Beck with editing by Melissa Stodola-Beck. Wednesday, August 3, 2011.

I am a writer, artist and naturalist at home in the Appalachian foothills of Ohio. Every day, I roam our 80 acre wildlife sanctuary, and every day I find something new. This deep relationship with the land is the wellspring for my writing and art.

Set the table for spring. I keep the scratch and black sunflower around in spring, but hang a feeder with white millet to attract. The Barn Swallows and Killdeer have returned in the past few days and most of our wintering ducks are gone. Just a couple of scaup remaining on the ponds as spring dawns on the reddirt hill. Coming soon to your neighborhood. To report one in Oklahoma? .

Its a wonderful finish to a beautiful day.

Bald Cardinals and Blue Jays. When To Open Purple Martin Houses. The Mission of the Tulsa Audubon Society. To foster appreciation, enjoyment and stewardship of our natural world. We work to achieve this in four ways. Promote the conservation of wildlife and the natural environment. Provide the opportunity for study and observation of birds and all wildlife. Contribute to research in the fields of conservation and ornithology by monetary support and active participation.