It's Time to Speak Out: Environmental Protections are Being Eroded

I am a conservationist first and a photographer second. The birds and landscapes I photograph are facing one of the biggest challenges in years as legal protections are being eroded. I believe it is vital to actively work to preserve our environment — to be good stewards of the treasures God has given us. Of course, selfishly, I would like to continue to share my photos with you, but more importantly I would like to see future generations, my grandkids included, enjoying a little bit of the nature I grew up with. At this point it will take years, maybe even decades, to restore what we have lost in recent years. But if we don’t act now, we could lose even more before we have a chance to get started.

The latest blow is to the century old Migratory Bird Treaty Act that has protected most of America’s wild bird species. More than 1,000 species are covered under the law. The changes have drawn backlash from organizations representing an estimated 46 million U.S. birdwatchers. There’s no telling how many species could decline as a result of the changes, but there is a real fear that more birds will be listed under the endangered species act and could face extinction if protections are not kept in place.

Migratory bird protections were one of the country’s first major federal environmental laws, enacted just after the conservation movement embodied by President Teddy Roosevelt emerged. At the time many U.S. bird populations had been decimated by hunting and poaching — much of it for feathers for women’s hats.

The new proposal would end the government’s decades-long practice of treating accidental bird deaths caused by industry as potential criminal violations under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. They were put in place to force industry to prevent bird deaths where possible, such as covering toxic waste pits. Industry sources kill an estimated 450 million to 1.1 billion birds annually, out of an overall 7.2 billion birds in North America, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and recent studies.

After an initial rebound in bird populations after protections were enacted, we are now seeing declines in bird populations because of loss of habitat and climate change. Just last fall devastating reports showed we have lost 3 billion birds in North America since 1970. If we all work to protect birds, waterways, lands and other wildlife, we can make a difference. We have to become aware and then actively involved in protecting our environment in order to protect the treasures God has bestowed on us. The Cornell Lab of Ornitholoy came up with a list of ten ways we can make a difference. They also came up with a chart of really simple solutions everyone can do to help the bird population.

Florida is home to some of the most beautiful birds around, and even more of the gorgeous creatures visit the state in the winter during migration. If we all want to continue enjoying these populations and the benefits they bring to the environment then we have to do what we can to help protect them, whether it’s writing to your representative in congress, sitting on a board that promotes environmental protections or making your own backyard bird friendly.

I am sharing photos of just a few of the many bird species that recovered thanks to the protection of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

American Bald Eagle, Painted Bunting, Caracara, Snowy Egret, Florida Burrowing Owls, Reddish Egret, Tricolored Heron, Red-winged Blackbird, Roseate Spoonbill, Stilts, While Pelican and Black Skimmers.

Robinson Preserve Renovations Designed to Boost Fishing, Environment

By now, most people know this is the last weekend you can spend time in the “new” section of Robinson Preserve for the rest of the year. But some people may not know the details of the ongoing restoration. The county has some pretty cool projects designed to continue to help the environment and wildlife, as well as to help boost the economy and benefit people who may not even visit the preserve.

The biggest part of the project is all about habitat. Fish habitat and bird habitat. I’m going to start with the fish habitat because some things won’t be as obvious once the new section of the preserve reopens. The most visible part of the renovations to the waterways in Robinson Preserve will be two tidal connections. These changes will allow kayakers to travel from the new section of the preserve all the way to the bay and while it’s a great benefit to visitors, the connections are really to create an estuary for snook and tarpon, according to Damon Moore, manager of the county park system’s ecological and marine resources division.

By creating a juvenile snook habitat, the county is hoping to help build the area’s sport fishing industry. Young snook have very specific needs to survive their first – and most critical – year after spawning. By increasing habitat that is designed to protect the young, the county is hoping to boost the snook population, thereby expanding opportunities to hook the popular fish in the coming years. Tarpon are also a popular catch, so increasing their populations will also benefit the fishing industry.

The juvenile Snook habitat will include thermal holes to keep them warm enough in the winter and shady spots to protect their eyes. Moore’s team has researched everything in consultation with Florida Fish and Wildlife Management. And they plan to track snook populations after the project is complete.

Visitors may notice expanded oyster beds as well. The. oysters clean the water and help feed the shore birds. There will be habitat that encourages both shore birds, which are already there, and more migratory birds, including song birds. Some of the vegetation will mimic what’s available at Leffis Key, such as mulberry and strangler fig, Moore said. The area will have cedar hammocks, live oak hammocks and coastal/tropical hammock to encourage more wildlife and plant diversity.

Most of the changes are designed to promote the environment and expand crucial habitat for birds and other wildlife. Some of the hammocks will take as much as 30 years to mature and the preserve will continue to grow and change over the decades, as it remains a vital resource for some of Florida’s favorite species. It may take the rest of the year to build these vital habitats, preventing visitors from using their favorite walking paths, but it seems a small price to pay for the rich diversity to come. And don’t forget visitors are still welcome to the original section of Robinson Preserve and its miles of trails and waterways.

