Feathers in the Wind

When he took up birding during pediatric training, Dr. Edward Arenson had no idea where it would lead. When he began writing down his experiences, he hoped the process would offer a greater understanding of his passion for birding and, in due course, himself. Despite having a busy medical practice and a growing family, Dr. Arenson was accustomed to going on “wild goose chases” every few months to seek new birds and get away from the stressful routine as a neuro-oncologist.The testimony of his many and diverse experiences as a birder “of limited skill but high motivation” serves as an autobiography of sorts, beginning in his twenties. It represents a counterpoint to his life as a physician, husband, and parent. Birding freed his artistic right brain and made him a more complete person. The cancer doctor discovered birding and in the process, rediscovered himself.