Zick the Radio Star

If you listened to NPR's "All Things Considered" last night, you might have heard Julie Zickefoose reading a commentary about the return of some hummingbirds we raised at our home in 2003. Julie has been a bird rehabilitator from more than 20 years and has many fascinating and heartbreaking stories from her experiences. Perhaps none has captured more attention than her story of raising two broods of nestling hummingbirds orphaned by violent storms in June of 2003. Four nestlings (all males) survived the storm and three survived to fledging and release late that summer.

Some months ago Julie recorded a follow-up commentary for NPR/ATC on the birds' amazing return to us the following spring. It surprised us that it finally aired last night, and we missed hearing it during the show. If you missed it, you can hear it here.

Julie has done 18 commentaries for NPR/ATC and each one has generated a lot of neat e-mail and communication with listeners. Her radio career has even smoked out some of her schoolmates from grade school, high school, and college. And some distant relatives, too.

I am very proud of The Zick. Few people can weave a story like she can and I bask in her reflected glory. It's good to be Mr. Julie Zickefoose.