memories of Kestrel

Author: mthrn8tur

Kestrel hosted the birding chat room the first night I was ever on a computer, a dozen years ago or more. I was in the chatroom every time it was open, mainly because of her. I first met her in person with three other chatroom buddies in Nebraska for a sandhill crane adventure, then in Falls Church, VA for birding in Huntley Meadows (her mother lived two blocks from our son), and finally at an Eastern Shore chatroom gathering. I use words such as 'dynamo', 'force,' 'memorable,' 'leader,' 'organizer,' 'compassion,' and 'quick (typist and -witted)', to describe her. I miss her - all those qualities just named, plus her gentle humor. I am a better person because I knew her.

MthrN8tur@aol.com aka Gretchen Cutts

Photos Leni & Cybirders

Author: crowhill17

Leni, EDian (also, sadly, gone) & ? Cindy?.
Leni & Cappy at the
Cape May hawk watch.
Leni counting the contributions to our take-out dinner at Lewes. According to my date stamps these were taken in 2003, but I'm not sure the Cape May & Lewes photos are from the same gathering.

Our feisty Kestrel has flown, but such fond memories remain. I joined the BirdChat within the first year of getting my first computer, Leni was the host. Her enthusiasm lured me into going to the 2nd annual Cybirder's gathering in Lewes, DE. In those days there were warnings all over about being wary of actually meeting people you only knew online. Ax-murderers, wierdos & flakes. With that in mind I convinced my non-birding, DH to accompany me. What a blast, such fun, a whole new group of far-flung friends! Leni even pointed out my life Kestrel on a wire. That was 1996. I still have all the programs. Leni was the glue that held the group together, she was the driving force behind trying new places, going ever further afield, Cape Cod, Plum Is. & finally Texas. DH & I did the Texas jaunt. It is so hard to believe that that trip was the last for our Kestrel923.

Every Kestrel on a wire will forever bring back memories of Leni.

Sigrid

Tags: Leni & Cybirders EDian, Cappy & Cindy(?) at Cape May and Lewes, DE