Page 15 - Spring 2021

reddish color. And their dog, Jane, wags her tail ferociously when Michelle grabs her camera to capture these birds.
As beautiful the birds are to watch, they are equally alluring in their sounds.
“Serious birders can go by sound and not by sight,” said Reeves.
Michelle’s favorite bird is the Eastern towhee because its distinctive song sounds like the phrase, “drink your tea.”
“A bird after my own heart,” she said, chuckling.
The McNeill family recently moved to 10 acres off High Shoals Road and are working toward certification of their new yard. They continue to be avid birders. In January, they counted 23 different species.
“Birding is addictive,” said Michelle. “It also makes gardening more fun, because you start to plan your yard not just based on aesthetic but also what would attract the most variety of birds.”
In addition to planting vegetation that reminds her of places
The Lily of the Nile is a perennial that makes a wonderful addition to the garden or landscape. The flowers attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
SPRING 2021 | OCONEE THE MAGAZINE | PAGE 13