The Power of Observation: David Sibley speaks at Hilly Chase

David Sibley, an American ornithologist and author of many books about birds and birding, was the Hilly Chase Speaker Series speaker on Wednesday, March 26. David lives in the farmhouse at Hilltop Farm, Eaglebrook’s spot of land on top of the Pocumtuck Ridge. David grew up in a birding household; his father was an ornithologist. He began drawing birds at the age of seven, and by the time he was 18, his love for birdwatching and illustration had deepened. As a young adult, David traveled across the country, observing and sketching a wide variety of bird species. 

“The process of looking at something and converting it into lines on paper commits it to your memory,” David told the students. He likened drawing to a “brain skill,” saying, “Every sketch is practice for the next one, and repetition with sketches is how you learn about your subject.” David attributes his strong memory for identifying different bird species to his habit of drawing the birds he observes.

David spoke about his most recent book, “What It’s Like to Be a Bird: From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing - What Birds Are Doing, and Why,” which was published in 2020. It is a book that goes beyond simple identification of different birds and delves into bird behaviors and traits. For example, he shared with the group how Barn Owls possess exceptional hearing, and explained that most birds have vision that is at least five times sharper than humans. He spoke about migratory birds and the difficult choices they must make to return to the same tree where they nested the previous year. “Each species has their own path and schedule,” he said, “and they make decisions about when to fly and the route to take.” Watch the video of David’s Hilly Chase presentation, and take a look at the photos from the evening.