This Birds of Kirkwood site exists to share my research on Robert Windsor Smith, an amateur ornithologist who lived in Kirkwood (now a neighborhood of Atlanta), Georgia from approximately 1890 until his death in 1910. Along the way I’ll be sharing bird photos, birding notes and/or events, and my own thoughts. My hope is to encourage others to learn more about birds that can be found in Kirkwood (and beyond), as well as to promote a mindset of stewardship and conservation with regard to both the natural and built environment.
About me
- I’m Mike Ayling, you can reach me here
- Originally from Tulsa, OK. I’ve lived in Atlanta since 1994, graduated from Oglethorpe University where I met my wife, Lori. We have two awesome kids: Michelle & Lucas.
- My father has been a birder since I was very young. He volunteered for both Tulsa Audubon and the Oxley Nature Center for many years. I’ve been a casual birder most of my adult life.
- I’ve lived in the general area near the Kirkwood neighborhood in Atlanta since ~2001. We bought our first house in Kirkwood (Emery Place) in 2006.
- We purchased our current home at the corner of Howard & Trotti from the estate of Ray McGrath in 2018, completed a historic rehab, and moved here in late 2019.
- I became interested in the history of our home and went down the current rabbit hole. In 2018 I had only done very basic research and located a few census records. I resumed research in June 2021 and have been compiling information for over two years now.
Caveats
- I’m not a professional historian or ornithologist and this is not a commercial work. Any images or other materials presented under fair use as the intent is purely educational. I will try to include appropriate citations and attributions whenever possible.
- While I’ve tried to be as thorough as possible there are admittedly still some blanks to be filled in, but I never expected to find as much information as I did. I’ve invested a significant amount of time and effort, please don’t copy/reuse this information without letting me know. I always welcome suggestions and/or potential collaborators though!
- Most of the information I have uncovered about the Smith family is focused on Robert and his father. This is not in any way a deliberate exclusion of female family members’ stories or a value judgment on their import.
- Photos shared here or on Instagram shot using a Canon R7. Currently using an RF 100-500 lens. I’m just learning photography, but really enjoying this new way of birding!
Contact
If you have any questions / comments / thoughts, please feel free to contact me.
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