Mary Norton Kratt. A Bird in the House. Wing Haven Foundation, 1991.

This is a brief but entertaining story of a small nature preserve in Charlotte, North Carolina. Shortly after they married in 1927, Elizabeth and Eddie Clarkson moved to North Carolina. Elizabeth had a vision for a garden with flowers, trees, and vegetables on the four acre plot. This tells how her plans developed into a refuge for all kinds of birds and other animals.

Probably the most striking parts of A Bird in the House describe the various animals, especially birds, that lived not only in the gardens but shared the Clarkson’s house. Rescued bluebird fledglings ended up as house pets for years. A Carolina wren built her nest on a bookcase. She would enter the room through a window that was left slightly ajar. There were wood ducks, hummingbirds, squirrels that were all protected. Many, even wild birds and animals, would feed from the Clarkson’s hands.

Though the couple have both passed away, their vision lives on as a park and foundation that still provides a safe spot for creatures today. The book was clearly made for visitors to the Wing Haven site in Charlotte, but others can appreciate the founders’ accomplishments. Their observations over the years have contributed to our understanding of bird behavior. They have been written up in such places as Atlantic and National Geographic magazines. Visitors included such folks as ornithologist Roger Tory Peterson and evangelist Billy Graham. Their “garden” has made an impression on many people.