Amanda Gibson is a freelance editor who lives with her family in Kirkland, Washington. An Alaska native, she started volunteering for BirdNote in 2006 and has been hooked on the program ever since. Her appreciation for words, nature, and passionate people making a difference has ensured her continued connection to BirdNote, even as motherhood seems to conspire against it. She says, “Developing and savoring connections with the birds and plants around us – taking the time to really see, hear, and feel them – is critical to the health of individuals, our society, and natural ecosystems. BirdNote helps us do that.”