Novelist Amy Tan's Backyard Bird Obsession Captivates Readers

In the past few years, renowned novelist Amy Tan has discovered a new passion: birdwatching in her own backyard. Tan, who had little interest in birds until her mid-60s, has become a self-proclaimed "bird obsessive," captivated by the diverse avian life that thrives in the four ancient oaks surrounding her California home.

Tan's journal entries, starting in 2017, track her growing fascination with the birds that visit her garden. She has identified over 60 different species, from finches and sparrows to hummingbirds and owls, and she frequently imagines conversations between them, anthropomorphizing their behaviors and relationships.

The author's newfound hobby has led her to experiment with various bird feeders and foods, including suet laced with hot pepper to deter cunning squirrels. Tan's dedication to understanding her feathered neighbors has even led her to keep a supply of 3,000 mealworms in her fridge and a bird corpse in her freezer for a local university's scientific collection.

Tan's passion for birdwatching is evident in her detailed drawings, which capture the birds in all their feathered splendor. She credits a nature drawing teacher who encouraged her to "feel the life within" the birds as the catalyst for her transformation from a casual observer to an avid enthusiast.