50th Anniversary of Earth Day Offers a Breather for the Environment

The first Earth Day 50 years ago was designed to raise awareness to the harm we had been doing to the environment. Pollution was rampant in rivers, on the land and in the air. The environment was unhealthy and people were killing the very things that sustained us. We have made some improvements in 50 years, yet we still have a long way to go. And in some ways we continue to do more harm as development is unfettered and open space shrinks.

This Earth Day, however, everything has slowed and the environment seems to be getting a breather as its human inhabitants stay home. Fewer cars on the roads in Punjab India, means that the Himalayas are visible 100 miles away for the first time in three decades. In just a short time as the world’s people have been mostly confined to their homes, the earth is becoming cleaner and wildlife is taking advantage of open spaces once again. In a story from the Associated Press, conservation scientist  Stuart Pimm of Duke University, said the Coronavirus quarantine “is giving us this quite extraordinary insight into just how much of a mess we humans are making of our beautiful planet. This is giving us an opportunity to magically see how much better it can be.”

It’s a short-lived experiment, for sure, but we can only hope that its lesson lives on through the ages for our sake and for creation’s sake. I believe God created the earth and God gave man dominion over the earth. But I also believe in science and science shows us that we are not being good stewards. Psalm 24 tells us: “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein; for he founded it upon the seas, and established it on the rivers.” All of that is in our care, and God forgive us for we have been careless.

Some scientists say that the way we have treated the earth has allowed this COVID-19 virus to affect humans, and they may be right. Lee Hannah, senior scientist at Conservation International, says we must take care of nature to avoid future pandemics. Biodiversity—that is, the health of the entire ecosystem—can restrain pathogens before they ever leave the wild. “We need to tell people right now that there is a series of things we need to do once we’re out of this mess to make sure it never happens again,” Hannah says.

The first Earth Day led to major environmental laws such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act, and he Environmental Protection Agency came into being. Since that time people have questioned the need for such measures. Look at the fight to clean up the Everglades for example. Florida is a microcosm of what’s going on in the world. Native Floridian and National Geographic Photographer Carlton Ward Jr. shared his insights with the Tampa Bay Times. There’s still time for optimism if we take action now.

I think the earth is telling us loud and clear that protecting what God has given us is essential to our own well-being. I hope that we heed the message on this 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day.

I hope you see the beauty in what God has provided in these photographs from our little spot on Earth.

These are the times to appreciate life and nature

There’s no better time to enjoy nature than now. In these times of social distancing, our healthiest option is to take a walk through open space. Of course you can run or bike too, but the point is to be outside in fresh air, at least six feet away from other people.

I noticed a lot of people were taking advantage of Robinson Preserve Saturday morning. A week at home with school-aged children might just drive a family outdoors. The kids definitely need a chance to run off a lot of pent-up energy, while parents might enjoy the stress relief of exercise, blue skies, gentle breezes and enough space to allow everyone to enjoy all that togetherness.

It’s also a great time to appreciate the parks and preserves we have in Manatee County. When I was a kid it was easy to get outside and just disappear into the woods for hours. I could ride my bike to forested areas all around my home in Palmetto. One of those places I used to bike to is now a preserve and I am grateful that it is. Emerson Point Preserve was just a place for me to go explore when I was a kid. I didn’t know who it belonged to and no one seemed to care that I scooted through the underbrush, discovering what was there.

There was always plenty to see: Fiddler crabs the size of a dime skittered along the flats at low tide, making trails through the mud; pelicans dove for fish time and time again in an amazing synchronized dance; and I even came face to face once with a rattlesnake. (Fortunately I had a camera in front of my face even back then). The point is there was plenty of open space to explore and nature was abundant — it was an education you couldn’t get anywhere else. It was all free and all close to home.

The county saved that space and turned it in to a preserve after development threatened to take it over. There are places I remember going to further from home and later in life that had dirt roads and lots of scrub and hammocks. They are now major developments — Lakewood Ranch and Harrison Ranch — with more places like them slated to come.

Now families plan a day to the preserve and they run into other families. They mostly stick to the trails and boardwalks to help preserve the fragile and shrinking ecosystems we have left. I don’t take for granted the places we have. Spaces that I thought as a kid would always be there and always stay the same. I was never concerned with trails because a lot of time I had to make my own. That time as a kid playing in the woods, helped my hone a keen eye for nature and develop a sense of appreciation for the life around me.

These days a virus has reminded me again to appreciate life and the natural world. Like so much in nature, we are resilient. These weeks are an opportunity for families to explore Florida’s open spaces — even if it’s only online as far as state parks go, — to enjoy what we have, to educate ourselves about why it’s so important and maybe even discover ways to conserve more.

I hope you will enjoy these photos from Emerson Point Preserve.

Johnson Preserve Offers Vital Diversity in a Small Package

As I drive through parts of Manatee County, it’s no surprise to me that it is the 10th fastest growing county in the United States. Development is springing up in places I never thought would see a grader or pavement, let alone houses so close together you couldn’t have windows on one wall.

