WILDLIFE & NATURE
“I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright.”
– Henry David Thoreau
Winter, 1969-70, Indian Mountain Air Force Station, Alaska, USA
Geolocation: 66.07139° N, -153.6844° E
Listen very carefully and you still won’t hear a bird singing. Not on top of Indian Mountain in Alaska. While I was stationed there from May 1, 1969, to May 3, 1970, I rarely saw a bird. There were black bears, a wandering moose or two, dogs, and wolves, but no birds. Just once, I saw a white-tailed ptarmigan (the “p” is silent). Its song was grumpy, gravelly, grouse.
I didn’t know it then, but I missed the birds I grew up with: robins, finches, sparrows, chickadees, dark-eyed juncos, woodpeckers, and blue jays. Most of all, I longed for the bright red cardinals, the beautiful Northern Cardinal.
Scientific Name: Cardinalis cardinalis.
Now approaching my 8th decade, I can’t get enough of these beautiful creatures. My grandchildren and I feed them, offer drinks of water, start conversations, wave to them, and simply sit and watch their beauty. We ask them to pose for us on a regular basis. They oblige.
In addition to birds, this collection includes beautiful trees, plants, and flowers, plus a few exotic, goofy, and marvelous creatures from the Galapagos Islands. The island shots were taken from the ship The Endeavor in 2014 when I trained with National Geographic photographers. What an amazing experience!
All images are available in black & white. Custom sizes can also be requested.
