I grew up with many of the falconers who were poised and ready for the restoration of the wild peregrine falcon populations, one of the few U.S. species recovery stories.
Dragonflies are big, badass bugs that are fun to watch and photograph. Alas, not big income generators, but who a cares.
The monochromic nature of the scene caught my eye, so all that was left was the diagonal framing of the snake. UT, somewhere.
Another Sunset magazine shoot. I liked the silhouette framing of the two bulls, and so did the editor; the elk didn’t care. Point Reyes National Seashore.
I’ve spent a lot of time in blinds (hides). Here in Idaho’s Centennial Marsh, I was surround by many species of wading birds, including these avocets.
I hung out in a quiet, tourist-less meadow near Gardner, in Yellowstone N.P. All kinds of critters wandered by, including this hunting coyote.
Weeks were spent wandering around northern Idaho, looking for the elusive Pileated Woodpecker. This was the first one I saw, feeding on wood ants. Later, I found an active nest cavity.
Decades ago, the Sage Grouse should have been listed in the Endangered Species list. Alas, the extractive industries (oil, grazing, mining) pressured the BLM to never list them. So, their numbers have continued to decline.
The harsh and inhospitable lava beds in Craters of the Moon National Monument are home to a wide range of critters - here, a snoozing fox.
Good gloves and sturdy boots are part of the kit for working on the sharp, pahoehoe lava. A male Mountain Bluebird is feeding its young.
I am guessing this is sunrise, with this dragonfly drying out before beginning its hunt for tiny bugs.
U.S. wildlife photography became an arms race for the closest, most dramatic shots. Sometimes a peaceful moment, like this bugling elk, tells a different story.
Underwater photography is a specialty, which I only dabbled in. This trout swam by too close for the cameras near focus. But, I still like the shot.
Many dragonflies overnight at the base of grass stalks, and climb up into the warmth of the morning.
Most of these shots pack fond memories. This courting blackbird was one of the last Utah book shots taken, in the company of a favorite Gordon Setter, Calhoun.
I have noticed that I haven’t included many shots of the charismatic megafauna (lions, elephants, tigers, elk, bears, etc.). Many times, I am more drawn to ordinary species like this White-Marked Tussuck caterpillar.
Ahhhhh, how foolish our forefathers were. To have squandered the wild salmon and bison as self-sustaining food sources, replacing them with shopping malls, low-quality wheat, and many useless dams (e.g., Elwa dam).
“He gave me an incredible gift – a glimpse of the world through God’s eye.
– Out of Africa
And I thought, yes, I see, this is the way it was intended.”