Places that I once thought would be woods in perpetuity are now so diminished in size that they have become pocket parks of sorts. I am grateful for the preservation of even the smallest tracts of land for the plants and animals that can retain one tiny piece of Manatee. I am grateful to organizations such as the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, which has had the temerity to target land for conservation and to raise the money to make it happen.

Manatee County is preparing to unveil one of their latest successes — Johnson Preserve at Braden River, a 44-acre preserve between Lakewood Ranch and Braden River Woods. The Conservation Foundation worked with Manatee County to turn this acreage into a small preserve sandwiched between the two large subdivisions.

While the preserve isn’t large it is a biodiverse ecosystem with three types of habitats and it is home to a variety of birds and animals. I recently toured the park with Aedan Stockdale, Programming, Volunteer, and Education Division Manager for Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources. During our tour we saw hawks, swallowtail kites, deer tracks, owls, gnatcatchers, woodpeckers, cardinals, butterflies, songbirds, a gopher tortoise and a variety of plants and flowers.

The 44-acres is made up of Pine Flatwoods, Oak Hammocks and Riparian River habitat that touch the Braden River. There are bromeliads, ferns, lichen and a stream flowing through the land to the Braden River. It’s a beautiful and magical place that is home to a surprising amount of wildlife given its size. The riverfront and floodplain forests are part of a corridor linking natural habitat along the Braden River. It took an entire community to make it happen.

Carlton Bergstresser bequeathed more than 11 acres to the Conservation Foundation for preservation. The Foundation donated the land to Manatee County after the county voted to buy 33 acres from Neal Communities for preservation. The Floyd C. Johnson & Flo Singer Johnson Foundation gave a $500,000 challenge grant to help raise the money needed to buy the land from the Neals, and community gifts, including one from the Manatee Fish & Game Association Conservation Foundation, raised significant money for the purchase. The Manatee County Commission accepted more than $1 million in community donations through the Conservation Foundation and used tax revenues to pay the balance of the $3 million appraised value to preserve this property.

The community’s efforts for this project is definitely a message that preservation matters.

What's in a name?

This morning I was shooting photos of a Tricolored Heron out on a mud flat during low tide, as I was editing the photo I kept going back to a memory: This bird used to be called a Louisiana Heron. What’s the difference, I asked myself, from this bird and the one I used to know as a Louisiana Heron. Turns out it is nothing.

Tricolored Herons are also known as Lady of the Waters, Silver-grey Heron and of course Louisiana Herons. Most folks call them Tricolored Herons nowadays, but it used to be that they were mostly known as Louisiana Herons. That got me thinking about bird names. If Tricolored Herons were known as something else, what about other birds? What I learned is that almost every bird has a nickname and some are just plain funny.

Take the Great Blue Heron: He’s known by some as a Blue Crane, but his nicknames are Big Cranky, Poor Joe and Long John. My wife once referred to me as Cranky Pants, so I know that’s not such a nice nickname. Of all the birds with not-so-nice nicknames, the Wood Stork has to have the most unflattering of them all. Who would want to be known as Flint Head, gourd head, hammerhead, ironhead or even Spanish Buzzard? The Wood Stork has been called it all. His nicest monikers are preacher and American Jabiru.

I get why the Blue Jay gets his nicknames — Blue Coat, Corn Thief, Nest Robber and Jay-Bird — I’ve watched their behavior as they fight the squirrels for the peanuts at my bird feeders. But what did the Wood Stork ever do to deserve those names. My wife thinks they are actually kind of cute and definitely don’t deserve to be called gourd heads.

It’s easy to see where other birds get their nicknames. Black Skimmer nicknames are all quite descriptive. They have been called Cut-Water, Knife Bill, Scissorbill and Shearwater. I totally get those names from watching their behavior and the shape of their bills. But who came up with Storm Gull and Sea Dog for them?

The Osprey and the Roseate Spoonbill probably have the simplest and most descriptive nicknames. The Osprey are also known as Fishing Eagle,  Fish Hawk and  Sea Hawk. As for the Roseate, it’s simply
Pink Curlew and Rosy Spoonbill. Shakespeare, who famously wrote, the line “What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet” must have had these beloved birds in mind.

Please share the nick names and alternative names you know for birds, along with their commonly known names in comments below.

Osprey are also known as Fishing Eagle, Fish Hawk and Sea Hawk.

The Wood Stork has to have the most unflattering of nicknames. Who would want to be known as Flint Head, gourd head, hammerhead, ironhead or even Spanish Buzzard? The Wood Stork has been called it all. His nicest monikers are preacher and American Jabiru.

The Blue Jay, also known as a Blue Coat, Corn Thief, Nest Robber and Jay-Bird.

The Great Blue Heron are known by some as a Blue Crane, but his nicknames are Big Cranky, Poor Joe and Long John.

Rosy Spoonbill

A Tricolored Heron also called a Louisiana Heron, Lady of the Waters, Silver-grey Heron

Black Skimmer nicknames are all quite descriptive. They have been called Cut-Water, Knife Bill, Scissorbill and Shearwater. I totally get those names from watching their behavior and the shape of their bills. But who came up with Storm Gull and Sea Dog for them?

