The Pelican-- Interview with Akai Edwa

Interviewer: Sami Elfiqhi
Interviewee: Akai Edwa 
Date: 01 September 2025

​“They're just as good an indicator for nature as they are for humanity, aren’t they?”

​I recently had the chance to sit down with a close birding friend of mine and discuss all things feathered. Calling him simply my “birding friend” doesn’t quite capture everything he’s accomplished in just a few years, though. Over the past three years, he’s immersed himself in the world of birds: from banding and taxidermy to birdwatching and even publishing a thesis on chickadees. His work has connected him with birds of all age groups and people from all walks of life. Because of his unique experiences at the crossroads of nature and humanity, his words are particularly influencing and important. I was eager to dive deep into conversation with him. What I thought would be a fun brain-picking session quickly became a thoughtful reflection on the bonds between birds, humans, and the changing of the seasons.

Discovering the Complexity of Birds
When I asked about his early experiences with birds, he shared how he first remembers being fascinated by someone who could instantly identify one by its call. “There’s so much to know from birds,” he said. “It’s amazing that you can recognize a specific bird just by its song.” That moment,when he first truly listened, sparked a lifelong curiosity and one he hopes more people will tune into. 
Birds have long been part of human history and I often wonder how they connect us to nature. On this topic he reflected, “Birds are excellent indicators of what’s happening in the world around us, especially in conservation. They show us how to work both as a community and individually. But honestly, in everyday life, people don’t give birds much thought.” He compared this to how many overlook trees, not appreciating all they do for us, and believes birds suffer the same fate. We agreed that we would love to see a trend in birding increase, for the sake of humans and birds alike. 

Cultivating Appreciation and Awareness
For those new to birding, he encourages simply stepping outside with curiosity. “You don’t need fancy tools—just free apps and a willingness to listen and look up.” He notes how easy it is to tune out natural sounds amid daily noise and distractions. When he started birding, he had to retrain himself to really observe. “I used to think birding was just for old white men, but once you see it’s like solving a puzzle, and being a part of a bigger picture, it becomes something else entirely.” 
He also warns that not paying attention can have dire consequences. “People unknowingly harm birds—like destroying nesting sites for parking lots or losing habitats for buildings—because they don’t realize the impact.” Birds may seem insignificant to some, but they are vital parts of the ecosystem. He argues that it will become much more apparent if we all take the time to look around. 

A Window into Nature’s Complexity
One of the most fascinating things about birds, according to him, is how their behaviors are both complex and simple. He approaches their actions through a cost-benefit lens, asking why they live where they do or why they group together. “It’s comforting, really, how similar birds are to us. We’re all navigating complex lives.” He shared examples: chickadees’ incredible memory capacity, hummingbirds’ ability to spot nectar in flowers, and toucans’ beaks acting like radiators. “The variation between birds is astounding, you’re always learning something new. It’s like meeting a new person each time you discover a new bird.”
He also recounted moments that deepened his gratitude for nature, like watching cardinals build nests out of cactuses in Baja or spotting albatrosses during whale watching. “Birds are everywhere, and that’s just amazing. I wish everyone could see that.”

Life, Death, and the Stories Birds Tell
Working closely with birds, both alive and through taxidermy, has deepened his respect for their lives. “When banding birds, you see they’re not just machines for eating and reproducing—they have fear, excitement, and personality.” He described a moment when a jay relaxed much more in the hands of a person once they gave it a pencil to hold, showing a surprising depth of character. While he worked in taxidermy, he realized that handling birds in death reveals the fragility of their existence. “Their thin skin, the fat reserves—it all tells a story of survival and struggle.” Seeing that physical reality alongside their lively spirit gives a fuller picture of their world and how it’s not too far off from our own. 

Fall: A Season of Community and Change
As the seasons shift, so do bird behaviors. He noted how, just like the human world, fall feels especially communal among birds. “Birds flock together more, sometimes even different species, working side by side. It’s like families who are about to part ways, helping each other one last time.” Early fall sees this togetherness as the babies grow out of their dependence, while later in the season birds become more solitary as food grows scarce. He draws a parallel with humans: “We’re more communal in the fall and tend to isolate in winter, right? I mean, how much more similar can we get?”

The Importance of Fall Migration
From a human perspective, migration is simply awe-inspiring. “The distances they travel, all to survive, that’s just crazy!” We talked about how ironic it is that people belittle birds (even in everyday language like the phrase “bird brained”) yet we can hardly comprehend all they do within their lifetimes. He introduced the German concept of umwelt—how animals experience the world through their senses, emphasizing that what looks ‘stupid’ or ‘random’ to us may be an incredible adaptation from their perspective. “Birds use the Earth’s magnetic field to migrate, that’s incredible! We underestimate them because we don’t live their lives. I think there’s a lot to learn from that.” 
Among his favorite fall birds are geese and hummingbirds. He likes noticing when birds return because it reminds him of absence and presence in nature’s cycles. Yet he also worries when birds linger past their usual time, signaling something might be wrong. “We see new birds showing up in places they never did before. It tells us about climate change and shifting ecosystems.” Fall migration offers more than just a spectacular natural event; it’s a key indicator of environmental health. He encourages more attention to be put on birds for this reason as well. 
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Reflections and Moving Forward
His final message is a call to mindfulness and empathy: “Look up. Listen to what’s around you. Appreciate every living thing because, like us, they’re struggling and doing their best.”
In this season of fall—marked by change, community, and preparation—it’s clear that birds reflect more than nature’s cycles; they mirror our own human experience. Their songs, migrations, and lives offer us lessons in connection and appreciation. As we listen to their calls and watch their flocks, we’re invited to see the world with minds and hearts full of wonder and care.