Author Amy Tan shares her observations of nature in ‘The Backyard Bird Chronicles’ |Sound of Ideas

When the world shut down in 2020 for the coronavirus pandemic, many people found their attention drawn to the outdoors. Birding became a must for millions of Americans.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimated in 2022 that upwards of 46 million Americans were "birders." And the vast majority of them were what we call "backyard birders." Those are the folks who enjoy the birds and wildlife that come to their yards often with the encouragement of feeders and birdbaths.
Renowned author of the Joy Luck Club and several other bestselling novels, Amy Tan looked to her backyard for solace and inspiration long before the pandemic began. Her observations and beautiful, whimsical sketches have been turned into a new book, "The Backyard Bird Chronicles." (Air date: May 8, 2024).