Shake off the water and keep on fishing

There’s an old saying that a bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work. I thought about that adage this morning as I watched an Osprey fish for its breakfast. And then I thought, how fortunate am I that I get to do this for a living. Sure there can be frustrations running your own business, but how many people get to spend at least part of their days out watching wildlife, exploring gorgeous landscapes and talking to people about Florida’s treasures? A good day at work brings me all of those pleasures and I bet I wasn’t as frustrated as the ospreys who came up empty time after time as they dove into the waters below.

I also get to witness a lot of good days of fishing. I have seen birds try to swallow fish that were clearly too big to gulp down. I’ve seen bird parents feed their chicks and I’ve watched boats come in with seafood headed to our best restaurants. But the key is to make sure our waters are healthy enough to fish, and the habitat supporting those waters is conserved , keeping pollution, including runoff and sewage, out of our waters.

As a Florida native, I’ve had a front row seat to some of Florida’s best conservation efforts, including one this week. The state set aside $19.5 million in Florida Forever money to purchase Orange Hammock Ranch, the largest undeveloped property in Sarasota County, according to a state summary of the conservation deal. After too many intense red tides, I have read about more research and effort going into figuring out how to save our waterways. I think we could use some more urgency from the state as a whole, but I am heartened that there is a real effort behind keeping our waterways clean and getting to the sources that feed the red tide.

At the same time, I’ve watched my own stomping ground change drastically with unfettered development. It seems the only way to contain development is to buy land and set it aside. And even then the land can be vulnerable to future development. I drove through downtown Sarasota the other day and wondered how, through this canyon of high-rises, the sun would be able to shine on the historic places below. I remember when Lakewood Ranch was actually a ranch. I’m now watching that same kind of intense development along Long Bar Point, which abuts an estuary along the Sarasota Bay. It’s a place where hundreds, if not thousands of birds used to live. I remember seeing the wood storks, an imperiled species, out there by the dozens. Those estuaries are life-giving habitats for all sorts of fish and other water species. As I watch all of this habitat loss, I wonder if we will still be able to still call this paradise.

We must take conservation and clean-up efforts seriously is we plan to hold on to that old adage about a bad day of fishing being better than a good day of work.

Visitors Allow Us to Explore Familiar Places

Recently we were fortunate to have a group of visitors from out of state. Some were from Pennsylvania, a couple from North Carolina and a couple from Virginia — one by way of Australia. They all wanted to do different Florida things which gave us a great opportunity to revisit some favorite spots.

We enjoyed a January sail, offering confirmation that we do indeed live in paradise. We saw dolphins, a turtle and lots of birds, only the Manatees eluded us because the water was cold after all. But we also knew to go to the power plant in Apollo Beach for those who wanted to see Manatees in the wild. Two of our visitors really wanted to see alligators, so that was an opportunity for a hike to the Deep Hole in Myakka River State Park. It was an opportunity for me to lead a group to the Deep Hole and an opportunity for them to get their fill of alligators. We saw hundreds and they were feeding on fish, not tourists.

Our Virginians really wanted to see the Everglades, but we only had a day. We also had one person in the group who was preparing for back surgery, so we wanted something where the walking would be fairly easy. That gave us an opportunity to take our visitors to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. It’s the easiest way to see all of the habitats of the Everglades, without driving too far and the boardwalk through the terrain made it easy on everyone. The trip to Corkscrew was a success. Just before we arrived, we saw a bald eagle flying above. Once we arrived, we saw painted buntings, cardinals, a red-shouldered hawk. We also saw a Swamp Lily, more gators, snakes, three kinds of woodpeckers and plenty of shore birds, including a juvenile little blue heron.

We showed off some local hot spots, including Robinson Preserve, Emerson Point Preserve and the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature and of course we hit the beach. It was fun to share Florida’s natural treasures and to see our group really appreciate the unique and beautiful parts of Florida that have been saved from development.

Shootout at Robinson Preserve Produces a Variety of Views

It’s always eye-opening to see how different people view a moment in time. That was the idea behind the Photography Shootout at Robinson Preserve. I thought it would be fun to see what people would come back with given a limited amount of time in the same location. About 35 photographers showed up and I did not see the same photo twice. Photographers were fortunate enough to get all the weather during the two-day event. We started with fog, then rain, then wind. The next day was sunny, even if it was a little cold. The other advantage of finding unique shots at Robinson Preserve is the size of the preserve and the variety of terrain.

The birds were out in full force in the fog on that Saturday morning. The photographers who braved the weather got some ethereal photos that really highlighted the beauty of Robinson Preserve. They also got plenty of wildlife action. Sure photographers saw a bevy of birds but there were also otters, raccoons and lizards. The 35 photographers turned in about 130 photos in four categories from the two days at the preserve. The Best in Show, a stunning photo by Ken Macejka, will be on exhibit at the Valentine House in Robinson Preserve beginning in March.

The best part was seeing a community of photographers get together in one place. They were really interested in seeing one anothers work and applauded the photos shown at the awards ceremony — all of them, not just the winners. I was particularly proud to see the next generation of photographers there. Two 11-year-olds signed up and competed against the adults. And they turned in exceptional photos. It was nice to see that they were already developing an appreciation, and an eye, for nature and wildlife. It also confirmed for me that the environment is in good hands with this up and coming generation.

