Weeman takes flight with birding and new book
For Kisa Weeman, birding began with her mother’s backyard bird feeders, where cardinals and blue jays became a familiar sight. Growing up in Ohio, these feeders sparked a love for birds that would take her across the globe.
But it wasn’t until she encountered her “spark bird” — a tiny northern parula warbler — that her journey as an official birder truly began.
“I was on a bird walk with a park ranger in Acadia National Park in Maine,” Weeman said. “The park ranger, to my disbelief, was able to find this tiny, beautiful creature high in a pine tree. Warblers are gorgeous songbirds that only rarely come to bird feeders. They migrate through Ohio each spring and fall, and some of the little beauties nest here.”
Weeman, a retired Wooster physician who lives in Wayne County, has always been fascinated by birds, not just for their beauty, but also for their incredible physiology.
“They have lovely songs, calls, and their flight patterns and migrations are truly astounding,” she said. “I also find birding to be a calming and challenging hobby I can combine with hiking, walking a beach and trips with friends.”
Her passion for birding has taken her far beyond Ohio. She recently traveled to Ecuador to witness the country’s vast hummingbird population and to South Africa, where she walked alongside South African penguins.
“They are just as cute and funny as you would imagine,” Weeman said.
One of her earlier adventures took her to the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas, where she spotted the vibrant green jay on a guided birding trip.
Despite her travels, Weeman said Ohio remains a top birding destination.
“Ohio is a fantastic birding location for many different reasons,” she said. “Lake Erie causes many migrating birds to stop to feed and rest before flying north to Canada each spring. There is even a large birding festival every May called The Biggest Week in American Birding, held at Maumee Bay State Park, which attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world.”
Weeman’s birding journey evolved over time to include photography, a passion that grew with the rise of digital cameras. Her interest has culminated in her new book, “The Beauty of Connecting to Birds,” now available on Amazon in digital and paperback formats.
“My goal is to inspire others to enjoy these beautiful creatures and to make their own connection with nature,” she said.
The book features her bird photography and recounts the connections she’s made with others along her journey.
For aspiring birders, Weeman suggests visiting www.ebird.org, a citizen science website from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that serves as both a research tool and a diary for bird sightings.
“At the eBird site, one can find local and national competitions for the top 100 birders in each state,” she said. “Most importantly, get out into nature and enjoy yourself.”
Weeman’s journey is a reminder that birding is not just about spotting new species; it’s about finding joy in nature’s beauty, one bird at a time.
