SPI's 'Bird Lady' Barbara Kennett remembered

Editor's Note: Birdwatchers everywhere lost a friend with the death of South Padre Island resident Barbara Kennett last week. Known to many as the "Bird Lady" of South Padre Island, Barbara's home was a popular stop for nature enthusiasts and photographers. Two regular nature columnists for the Coastal Current Weekly have offered their thoughts on the life of Baraba Kennett.

+ + +

By STEVE SINCLAIR / "Steve's Sightings" Author

If we are judged by the number of people we impact, then South Padre Island's Barbara Kennett stands at the top of the mountain looking down on the rest of us mere mortals. She leaves a legacy that few will ever match.

Her death last week leaves a void in all those she impacted, including me.

I met Barbara 13 years ago after moving to the Rio Grande Valley from Corpus Christi. At the time, she was a volunteer at the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge visitors center. We mainly talked about birds, and one day she invited me to come by her home on the Island for the annual spring bird migration.

When I stopped by her small home, I entered a world of wonder. Birds, birders and photographers were everywhere. From then on, I was trapped. I visited her home dozens of times after that. Sometimes we would talk about birds, but most of the time we just talked. She never ran out of fascinating stories.

Barbara would talk about her days in the Navy working with pilots. She talked about her time as a California police officer. She talked about how she became addicted to birding. She also talked about the lessons of life.

I soon realized that the seeds and feeders she put out to attract birds were also set out to attract people. She was at her happiest when visitors came by to see "her" birds. She loved people and people loved her. I don't think I ever saw anyone leave that house who had not added Barbara to their friends list.

As strangers entered Barbara's world, she would greet them with a smile and perhaps a hot cup of coffee. She would first take them to her spare bedroom to view an incredible display of bird photos people had given her over the years.

"This photo was taken by Tony Mercieca," she would say, pointing at a painted bunting taking flight. "And over here is one from Tom Vezo," she said. "Brian Small took that picture from this window."

Just maybe she might point to one I gave her. To me, having one of my pictures hanging on her wall of honor was a source of pride and humility.

There were times I would literally recruit birders on the Island to visit Barbara. Most birders, however, already knew her yard was a must see during the spring migration. That includes one very special birder.

Barbara had been told that she was going to get a special visitor and to make certain she was at home. Finally, there was a knock at the door.

“Mrs. Kennett, do you mind if we come in and look at birds?" said former President Jimmy Carter with wife Rosalynn. The former president's visit simply amplified what we all knew – Barbara’s house was a destination, not a side show. I asked Barbara if President Carter and Rosalynn saw many birds that April day, and Barbara said, "No, because the Secret Service was out in the yard and scared the birds away!"

As her health began to betray her, she never lost her keen wit or love of people. Some people will remember her as South Padre Island's bird lady, but I'll remember her as a friend.

Barbara, you're going to be missed.

+ + +

By SCARLET COLLEY / "Eye on Nature" Author

South Padre Island has lost its famous Bird Lady. Babara Kennett, known in the birding world as the bird lady of South Padre Island, succumbed to cancer well into her eighties. We have lost this gracious friend who will always be an inspiration to those of us who knew and loved her.

Her home and incredible hospitality was open to all birders. She never knew a stranger. Her famous house and habitat gave migratory birds a place to feed, water and rest. So many of us sat together with her sipping coffee or tea and some sort of wonderful home made goody to munch on.

She was a fantastic chef and so her birds had many fun foods to feast on and make them stronger for their long flights across the Gulf in the fall or northward to their nesting grounds in the spring. Friends and birders would bring her oranges and seeds and along with her incredible stock pile of bird goodies, she kept her yard a feeding feast for every migrant crossing her path.

We spent many a morning with her filling hummingbird feeders, making peanut butter paste, filling the suet feeders, slicing and putting up oranges. Her water features were a haven to thirsty birds and became a destination for many photographers. Her walls were filled with photographs of birds taken in her yard, by famous and infamous photographers, each capturing the essence of Barbara's dedication to her birds.

There were times when each window had a camera protruding thru it with camouflage gauze around it. Birders would be standing in every room peering through the glass at sometimes thirty-plus species of birds. Each person visiting her left inspired knowing how she loved her habitat, her birds and her dogs Elsa and Prio, the two little black weenie dogs that alerted her of yet another birder at her door.

She had so many great stories to share and she hoped everyone that loved what she was doing would also do the same for birds everywhere. I know she hopes that all of you that knew her will also help birds like she did. I know that many of us were inspired by her example.

So as the birds flew in and out of her yard and heart, she now flies with them. I treasure the memories we shared and I know all of you do too. The birds of the spirit world will now have a powerful angel to fly with them. Barbara, hats off to your wonderful and long life and for sharing it so graciously and generously with all of us.