The photography contest was such a success that I’m convinced we should probably do it again next year. I’m looking forward to meeting more photographers and seeing what they bring back. Now I just need to decide on where to do the next contest. Some places that come to mind in Manatee County are Emerson Point Preserve, Tom Bennett Park, Rye Preserve, Duette Preserve or Ft. Hamer. Of course we could always go back to Robinson Preserve. I’m sure I’m missing one that you would like to see on the list, so let me know.

Top winner in the 2020 Shootout at Robinson Preserve. Photograph by Ken Macejka

Bill Robinson helped change Northwest Manatee County

I was out shooting photos in Robinson Preserve this morning, one was this mourning dove sitting on a perch. She was beautifully lit and I couldn’t resist taking a few photos. At about that time, the news was on its way to Manatee County that Bill Robinson had died. As I looked through my photos from this morning, the shot of the mourning dove seemed to tell the story of just how much Bill Robinson meant to this county.

Bill Robinson, changed Northwest Manatee County for the better when he partnered with the county to turn 487 acres of former farmland into Robinson Preserve, known for its hiking trails, wildlife and mangrove habitats. Robinson died today at the age of 70, according to the Sarasota Herald Tribune.

His legacy will live on through the contribution he made to conserving the vital lands and waterways of Robinson Preserve. It is one of the most utilized parks in all of Manatee County. Kayakers, runners, bikers, birdwatchers, dog walkers and photographers take advantage of the preserve daily.

Robinson, a Manatee County native and tree farmer, took 487 acres he owned and helped return it to vital habitat for wildlife. Developers had hoped to turn that same land into a golf course and housing development. The county purchased the land from the family for $10 million — $6.4 million came from the Florida Communities Trust and county taxpayers paid the balance. It was a good move for the county and for Bill Robinson who, like many county residents, visited the park often.

I am grateful for this gift to the county. I am grateful county leaders had the wisdom preserve this land and that there was money available from the Florida Communities Trust to help pay for the land. It’s wonderful to have people with the foresight to set aside land for wildlife and people. I wish there was more of that kind of thinking.

Trees hold the wisdom of ages

I recently took a long hike with my wife and another photographer through a 5,800 reserve out in east Manatee County. It was the first hike I had taken in a long time where there was very little water and few birds. Instead, this hike held ancient trees, a rare commodity in this part of Florida, where developers are tearing down trees at an accelerated rate to build houses and shopping centers, and the government follows behind building wider roads and all the other things development entails..

We set out on our hike through Edward W. Chance Reserve’s Gilley Creek Tract along County Road 675. We hiked past a field of saw palmettos interspersed with trees. We noted the ruts from recent wild boar activity and we found a path bordered on one side by a farmer’s field and by the reserve property. We spotted a rare American Kestrel flying in the distance, and we kept walking. We were looking for a creek, but then I got distracted by the trees. Lovely old oaks and other hardwood trees. I saw a couple of snags in the distance.

I saw branches of the old tree poking through layers of vines and debris. Old trees are one of my favorite subjects so I set out across the field to make a picture. When I arrived and set up my camera, I couldn’t seem to find the right shot. The light was wrong and for a moment I thought the majestic tree was too far gone. But as I looked through the mess surrounding the tree, a beautiful form caught my eye. Almost at a crawl I worked myself, camera and tripod to the massive old trunk, worn by the years, and I found my photo.

I spent time with the tree, and then in my excitement, I called out to my hiking companions, who were out chasing hog photos — and who had already seen the tree — come here, i yelled, you have to SEE this tree. I wanted them to appreciate this old tree for what I had seen and for its part in nature. This tree had been home to birds, a solid hunting spot for birds surveying the fields and in the past shade to all of the wildlife that had passed under her branches. And here she is now, still solid, even though mostly naked of her own wardrobe, but covered in Spanish moss, vines and other debris. I hope you can appreciate this rare Florida beauty as well.

What's in the bag?

What I carry in my camera bag often depends on where I am going. That means when I go for a long walk or a genuine hike, I have to prepare. It usually also means that what I carry is a little heavier on a hike.

If i am taking a short walk, I don’t carry not much: a spare battery for sure but that is about it, unless the mosquitoes are really bad, But when I am facing a planned hike in the woods or a trip kayaking into the unknown, I make sure to carry a small arsenal. I totally believe in the boy scout motto to Be Prepared, even though I never got past cub scouts. My dad, a mechanic, taught me how to be prepared for anything.

