this is a drawing of a peregrine in 1969, when i was about eight years old.from one of my father's books. this is me at age 13. my father, being an ornithologist, could offer many opportunities like bird banding. i learned bird banding when i was very young. when i look back, it is one of aspects ofimportant my early bird studies. the opportunity to hold a bird in your hand, to feel it. it is so much richer than looking at it through binoculars. part of my early birding experience was old thing the birds in my hand, feeling them. the incredible amount of life and energy packed into that little tiny body, and they are so small. .his is a sharp tailed sparrow it probably weighs 13 grams, half an ounce. so, put that in perspective. you could put two in an envelope and mail them anywhere for one staff. [laughter] some are much smaller, six grams, five grams. imagine fitting five in an envelope for one stamp. of feelingerience theenergy, the life, seeing birds up close and being able to release them and watch them file -- flyaway was really magical. also early on,