Ed Noll, a former technical writer, upon retirement turned a lifetime hobby into a book about wild birds. He and his wife, Dottie, had backyard bird-feeding stations at several locations in Pennsylvania, and have one now. Ed gave many free wild-bird talks to youth groups, service organizations, as well as garden and nature clubs throughout the state. Bird banding was another volunteer activity that brought them close-up to wild birds. The couple belong to various national and local bird societies and clubs.