The Birdseed Spell
How a few seeds and a little stillness turned me into a bird whisperer—almost.
Welcome to The Sunday Sip, our weekly excuse to share personal essays, events, book reviews, and whatever else is swirling around in our world. We take turns writing it—and this week, it’s my turn. And I’ve got something that almost feels like a fairy tale. My essay has birds, a hint of magic, and some fabulous photos. So without further ado…
Once upon a trail in Milford, Michigan, we stopped hiking so Chuck could snap a photo of a bird perched high in the branches. I know, shocking. If you’ve ever hiked with us, this is not an uncommon occurrence. I was scanning the treetops too when a flicker of movement caught my eye, just a few feet from my head.
I pulled a few seeds from the bag I was clutching, scattered them into my palm, and slowly stretched out my arm.
“Chuck,” I whispered, not looking away from the white-breasted nuthatch now watching me from the tree.
And when Chuck didn’t turn around, I whispered a bit more urgently, “CHUCK!”
Was this really going to work?
We’d heard the stories about how the birds at Kensington Metropark in Milford, Michigan, would eat right out of your hand. But standing there, arm growing heavy, I started to doubt. Maybe I had the wrong seeds. Maybe I smelled weird. Maybe it wasn’t the right time of the day.
Then, a flutter. Yes, the feathered creature landed on my fingertips. My breath caught. The thrill of that tiny, fearless spirit choosing to trust me was immediate and electric. Its delicate feet clung with surprising confidence. I’ll admit, I’d been bracing for sharp, cat-like claws—but no. It felt more like tiny metal grippers—precise, gentle, almost mechanical.
A chickadee followed, flitting close and chattering, its wings fanning my face. It hovered, unsure whether I was friend or foe. And to be honest, I wasn’t entirely sure of its intentions either.
But the birdseed was too tempting. It perched lightly at the very edge of my hand, tense but curious.
Lurking just beyond the trail, a few larger birds watched from the brush. I made no effort to befriend them.
Hand-feeding songbirds in the park is a beloved local ritual. Kensington even offers a special meet-and-greet event each December to teach the dos and don’ts of bird feeding.
So no, I didn’t suddenly transform into Snow White, magically summoning birds with a song. But for a few magical minutes, it felt like the forest and its feathered creatures said, “We see you. You’re okay.”
Stepping off the hamster wheel and into the woods, with a bag of seeds and poor cell service, was exactly what we needed. A little quiet. A little wonder. Proof that the forest is still there.
And in the spirit of Dr. Jane Goodall, who reminded us that “what you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make”—maybe standing still and offering a hand is a good place to start.
Chuck took a few more pictures, which you can see in our gallery.
Life In Michigan Updates
The latest Life Michigan Podcast episode is out!
Preserving Ypsilanti’s Stories with Barry LaRue
In this episode of the Life In Michigan Podcast, we’re joined by Barry LaRue—a lifelong Ypsilanti resident, community historian, and retired University of Michigan Performance Hall Operations Manager. Barry’s deep love for history, preservation, and the arts has shaped the fabric of Ypsilanti in ways most people don’t even realize.
If you have an idea for a guest, email me (info@lifeinmichigan.com). We are looking for anyone who is creative, passionate, and has a story to share about their Life In Michigan. Don’t be shy.
The latest episode of Fans with Bands just dropped!
Chuck completed one of his dusty, unfinished projects! Click on the image to read the article.
If you are a Sunday Sip regular, you know Chuck loves curating an events listing. We’ve created a public Google Events Calendar so you’ll never miss an event. Get over there and subscribe!
You’ll find things like this on the calendar!
Join us for another Day With Jay - Jay Green, the Beer Ninja, and our fabulous friend. I’m sure our pals Casey, Andy, Jeff, and Angie will be on hand, too. What makes this adventure dangerous, you may ask? Well, that is the inclusion of Jon “Danger” Cole! Check the Facebook event for all the details.
Mark your calendars! 🎉 November 8, 2025, at Art 634 in Jackson—is happening SOON! If you’ve not signed up for our GIG newsletter, now would be a good time to do that. 🚀 Link to Substack. In the meantime, we received some press last week! The Manchester Mirror published a wonderful article about one of our artists! Click on the image below to read the full article.
Book Review
It’s been a hot minute since I shared my thoughts about a book.
If you’re a fan of Dan Brown, then you’ll love his latest, The Secret of Secrets. I’ll admit it: I was hooked. The story ticked all the usual Dan Brown boxes—esoteric knowledge, historical intrigue, and characters who gasp things like “But that would mean…” right before sprinting toward a cathedral.
There was a lot of sprinting.
I listened to this one, and let me tell you… It is long. Like, I could’ve flown to Prague and back long. But just buckle in and enjoy the ride. It paced well, with plenty of plot twists that come as a surprise.
Along the way, I found myself fact-checking random tidbits about noetics and Googling all the Prague landmarks he mentions. I know, that’s two weird things to do while reading fiction. But here we are.
Funny story, I thought about writing to Dan and suggesting he publish a Robert Langdon’s Guide to Prague—he’s basically done all the research already. Guess what, he has already published one! He has one for each of his Langdon books.
Enjoy your day and don’t forget to share the Sunday Sip with your friends.
Maybe channelling a little Amy Tan afterall?
So overused - - but OMG ! The Birdseed Spell story was enchanting and special. Wish I had been there. The pics, as always, were gorgeous. Chuck captured everything perfectly. The bird - - you - - you and the bird. All lovely. Thank you for sharing this. ( Maybe it was one of those birds who had been evicted from a deck in Ann Arbor ?. ) : -) :-) ;-)