backgrounds with college student mentors, setting them on a journey that would see several of them through rough times.
It is calming to read about how birding, and nature in general, has the power to change lives. In a world that increasingly feels industrialized and sterile, the reminder that there are pockets of joy, greenery, and peace is invaluable. Or at least, it was for me. I found myself observing all the birds on my walks, breathing a little deeper to savor the fresh air, and paying closer attention to the environment around me—an environment whose appeal I had missed because it wasn’t the greener areas around my previous home.
But this isn’t only a story about birding. It’s also about community and activism. When Warner Park was threatened by a “modernization” and “improvement” plan, O’Kane rallied multiple neighbors to stop it. Many of them didn’t require convincing. Her husband, a retired feed-mill worker, the owner of her favorite diner, even the children from her program: they all came together to save one of the last pockets of nature in Madison. Something they were told was impossible was achieved thanks to countless hours of work and, just as importantly, faith in their ability to achieve their goal. The book reminds us of the importance of community, of building bonds with each other, of coming together to do what’s right. Personally, it reminded me that not all is lost, no matter how hopeless a situation may seem.
Birding to Change the World is, at its core, a love letter. To birds, yes, but also to community and empathy. And I entreat you to read it if you need a reminder of humans’ ability to rise above the obstacles, if only we do so together and in harmony.