A Love for Birds, Passed Down for Life

（@Ann's Birding Cafe on the COOLFLY App）

Some people join a birding community because they bought a new device. Some stay because they discover more than birds here, a welcoming place filled with people who share the same passion for birdwatching. And then there are people like Ann, who brings something special to the COOLFLY Birding Community.

When we first noticed Ann, it wasn't because she had the biggest setup or the most beautiful backyard. But she was everywhere in the best possible way: commenting on other members' posts, celebrating their bird videos, liking, encouraging, and sharing. She helped make it feel alive.

That's why we felt grateful to have her step into a role as one of our community administrators. Ann is a trusted partner and selflessly brings her love for backyard birdwatching into a broader way of supporting everyone.

Long before all of this, Ann's connection with birds had already begun.

It started many years ago, by her mother's side. Her mother taught her to be patient, to listen, and to find joy in the small wonders of nature. That early spark never faded. It grew quietly into a steady source of warmth and strength, which Ann now shares with all of us in the community.

A Thoughtfully Designed Yard：Welcomes Birds, Squirrels, Deer, and More

Here in Virginia, Ann sees all types of birds. Some stay all year long, like the cardinal, the black-capped chickadee, and the blue jay. Some come and go with the seasons, like the ruby-throated hummingbird, the rose-breasted grosbeak, and the chipping sparrow. Many more fly through the woods around her home.

One bird that truly caught her attention was the yellow-throated warbler. It passed through in spring. She only saw it twice. "If it wasn't for my COOLFLY Smart Bird Feeder, I would never have known it had stopped by here," she said. Those warblers are not usually seen in Virginia.

In summer, she usually sets up three feeding stations on poles with seed and suet. She also has two exclusive areas for hummingbirds — one feeder sits on the front porch, another hangs near the backyard canopy. She jokes that she might have too many stations. But there is intention behind it. More feeding areas give birds space. They reduce fighting. And they welcome different species with different habits.

Water is another important part of her setup. Ann also has three watering areas. Two are bird bath style stations with fountains. She works to keep the water clean and cool. She has seen birds and squirrels drink from them. But she is still waiting for the day she catches birds bathing.

Her setup also changes with the seasons. In winter, she moves all of her feeding stations to the front yard so they are easier to care for when snow or ice makes the ground difficult. This kind of practical adjustment is part of what makes Ann's birding routine so thoughtful. She is not just putting out food. She is constantly learning what makes the experience better for both the birds and herself.

Ann loves the wildlife around her. "Loving wildlife all around me gives me such joy," she said.

Of course, no backyard wildlife story is complete without squirrels. They try their best. Ann uses squirrel baffles and is careful not to place the feeding poles close to anything they can jump from. Still, they climb the canopy and try to jump over to the feeders. "They sure are persistent creatures," she said.

She feeds deer from January to September. She would feed deer year round, but Virginia law does not allow it. She has designated areas for them. "Of course, those areas seem not to have been explained correctly to them," she laughed, "because they help themselves to any feed they can find."

For Ann, these moments are part of the full backyard story. Birds, squirrels, deer, flowers, surprise visits, playful behavior, and quiet beauty all belong to the same living scene.

The COOLFLY Community: An Unexpected Gift Beyond the Smart Bird Feeder

For most of her life, Ann used regular feeders. They were simple and familiar, and they served their purpose beautifully. One of her favorite feeders was a Christmas gift from her son. It looked a little like a house and had suet cages on either side. What made it special was not only the design, but the love behind it. Her son knew how much she loved feeding birds, and he wanted to give her something that supported that joy.

That gift came during a difficult time when Ann had broken her ankle and spent a long time in bed. Her family set up the feeders on a pole where she could watch birds from her bedroom window. When she could not easily go outside, the birds brought the outside world close to her.

Then last winter, Ann placed trays of seed on her deck railing where a security camera happened to capture videos of birds and squirrels. Watching those clips made her realize how special it was to see the moments she might otherwise miss. She wanted to know what happened when she was not standing at the window. This spring, she began looking for a real bird feeder with a camera. She found the HiCIRCLE smart birdfeeder.

At the time, she thought she was simply getting a good deal on a smart device for backyard birdwatching. But the HiCIRCLE smart birdfeeder quickly became more than that. It gave her what she calls a front row seat to the birds in her own yard, capturing beautiful videos and revealing visitors she might have missed. The camera made her even more curious about the different species around her. As she watched more closely, Ann began experimenting with different types of food to see who might appear next.

The biggest surprise was not only the bird feeder with camera itself. It was the COOLFLY App.

Through the app, Ann discovered a world she had not expected: a community of people who loved birds and wildlife the same way she did. She could open the feed and see what others were capturing with their cameras, enjoying birds that did not visit her own yard, from orioles to other beautiful backyard visitors shared by members across different places. "I fell in love with the app immediately," she said. "The way it was set up made everything so easy."

Over time, Ann became one of the most positive voices in the COOLFLY birding community. Her activity never felt forced. It felt natural, because she genuinely cared. She celebrated other members' videos, responded with warmth, and helped people feel that their backyard moments were worth sharing.

Birds inspired a life surrounded by creation

Ann's love for birds also flows naturally into her art. She has always enjoyed taking pictures, and birds do wonderful subjects. Therefore, this appreciation for nature gradually became a source of creative inspiration in her daily life.

She often finds herself noticing small details in their movements, colors, and behaviors. These quiet observations slowly shape how she sees the world around her.

Once, she photographed a woodpecker and later turned that image into a charcoal and pastel art piece. She was proud of the result, not only because it was beautiful, but because it began with a real moment she had noticed and remembered.

Each artwork becomes a way for her to revisit those fleeting moments in nature.

In her free time, creating bird-related art brings Ann peace, happiness, and a sense of connection with nature. For her, birds are not only beautiful visitors. They are comfort, memory, inspiration, and joy.

Meanwhile, she has also planted lots of flowers. "I just know the birds are going to enjoy the beauty of them once they are in full bloom," she said.

Ann has loved growing flowers for many years. Among all the flowers in her garden, zinnias are some of her favorites because they attract hummingbirds and butterflies. About four years ago, she began focusing even more on creating larger flower areas and building more flower beds for birds and butterflies to enjoy. She also loves the bright colors of the flowers, saying they can cheer people up even on difficult days.

For Ann, the flowers are not just decoration. They are another way of welcoming wildlife, another small invitation for birds to stop by and stay a while.

With her care and attention, these flowers have gradually become part of the overall atmosphere and rhythm of her backyard. Over time, her backyard has grown into a small sanctuary designed not only for birds to enjoy, but also for people to feel peace and delight.

It becomes a quiet wonderland where nature and life gently come together.

Birdwatching teaches patience, attention, and delight. It reminds us that the world is full of small wonders, if we are willing to notice them. Ann's story reminds us that technology is most meaningful when it supports something people already love.

That is the heart of the COOLFLY Birding Community. It is not only about seeing birds. It is about discovering a deeper relationship between people and birds, and recognizing how closely human life is intertwined with nature.

Ann’s story inspire us to slow down and reconnect—not only to observe birds, but to understand the quiet balance of the natural world and our place within it.

Some people join a birding community because they bought a new device. Some stay because they discover more than birds here, a welcoming place filled with people who share the same passion for birdwatching. And then there are people like Ann, who brings something special to the COOLFLY Birding Community.