While receiving medical infusions for an illness, I couldn’t get out much, but when I felt well enough, I began taking short walks with my mom. One afternoon, we were listening for birds with the Merlin app when it picked up a call I had never heard before—a cedar waxwing.

Following the sound led us to a crabapple tree alive with them, chattering and darting between branches as they feasted on fruit that had begun to ferment. They would stay only for a day or two before continuing on their migration.

I photographed them (see below) and later, tried my hand at painting it in oil— something I’d been intimidated by for so long and finally began braving.