Feathered Stories: Jerry’s Home Office Bird Haven
Meet Jerry, a Maryland birdwatcher who turns his backyard into a haven for birds and gives back through conservation volunteering. Discover his inspiring story.
Meet Jerry
In this exclusive Feathered Stories interview, we had the pleasure of speaking with Jerry — a passionate birdwatcher from Huntingtown, Maryland, just 30 miles south of Washington, D.C. For more than two decades, Jerry has transformed his backyard into a welcoming sanctuary for birds of all kinds. Balancing his full-time job as a District Manager with his love for nature, he finds peace and fulfillment in watching wildlife right outside his window.
What began as a simple backyard hobby has gradually become an essential part of his daily life — a quiet, enduring passion that continues to bring him joy through every season.
Where the Birdwatching Began
Jerry’s connection with birds began right in his own backyard. “I’ve been living here for almost 23 years and have had bird feeders since we moved here. I have numerous feeders just outside my office window as well as a birdbath nearby,” he shares, recalling the beginning of his journey. Working from home allows him to enjoy these visitors daily. From his office window, he can watch the fluttering activity around the feeders and the gentle splashes in the birdbath — a soothing backdrop to his workday.
It’s a reminder that even a busy life can coexist beautifully with nature when one takes the time to nurture it.
Favorite Birds and Memorable Encounters
When asked about his favorite bird, Jerry doesn’t hesitate. “For my regular bird visitors, my favorite bird is the Eastern Bluebird. They have nested here for many years, and I enjoy them regularly visiting the feeders and the bird bath. This year and last year, they had three clutches. It’s also great to see the fledglings continue to visit my yard even months after they left the nest.”
In addition to these regular visitors, other birds occasionally appear, bringing variety to his yard. “I’m fortunate to have a wide variety of birds that stay here year-round, but I also love seeing special surprise visitors. My top surprise visitors have been the Indigo Bunting, Summer Tanager, Scarlet Tanager, and the Louisiana Waterthrush.”
The mix of regular and unexpected visitors creates a lively rhythm in the yard, setting the stage for moments of natural beauty. Birdwatching offers a quiet window into the rhythms of nature. The flutter of wings, the flash of vibrant colors, and the calls echoing through the trees reveal that even familiar spaces hold small wonders waiting to be noticed.
Listening to the Language of Birds
For Jerry, birdwatching is not only about what he sees but also what he hears. Every morning, his backyard becomes a quiet concert hall where each note has a meaning waiting to be discovered. “Almost daily, I try to identify different bird songs or calls. I can tell if I’m hearing a different call, and I use the Merlin Bird ID app to identify it. Most of my yard is wooded, so I also have plenty of birds that visit my yard but just stay in the woods. A recent favorite that I have heard but not seen is the Yellow-billed Cuckoo.”
It’s a practice that blends curiosity with patience — learning to recognize unseen visitors by sound alone. Even after years of birdwatching, Jerry still finds that the woods have voices he hasn’t met yet.
Compassion and Connection in the Backyard
Jerry’s care for birds often becomes part of his everyday routine. “Unfortunately, birds will sometimes hit my windows. If I ever hear a window collision, I check on the bird, and many times it’s just startled, so I’ll keep it in a box for about 30 minutes. Most times it’s ready to be released and flies off.”
Helping a stunned bird recover is a quiet, rewarding moment — one that shows how close our lives can be to the wildlife around us.
His curiosity also extends to observing how birds interact with one another. “I enjoy using platform feeders that attract a larger variety of birds and a larger number. It’s interesting to see how different species react to each other. Most times it’s a pleasant encounter.”
At his feeders, scenes of gentle coexistence unfold every day — birds gathering, pausing, and sharing space in their own unspoken rhythm.
Where Birds Find Home
For Jerry, his backyard in Maryland is more than just part of his home—it’s the heart of his birdwatching life. “Over the years, my yard has become a haven for birds. I’m fortunate to have around thirteen different species of birds that visit my yard throughout the year, plus I get my regular seasonal visitors, plus the surprise migratory visitors.”
Watching both resident and migratory birds return year after year has been deeply rewarding for Jerry. “To make my yard more bird-friendly, I have a variety of different types of feeders, have quality bird food, and also provide them with numerous water sources. Each year, I also try to add more bird and pollinator-friendly plants. I believe providing those items for many years enables me to get so many regular visitors, as well as being a welcoming environment for migratory birds.”
Beyond observing the birds themselves, Jerry has found that the simple act of birdwatching shapes how he experiences his everyday life and connects him more closely to nature. “Birdwatching is such a calm and relaxing hobby. Being a birder definitely makes me feel more conscious of nature and conservation.”
Birdwatching Adventures Beyond Home
From quiet mornings to organized walks, birdwatching takes Jerry to places where the air is filled with calls and the trees are alive with movement. “My favorite local birding spot is the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary. I regularly visit there for organized bird walks as well as going on my own. The number of birds that visit this sanctuary is amazing.” Observing birds in different locations offers a chance to notice behaviors, interactions, and species that might not appear close to home.
Earlier this year, he traveled to Costa Rica for an international birding adventure.
“The birds there are just amazing, and it was also great to see some of the birds that migrate to my area in the summer. The bird that I wanted to see in Costa Rica, but unfortunately didn’t, was the Resplendent Quetzal. They are just magnificent. Some of the cool birds I did see were Toucans, Aracari, Parrots, plus lots of different types of hummingbirds and Tanagers. Next, I would like to visit some of the South American countries for a birding trip.” Experiencing birds in such varied habitats can make even familiar species feel fresh and surprising.
When asked what he would ask birds if he could communicate with them, Jerry replied, “If I could communicate with the birds, I would ask them what else I could do to make them happy.” It’s the kind of question that anyone who’s spent time watching birds might recognize — wondering what the birds are up to, noticing little gestures, and wishing we could understand their world just a little better.
From Gadgets to Giving Back
Technology has added a modern touch to Jerry’s birdwatching hobby. “I occasionally get a surprise visitor at my camera feeders, and that is always special. I have used a variety of camera feeders over the years, and I’ve probably attracted the widest variety of birds with the PeckPerk smart feeder. I also appreciate the extra accessories that came with it.”
Yet Jerry’s passion goes far beyond gadgets. “I’m part of the Southern Maryland Audubon Society and plan to be even more active with volunteer nature work after I retire next year.”
Over the years, he has learned a few simple ways anyone can support birds. “One thing many people overlook is providing clean water sources for the birds. Birding is such a relaxing hobby, and it’s definitely not just for older people. I believe my TikTok bird videos have inspired many younger people to get involved in birding.”
Through his dedication and online sharing, Jerry is nurturing a new generation of nature lovers—one video, and one bird, at a time.
To Jerry, and to You
We’re deeply grateful to Jerry for taking the time to share his story with us in this interview. His passion for birds, thoughtful insights, and generous spirit truly capture what birdwatching is all about. All the photos featured in this article are his own wonderful works (except for the Yellow-billed Cuckoo photo).
If you’d like to see more of Jerry’s bird photography and videos, you can find him here:
- Instagram: @mdbirdnerd
- YouTube: @mdbirdnerd813
- TikTok: @mdbirdnerd
If you enjoyed this story, be sure to explore more inspiring pieces in our Feathered Stories series—where we celebrate people who bring the beauty of nature closer to us all. And if you’d like to share your own birdwatching journey, we’d love to hear from you！