I usually have a waist pack or sometimes a small back pack depending on how far I am walking and what size lens I am hauling. The waist pack is a Porta-Brace, usually packed with two Fuji X-Pro2s, one with a 16mm F1.4 and the other a 90mm F2, But aside from the camera, I make sure I have:

Batteries
Extra memory cards ( always more than I need, strapped to the bag)
Lens cleaner with paper
Polarizer (if not on the lens)
Handy wipes (a couple of individual packs)
Band aids
A plastic bag to cover my gear in case of rain
A multi-tool (Don’t forget to take it out if you are going through security at an airport)
A jeweler’s screw driver (for them tiny screw on cameras and lens)
A small wrench/socket (my monopod locks are worn out and slip like crazy)
A remote shutter release
Bird identification information
Paper and a pen
Foam ear plugs ( a habit from the newspaper days)
Business cards
A bottle of water and can of bug spray, in my pocket.
Finally, a cell phone with a map app.

This list will vary.

Getting to remote locations to shoot images like these takes time and if you need just a small screw driver to repair something, it could mean not getting the photograph, or a long walk back to the car. Sometimes I forget something. But this is a good start to be prepared just in case it is a long walk back to the car. What do you carry? Am I forgetting anything? Let me know in the comments section below.

Shootout at Robinson Preserve Designed to Raise Awareness

I am hosting a Shootout at Robinson Preserve Jan. 4 and 5 to help raise awareness about this beautiful preserve and about conservation in general. Manatee County has some beautiful parks and preserves, but not nearly enough, especially given the rapid pace of growth. Charlie Hunsicker, Director, Parks and Natural Resources for Manatee County has said that Manatee is behind others in terms of setting aside land for conservation. We can do better all along the west coast of Florida. These lands are vital habitats for birds and wildlife, but also necessary for our own mental health and general well being.

The Shootout is also an opportunity to promote a wonderful local nonprofit, “Give a Kid a Camera.” The nonprofit works with underprivileged children locally and internationally to teach them communication and photography skills. They work with children on introducing themselves to people — looking them in the eye, shaking their hands, telling them their names and talking to them about their projects — and on storytelling. Sometimes it can be intimidating to go up to a stranger and talk to them. Give a Kid a Camera helps them get past that fear and helps instill a sense of pride in their abilities.

Photography is an amazing tool for story telling and it helps to build bridges with people. For example, this past summer Tom O’Neill, the founder of Give a Kid a Camera, worked with teenagers who were refugees from other countries and now living in Kentucky. He worked with the young photographers on their skills and gave them the assignment of telling their stories through the theme, “My Kentucky Home.” The project helped get the teenagers out in their communities and to show people how Kentucky had become home for them.

This nonprofit also helps keep the art of photography alive. It helps the students focus on others, on their surroundings and on what makes this world special. Tom has kept up with students he taught a decade ago. While they are not professional photographers, they have told him the skills they learned helped them in the careers they chose.

The Shootout at Robinson Preserve is an opportunity for photographers to tell a story about wildlife and conservation while just having fun. I am pleased that the most outstanding photo from the weekend will hang in the Valentine House this spring, showcasing an element of the preserve and why it matters to the county, I am grateful for the opportunity to promote conservation and to raise money for a worthy cause. I hope you all can join me.

Photo Provided/Tom O;Neill

Robinson Preserve, Manatee County, Florida

Robinson Preserve, Manatee County, Florida

Expressions add life to photos

Last month I had fun with a photo of an eagle on facebook. The eagle had his talons in the air and a certain expression on his face, so I asked people to caption the photo. The captions people submitted were all clever and funny. I love a good sense of humor. I am especially grateful when people get inspiration from wildlife and nature.

Good photos are meant to be thought-provoking. Sometimes birds and wildlife are so expressive they make it easy to get a reaction. Take the eagle, or the owl posted here. I love these guys for the way they show me they are full of life and on a mission here on this earth. Wildlife, whether it’s birds, fish or mammals, are busy building homes, raising families and teaching their young. And while some may say we humans anthropomorphize them by giving them our thoughts, I like to think we are trying to understand them and through that, we build empathy for the creatures around us. In some ways, it’s them teaching us.

These creatures need all the empathy we can muster. Their habitats are disappearing and their populations are dwindling. The more humans can connect with them and their expressions, the more likely we are to think twice about tearing out trees or filling in wetlands that are vital to these creatures. In that vein, I’d love to see your thoughts about this young burrowing owl in Cape Coral. They are on the imperiled species list, but a population of them has learned to live around the library. ball fields and even on some lands cleared for development. Post your captions in the comments below or on Facebook.

Floridians are fortunate to be able to see a wide variety of imperiled birds

This morning I was out taking photos of a Reddish Egret and a Roseate Spoonbill in Robinson Preserve when two women stopped to ask what I was shooting. My wife first mentioned the Roseate Spoonbill, of which there was little response, and then she mentioned the Reddish Egret. “I’ve always wanted to see a Reddish Egret,” one of the women said. My wife pointed out the Reddish Egret, so she wouldn’t miss an opportunity to see it.

I took a moment to finish getting a shot of the two birds together and then I offered to let her see the egret through my lens. I figured the Reddish Egret, one of the rarest birds in North America and the rarest egret there is, deserved a close up. The encounter got me thinking about how fortunate we are here in this region. We have an abundance of birds other people have never seen. Last year I pointed out a Tricolored Heron to a an out-of-town visitor walking along the trail, she was excited about the opportunity to see a bird she had never seen.

