Mary Harwood was the widow of the late Michael Harwooof Washington, CT. Michael was an important founding member of Western Connecticut Bird Club and very helpful in the founding the Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA). Michael and Mary were the authors of "On the Road With John Audubon," in which they traced Audubon's travels across North America. Harwood was more interested in botany then birds and after Michael's passing, Mary did provided lodging for birders who continued to cover Michael Harwood's Area K for the Woodbury-Roxbury (CT) Christmas Count.
Mother of writer Eleanor Cooney. Mary Durant is also portrayed in Cooney's book Death in Slow Motion about her mother's Alzheimer's disease.
