Q&A with Janet Jernigan
Janet Jernigan joined the South Whidbey Audubon board in 2022 and currently serves as the board secretary.
What brought you to Whidbey Island?
I grew up in northern California, and when my husband and I were 30, he accepted a job in Indianapolis. We spent the next three decades of our lives in Indiana, but we always wanted to go back to the West Coast. My sister lived on Whidbey, and having her here solidified our decision to move to this beautiful island.
We moved to Langley in November 2019, just a few months before the COVID shutdowns.
Moving to the island in the winter, and then having everything shut down, sounds challenging! Was it a difficult transition?
Actually, no. I’m something of a homebody. And moving here from Indiana–where the landscape is flat and full of cornfields–and into a house that overlooks the Sound made me feel like I was on vacation every day!
Also, one of my favorite groups–Whidbey Ladies of the Beach–continued to meet during the shutdown. So I was still able to be outdoors and hike while meeting some wonderful women.
Have you had a lifelong interest in birds?
When I was in Indiana, I didn’t pay any attention to birds. I owned a small real estate firm and didn’t have much time for scheduled activities. But as I prepared to retire, I made a list of things I wanted to do with my free time. Birding was on the list.
When we got to Whidbey, I joined a lot of groups and tried different activities. Some of them–like gardening and gourmet cooking–didn’t stick. But birding did. Other hobbies that I enjoy on the island are golfing, hiking, and crafting, such as jewelry making, wire sculpting and macrame.
Two of the women in my walking group introduced me to Whidbey Audubon Society. I took the “Birds of Whidbey” class in 2021 and joined the board as a member at large the following year.
Where is your favorite place to watch birds?
My backyard! I use the Merlin app to identify the birds I hear, and then I go look for them. I know there are several birds that I hear, but haven’t seen yet.
Another favorite spot is Deer Lagoon. It has a diverse habitat which supports many year-round species, as well as many migratory species. I also enjoy getting the rare bird sighting emails from Audubon. [Prescott: Is there a registration link we could include?] When I get an alert, I head over to the specified location and search for the bird. It is very exciting when you can find the bird.
I also like to participate in Birding in the Neighborhoods. There are always very experienced birders in the group to learn from. There are two Birding in Neighborhoods (BINs) groups, one on the northside of the island and one on the southside.
What motivated you to join the board?
The cause and the people. Audubon has a wonderful mission that is so much broader than birding. It’s about protecting the environment and habitats where birds and other creatures can thrive. And I really enjoy working with a warm, friendly group of people who share my interests and my values about conservation.
What aspects of Audubon’s work are you excited about these days?
There’s a lot that goes on in this organization that the average member doesn’t know about. There are several projects that are bringing more science and data to help protect birds. We’re part of the Motus monitoring project, which is increasing our understanding of migratory animals. And of course, there’s the annual Pigeon Guilemot Breeding Survey.
What do you want people to know about South Whidbey Audubon?
I want people to know that we have a tremendous need for volunteers, and that there are many ways to serve. It doesn’t have to be an overwhelming or years-long commitment. We have a lot of interesting short-term opportunities, like serving on our Scholarship for Environmental Studies committee, participating in a bird count, or even volunteering to be a greeter at the monthly evening meetings. [Prescott: Can we include a list of volunteer opportunities like these in the newsletter?]
South Whidbey Audubon is a wonderful, welcoming group of people who are doing important work. I feel lucky to be a part of it.