That brought me back to a photo discussion I did earlier this year with the Founders Club of Sarasota. One of the women there told me she had never seen a roseate spoonbill in the wild, even though she lived on the beach. Because I grew up here, I sometimes forget how fortunate we are to see these birds with not a lot of effort. I do have to go looking for the reddish egret, but the Tricolored Herons are usually around on a regular basis. Spoonbills have certain habitats they prefer, but if you know where to look they can seem abundant.

The truth is, we have lost a lot of these birds and they are not as easily spotted any more. So if you have an opportunity to see a bird in the wild, take a second to appreciate the moment and remember that we’re fortunate to live in a place that allows us an opportunity to see some amazing bird species.

Conservation matters for us all but is paramount for wildlife

Walking through Robinson Preserve this morning I caught some amazing scenes of wildlife. I saw an otter eating a fish, blue heron trying to steal a fish from an anhinga, osprey fishing, a juvenile bald eagle and one of the adult bald eagles. Those scenes made me grateful for the preserve and the county’s efforts to save that land for wildlife, even as houses are going up all around the preserve. But seeing all that wildlife made me wonder whether people think that there’s wildlife here, so we must be ok. There’s plenty.

There is a good amount of wildlife concentrated in this one area, but it’s not enough to sustain all of these different animals — to allow them to have genetic diversity and to thrive for generations. Florida and its counties and cities need to continue conserving land if we want to have a healthy environment with diverse plant and animal species.

We are fortunate to have a couple of reddish egrets living in Robinson Preserve. They are the rarest egrets in North America and are among the rarest birds in North America and they continue to struggle to survive. They need places to live — and they need a variety of places, because not all habitats are always healthy enough or large enough to sustain these populations. Earlier this month, two reddish egrets tagged as part of a research project on the dwindling species, died from likely red tide poisoning in the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel, according to WUSF public media.

On the way to Robinson Preserve, I heard a news story that Pasco County is spending nearly $22 million on its largest-ever environmental land purchase, preserving two critical wildlife corridors in an area that is rapidly developing. The property is near the southeastern corner of the Suncoast Parkway and State Road 52 in Land O’ Lakes. 

The North Florida Land Trust recently completed a deal to purchase Fish Island in St. Augustine. The State of Florida owns Fish Island, 57-acres on the Intracoastal Waterway immediately adjacent to the 312 Bridge onto Anastasia Island. The City of St. Augustine will manage the property. Fish Island is described as a healthy maritime hammock forest. It’s preservation also is designed to help avoid water quality impacts to the Matanzas River. St. Augustine’s Vice Mayor Leanna Freeman spent about 14 years working to protect Fish Island and called the acquisition a gift and investment from Floridians to future generations. “Preserving this land is the right thing to do in this time of rapid development and growth,” she said. 

 The Florida Department of Environmental Protection purchased an additional 717 acres within the Wakulla Springs Protection Zone Florida Forever project. This acquisition protects the springs and the land that feeds Wakulla Springs, one of the largest and deepest artesian springs in the world. The property also protects the Floridan Aquifer, according to the Florida DEP. The aquifer recharges are essential to water quality and quantity at Wakulla Springs and the Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve along St. Marks River shorelines in Apalachee Bay. This is vital to Florida’s residents, as well as its wildlife.

This is all good news. Florida is working toward conserving land and wildlife, but development continues to happen at a faster pace than conservation. These are just small parcels set aside for wildlife compared to the size and number of developments, which also requires roads, schools, shopping centers and other infrastructure that takes up even more space and erodes the quality of our natural environment.

Places like Robinson Preserve are a gift and the scenes there are a daily reminder of that gift. But if we are serious about conservation we should all continue to push for more protections. Without this kind of conservation, we may lose the reddish egret all together.

Ybor City offers colorful portraits of life

My recent Street Photography workshop for the Sun City Camera Club included a photography field trip to Ybor City. Ybor City is the perfect back drop for shooting street photography. It’s colorful, architecturally interesting and full of life. Murals dot the landscape. The businesses there are varied, from a cigar rolling business, to eclectic restaurants to art stores. The people are a mix of ages, attitudes and ideas. Most are open to visitors and willing to talk with strangers. They were also willing to have their photos taken.

The students in the workshop did an excellent job of finding scenes that told stories and drew the viewer in. I had a class of about 10 students and we all stayed on the same street, yet the photos were all varied, even when they came back with the same subjects. The styles of photography were all different as well.

One student, Christina, brought back portraits of people she met. But before she showed her portraits to the class she really worked on them in Photoshop, turning them into works of art. They were beautiful and intriguing. They were not “journalistic” but they could be considered a form of documentary photography because the faces were as she saw them.

Others used the city’s architecture to draw the viewer into their photos with scenes of everyday life. Others used humor, contrast or comparisons to highlight the people of Ybor City. The city’s art work, including murals and statutes made for great ways to showcase people. The posters, furniture and tiles made for great standalone photos. Workers in the city made sure there was always plenty of action.

