In the past 15 years she has developed an increasing respect for South American parrots, raptors such as Peregrine falcons and many other species of North American birds. Her love of birds led to an ongoing desire to learn about ecology, biology and the threats facing avians of all kinds. She has come to regard field biologists, researchers, and scientists who are attempting to save species from extinction as heroes, unrecognized though their work may be at times.