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Springing to Life

Last month I released my latest article, this time for Milwaukee Magazine. The article, which covers the highs and lows of spring migration at Humboldt Park, features this awesome opening splash page. This piece means a lot to me. Not only was I able to highlight my favorite park in the city (and the work happening with the Humboldt Park Friends group), the article was placed in a magazine I’ve been aiming to get published in ever since I started adding stories to my photographs. While a lot of wildlife and conservation photographers and writers aim for conservation-minded publications, I really feel a calling of sorts towards more generalized outlets. My goal is to share nature with people who aren’t actively looking for it, piquing their interest when they come upon my photos or stories. Part of that has to do with the fact that I’m not an expert of any kind – I know more about the subjects I cover than the average person does, but far less than researchers, volunteers, and others that dedicate their lives to the outdoors. The other part of it is that I was once someone who didn’t think a ton about the natural world, yet had an inkling about it that I decided to foster, which then turned into a really valuable part of my life. My biggest hope is that my work helps other people stimulate their own curiosity for the natural world.

Anyway, not to go on and on, I’ll end with a quick news update and a link to the online version of the Milwaukee Magazine article (though if you can find March’s print issue, it’s worth checking out. They did a beautiful job with the layout). I’m writing a few pieces that will hopefully land in the July issue of MKE Lifestyle Magazine. I partnered with them on my first-ever print article release, so it’s exciting to work with editor Don Butler and his team again. You can subscribe to MKE Lifestyle Magazine for free, which is also cool! I’m also leading a bird walk on the morning of Saturday, April 22nd at Humboldt Park. Humboldt Park Friends is hosting a park clean-up day and I wanted to continue the tradition I started last year of starting the day with a calming bird walk along the lagoon. The whole day was a huge success last year. Hopefully, the wonky Wisconsin weather holds up for it!

Finally, as promised, here is the online version of “Springing To Life”. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the piece.

A fantastic finish to 2022 and looking ahead

The last chapter of my Milwaukee Record birding challenge is live, and while it’s sad to end the column I did it by accomplishing my birding goal for 2022: birding in all 72 of Wisconsin’s many counties. If you haven’t read the final chapter you can read it here. This whole column was created as a source of inspiration for my fellow Wisconsinites and I hope everyone decides to spend 2023 looking at their surroundings in an inquisitive nature. There are so many beautiful places to explore and incredible wildlife to observe.

For 2023 I intend to continue photographing Wisconsin bird and wildlife, but that’s just the beginning. I’m starting off my 2023 with a two-week birding trip to Costa Rica. During this trip I hope to encounter birds new and old – many migratory birds winter in CR – including the brilliant Resplendent Quetzal. I’m really looking forward to this trip, as well as the many photo stories I have in the works! You can expect a story from me regarding spring bird migration this March, and I have stories on cranes, Bald Eagles, and pond critters that will all drop in 2023 too.

But if you haven’t gotten enough of 2022, there will be more of 2022 in 2023! How so? Well, Schlitz Audubon just asked me to speak about my statewide birding challenge this March. On Wednesday, March 8th, I will be presenting at their Bird Club. I’ll be giving the inner workings of how I went about my challenge while showcasing some of the photos that didn’t make it into the final publication. It should be a great event! The event is free and tickets are open to the public right now!

I hope everyone enjoys their New Year! Stay safe and good birding!

First Print Article!

One of my goals this year was to have my wildlife photography in five articles. Thanks to Milwaukee Record, I could blow that number out of the water (stay tuned for the last WI Birding Challenge article – coming soon) with ten on their site alone. While that goal was accomplished I wanted to start diversifying myself and was fortunate enough to land an article with MKE Lifestyle Magazine. I read an article from them on Wisconsin’s wolf populations and thought they’d be a great fit for this article I wrote and photographed about American Kestrel banding in central Wisconsin.

You can read the online article here, or find the print edition on newsstands at Barnes & Noble, CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, and more. You can also request a complimentary subscription to the magazine which I might recommend doing for future bird-related stories 😉

I hope you enjoy the article and photography! Beaver Creek Reserve is an awesome organization doing important work. It was a privilege to tell their story.

Running the Birding Gauntlet – Chapter 7 of my WI 2022 Birding Challenge for Milwaukee Record

In an effort to catch all 72 of Wisconsin’s counties by year’s end, I embarked on a mad five-day rush, attempting to hit twenty counties across Wisconsin’s northern borders during fall migration. Did I hit twenty counties or did I learn valuable life lessons instead? Or maybe I did both?! Click the link here for my massive story filled with solid birding locations, photos of lifers, and winged tales of wonders!

Also, there’s been great debate on eBird and iNaturalist if the bird below (which I spotted in Ashland County) is a Green-winged Teal or Cinnamon Teal, which is rare for that area. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

https://milwaukeerecord.com/city-life/wisconsin-birding-challenge-2022-exploring-every-county-in-the-state-chapter-7/

Reaching the halfway mark – 2022 Birding Challenge (Milwaukee Record column)

It feels like it’s taken forever, but I’ve finally reached the halfway point in my WI 2022 Birding Challenge for Milwaukee Record. In Chapter 5 I encountered my first Osprey in what was a truly awe-inspiring experience. In this week’s chapter I hit seven more counties bringing my total up to 37 out of Wisconsin’s 72 counties!

Lots of fun photos and stories from both! Let me know your favorites below!

https://milwaukeerecord.com/city-life/wisconsin-birding-challenge-2022-exploring-every-county-in-the-state-chapter-5/

https://milwaukeerecord.com/city-life/wisconsin-birding-challenge-2022-exploring-every-county-in-the-state-chapter-6/