The workshop participants surprised themselves with some of the photos they captured — a woman resting comfortably near a 2-hour parking sign and a man looking closely at a mural where the priest in the painting seemed to have his finger on the nose of the subject. It’s always fun to see what comes out in a photo.

The most gratifying part of the workshop was hearing what the students took away. A couple of them were stretching themselves when they signed up for the class. They admitted they didn’t like having people in their photos and that they were uncomfortable approaching strangers. But they did it anyway. Bob, one of the participants who was reluctant to talk to people, said the field trip got him excited about street photography and interested in doing it again. Others loved learning something new about Tampa. One student called the exercise “beneficial, surprising and freeing.”

To me, street photography is all of those things. It is also a great way to make connections, to see people as they are and to appreciate their differences. It was fun, too, to relive a slice of my days as a journalist.

Your own back yard can yield amazing photos

This time last year I traveled to the Conowingo Dam at the border of Pennsylvania and Maryland to capture photos of eagles. The Conowingo Dam is famous for attracting eagles who feed there in the winter. The eagles are famous for their epic fights over the fish that are caught. They chase each other through the air grabbing for the fish. The juvenile eagles in particular chase the adult eagles for the fish.

I went with great expectations of getting amazing photos I couldn’t get anywhere else. And I froze trying to do it. The eagles fish there in the coldest part of the year — late November through February. Standing on the edge of the water in the north that time of year can take your breath away. Also last year the water levels were high, meaning the eagle activity was slow and contained to the far side of the dam. I had a great trip and had a great time with new friends, but I didn’t come home with the spectacular eagle photos I was hoping for.

This morning out at Robinson Preserve, I was reminded of that trip when directly above my head I spotted a juvenile eagle chasing an osprey for a fish. I didn’t have to travel 1,100 miles to catch the chase close up and even though I forgot my jacket on this chilly Florida morning, I didn’t freeze while watching the spectacle. It was an amazing thing to watch. The birds were close and the chase was dramatic. You could hear the osprey warning the eagle to back off, but that juvenile wasn’t listening. He was focused on breakfast — the fish the osprey had just caught.

The chase went on for a while, until the osprey finally gave up and dropped the fish and the eagle dove down to get it. The osprey flew off in search of a fresh fish. I noticed several ospreys out fishing this morning and it’s always fun to get photos of them diving and coming up out of the water. It’s rare to see an eagle chase an osprey, but it happens and it happens in our own back yard. It was a good reminder that you don’t really have to travel far to find amazing photos.

Light can transform a familiar place

Our morning dog walks at Robinson Preserve have become habit. Photo Dawg Duke insists on getting out soon after the sun rises, so I’m used to shooting in the morning light. It has a crisp quality and is great for photography. It’s also a nice way to start the day.

Recently after a morning filled with meetings and planning, we threw the Photo Dawg a bone and took a late day walk. We arrived at the park during that “Golden Hour,” when the day turns into a canvas of reds, purples, yellows and oranges. I walk Robinson Preserve at least 6 days a week and know it like the back of my hand. That afternoon it was transformed into another place. The trails glowed with the light and the birds were theatrically lit stars on nature’s stage.

I remind my students to learn to shoot photos in any light, so they don’t get discouraged when they can’t get out at that perfect hour. You go when you can and make it work. But too often, we get so busy, we forget to make the most of the perfect time of day. In photography lighting is vital, it is your paint brush. When you can take advantage of the perfect conditions you should — and see the magic that can happen. Even I was reminded that the “Golden Hour” is not to be forgotten.

The one thing I did forget…bug spray. Those No See’ums like this time of day too, I think they call it suppertime!

Follow through is vital to catching great photos

I’m often asked how I get so many photos of wildlife doing something special, such as two birds dancing or a kingfisher diving for a fish and coming up with a delicious morsel. Like in baseball, it’s all about anticipation and follow through. In baseball you’re not done when the ball touches the bat, and in photography, that first strong photo doesn’t mean you’re done shooting a subject.

I do spend a lot of time waiting for something to happen. I wait for the sun to move the shadows, for birds to get into the perfect spot for the shot I envision and I wait for the birds to complete whatever action they may have started. If you don’t have patience, you may watch a perfect moment get away from you.

My photo of two birds dancing that was featured in the exhibit at the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature and that is included in my 2020 calendar, was actually part of a series of photos. It starts with a close-up of the male with the feathers up on his head, seemingly styled to attract a mate. The next photo is him bringing a fish to the female that caught his eye, then the dance begins, head to head and a foot in the air. While that’s the shot that is most popular, just like the male bird, I continued with the follow through and have a shot of him sealing the deal with the female bird, who he nests with for the rest of the season.

That series of shots tells a story. And that’s what makes photography interesting and allows your best work to stand out. This morning I watched an anhinga fishing for his breakfast. I know, I know, fishing shows don’t always have a lot of action. You have to be patient, but patient tends to pay off. I saw the anhinga come up with his breakfast and then toss it in the air, before he swallowed it. That was the shot I was hoping for, but I knew I wasn’t done. I stuck with him as he tried to catch the fish. This time it was a throw and a miss! The one that got away. He was one unhappy anhinga, but I walked away with a satisfying story.