Watching Birds
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January 1972 Beginning to Write Some time ago Bob Apple asked me to write an article for Arkansas Out-of-Doors. I told him I was no Ruth Thomas and doubted that I could. Then, last week he informed me that Joe Gray had designed a masthead for a bird column. I was trapped (and ban¬ded too, I guess.) So, here goes. I'm no expert, just a long-time backyard bird watcher. I say long-time, but I'm still discovering something new every day. Some people prefer to be called birders. Either label suits me. 1 simply enjoy the birds. First, I should say that 1 live in Dardanel1e, and I can see the Arkansas River from my front windows. The house is on a busy corner just one block from the high school, so there's a lot of traffic. I never cease to be amazed that I have so many birds. It just proves that birds are everywhere there is proper habitat. Have you ever noticed that mockingbird that stays in the hol1ies planted at Park Plaza in front of the Golden Host in Lit¬tle Rock? My feeder is close to the kitchen window facing the side street. I really don't have as much cover as I would like. About fifteen feet from the feeder is a young sugar maple and the bird bath. Fortunately there are almost no cats, so I keep feed on the ground under the tree. (I buy scratch grain and sunflower seeds.) However, the tree is close to the street. Just across the street is a large sweetgum and a very large sycamore. The back yard is enclosed by an overgrown, un¬clipped privet hedge laden with blue berries. I have tried to plant shrubs that attract the birds. I have hollies, nandinas, pyracan¬thas, cherry laurels, and french mulberries. The resident mocker considers the holly trees and the french mulberry his private property to be jealously guarded against all comers,
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About the Book
This book is a compilation of bird stories written by our mother, Martha Ramseur Gillham. They were first published in the Arkansas Wildlife Federation newspaper Arkansas Out-of-Doors from 1972 until 1985. She was a longtime member of the federation which was instrumental in passing Amendment 35 to the Arkansas constitution which established the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission as an independent body. All the illustrations were drawn by another member and close friend, Joe Gray, a commercial and wildlife artist, and political cartoonist in Dardanelle Arkansas. The book has been assembled and published at the insistence and funding of our father Ralph Gillham. All proceeds from sales will go to the Yell County Wildlife Federation. Lucien and Richard Gillham, Joanna Gray Lange and Bob Gray
About the Author
Martha Ramseur Gillham was born in Hot Springs Arkansas in 1920. She lived most of her life in Dardanelle and Mt Nebo. She was married to Ralph Gillham from 1940 until she passed away in 2005. She was an avid bird watcher and was active in politics, the DAR, the Audubon Society and many charitable activities. Joe Gray was born in Booneville Arkansas in 1917. He grew up hunting and fishing and expressing his love of outdoors on paper and canvas. He served as a top turret gunner on a B-17 was wounded over Kiel Germany in 1943. He attended the Kansas City Art Institute where he studied under Thomas Hart Benton. He was a commercial artist and served as Art Director for Wildlife Publications which is affiliated with the National, Southeast and Arkansas Wildlife Federations. He also worked for the Editorial Services Division of the University of Arkansas and later started Joe Gray Graphic Design.