Written by Leah McMichael, story-teller and artistic collaborator.

Becca’s love of birds started with the board game Wingspan and its water-colored avian playing cards. She started pointing out nuthatches and woodpeckers when we hiked, and marveling at raptors that wheel above Indiana roads.

I like Wingspan too, but my delight took wing chiefly when four chicks moved in to a brooder box in the spare bedroom. Their dinosaur feet and dainty drinking habits opened my eyes to the strange loveliness of starlings. 

Katie took a bird-watching class last year, the red-headed woodpeckers at the feeder a joy like sea glass or berries: treasure on wings. She designed and painted the gold-luster murmuration on these mugs in homage to all the birds that sweep through the seasons and waken us to wonder. 

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