This event is part of Environment for the Americas Bird Book Club

Some stories of birds are also stories of quiet devotion, resilience, and watching closely. Join Envoronment for the Americas for our July Bird Book Club as we explore Woman, Watching: Louise de Kiriline Lawrence and the Songbirds of Pimisi Bay by author and birder Merilyn Simonds.

In this beautifully written book, Simonds tells the remarkable story of Louise de Kiriline Lawrence—often called a Canadian Rachel Carson—whose extraordinary life led her from war-torn Europe to a secluded log cabin in northern Ontario. There, surrounded by forest and birdsong, Lawrence devoted herself to studying the songbirds that nested around her home, producing influential work that drew ornithologists from around the world to her “loghouse nest.”

Weaving biography with personal reflection, Simonds brings Lawrence’s legacy into conversation with her own experiences as a birder, following birds across Canadian breeding grounds and Mexican wintering habitats. The result is a moving portrait of observation as both a scientific practice and a way of living attentively in the natural world.

This conversation will explore birds, biography, and the often-overlooked contributions of women in ornithology—along with what it means to truly watch, listen, and learn from the birds around us.

Perfect for bird lovers, readers drawn to nature writing, and anyone inspired by stories of perseverance and curiosity. Come ready to reflect, ask questions, and celebrate the power of careful watching.