Although the weather was chilly the afternoon of Jan. 20, the dedication ceremony for our new bird feeder station was heartwarming for the family of Sharon Page. Memorial money was given to the sanctuary after Sharon’s passing last April. The family mentioned her love of birdwatching, so the decision was made to erect a new feeder station in her honor. The family members gathered at the barn today and in a passage written and read by Sharon’s granddaughter, Brooke Ernst, summed up her passion.

“ Sharon Page was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, Gigi and an avid bird watcher. One of her favorite activities was sitting on her patio, drinking coffee and watching the birds coming to visit her feeders. The more she bird watched, the more interested she was about what types of bird were visiting her feeders. She always made sure to have the right food on hand at all times such as orange slices and grape jelly for the Orioles that would show up. When entertaining guests, Sharon would happily show off her feeders and rattle off the types of birds that liked to visit her. She loved her birds and would even try to detour the unwelcome squirrels by having them slip on turned over Tupperware used as a baffle or knocking them off. Some of her favorites were cardinals, hummingbirds, and orioles. Sharon loved the space for feeders she created in her backyard and she often referred to it as her happy place. We know that the space at Bremer Sanctuary would have been a space she would have loved to go to and we hope others will get to enjoy it too.”

            The feeder station was erected on December 12th by Bremer Stewards Bruce Redman, Dane Murphy, Jim Yount and Jerry Prater, feeders and bird food were selected by Nancy Redman. The station features 9 different feeders specific to holding certain types of seeds. Sunflower, safflower, split peanuts, millet and suet cakes attract a wide variety of bird species.

Bremer Sanctuary, the Hickory Hills Chapter of the Illinois Audubon Society is a 203-acre wildlife sanctuary managed by a group of volunteer stewards and is open to the public from dawn to dusk. The sanctuary is located a half mile north of the Montgomery County Courthouse off North Road. Follow the signs to the barn where ample parking is available.

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