TIMES RECORD • February 17, 2026
“Wind Over Wings” made a profound impact on thousands of people as well as birds for nearly 30 years, first in Connecticut and later in Maine, after Hope Douglas and her partner Carol Fackler moved to Dresden in 2012. She and other volunteers for Wind Over Wings made over 300 presentations per year to school groups, libraries, senior centers and other places during that time span. The ground rules were clear. She would bring four — and only four — birds to each presentation, often hawks or eagles or cockatoos. She would explain the history of each bird, describing the lesson the particular bird can teach us. The lessons ranged, for example, from life course change or the power of play to the ability to adapt or how to respect natural defenses. Hope Douglas says, we can learn a lot from birds. Clearly, we can also learn from this woman who dared to change her life course to pursue a fine vision. ~ David Treadwell