Artist Statement:

"The marsh, to him who enters it in a receptive mood, holds, besides mosquitoes and stagnation, melody, the mystery of waters, and the sweetness of Nature undisturbed by man."
- William Beebe, American naturalist, ornithologist, marine biologist, entomologist, explorer, and author

When I read this quote by Beebe, I felt instantly moved by his words, and it sent me on a journey of discovery to learn as much as I could about the marshlands of Montana, especially the ones that are within the state's wildlife refuges, where there is a world within a world. What I discovered was awe inspiring--the birds that migrate to our marshlands to breed from all over the world make our state even more magical for the period of time that they are here, and that we might have the good fortune to observe them and hold them within our sights is another aspect of what makes living here in Montana so special.