Doug Herr
Well-known member
Manitoba
Location, Location, Location for Diverse and Abundant Wildlife
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Manitoba
Doug Herr
Well-known member
a few examples:
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I have done the snowmobile trips in yellowstone when you were on your own ( no guide) and before the Duttons were a thing. Great animal life except no bears and wildlife was around the geysers more and streams! Not sure how photography with the guided tours works. Have been there around 5 times in the fall for Oxbow bend color and fewer visitors but as you said, the family trips actually consisted of very little photography due to complaints why sunrise and sunset outings, the kids had other things on their list so I know what you were saying. Glacier great for bears, everywhere. Rocky mtn national park Canada worth the trip, ask so of our Canadian friends on the forum, alot of gorgeous landscape and hikes. I also liked fall around Zion/Bryce but never really paid attention to wildlife till recent but the landscapes are superb. Maybe someone else knows the wildlife there.
Doug or anyone who has knowledge of area,
Have you gone up to the Klammath basin area in winter for eagles or where have you seen a grouping of eagles in Northern CA?? I know they have said Crowley Lake near Mammoth. Thru there in Nov, nothing to see. Agree with Sacramento, Colusa and Yolo bypass. Frequent those places in the past 3-4 mos since I got my camera.
Kurt T
Not Hatch, but I just spent four days there. A lot of birds. Most people think that December/January are the best months.
Hi All,
Whether you are focused on wildlife or BIF, what location in the U.S. provides you with both diverse and abundant targets in natural settings? I totally understand if you focus on one kind of bird such as Osprey or Bald Eagles, but what if a photographer wants to photograph many species of birds or non-avian wildlife. Where does one go for this? I'm located in central Arizona and I venture out to the various hot spots like Gilbert Riparian Preserve and the Salt River. But lately I've been asking myself, "where have all the birds gone?". If I want to expand my horizons outside of central Arizona, and maybe even consider spending a season or half a year elsewhere in the US, is there anywhere I can go and be overwhelmed by the number and variety of birds or wildlife? I am aware of the special trips offered by Steve and other photographers, and these are on my list, but would I be missing out if I didn't check out your favorite location that fits these requirements (diversity and abundance)? Thanks!
Bosque was great recently, lots of Sandhill Crane action. I've been to Yellowstone five times and have already set up a May/June trip for 2022, absolutely best place for bear and other mammals. I drove to both sites from California, about the same distance or so it seemed. Easy trips for me. As I live in CA I also shoot at the wildlife refugees in the Central Valley, there are several.
Calson
Well-known member
I would start with maps showing NWR areas and see where they are clustered and what is in the area. Often the nearest town is an hour or more distant and so going out every day entails a lot of driving. Tom Mangelsen has gotten great images by residing in Jackson Hole year round. For birds the best locations are along the two primary flyways, Florida and eastern AZ and southwestern TX. With Covid risks my pick of the three would be eastern AZ.
What is different about Florida is the number of birds that have no problems with people walking around and so no need for blinds and easy to shoot at close to their eye level. For me though if I was going to spend a year photographing wildlife it would be in Costa Rica.
What is different about Florida is the number of birds that have no problems with people walking around and so no need for blinds and easy to shoot at close to their eye level. For me though if I was going to spend a year photographing wildlife it would be in Costa Rica.
Thanks, Viathelens! I took the family to Glacier and Yellowstone NPs the summer of 2019. Beautiful country and loved the wildlife, especially around Yellowstone. I'm definitely going back but with photography as the main goal. Thanks for the Central Valley idea. I was there in the late 80's while in the Air Force and got to experience the Tule Fog! Quite something. Happy Holidays...Jim
I also like the Point Reyes National seashore. A lot of estuaries and lagoons. Sea life whale bobcat fox coyotes close in but rather busy come Feb if you like whales "big mammals" as they come into Drakes Bay side . See ebirds lists for Abbott' s lagoon nice 1.5mi hike . Weekday on beaches fairly empty.
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Hi, Calson...thank you for the reply. Yes, I am getting the sense that I need to check out all of the wildlife refuges around the country. Many have been mentioned in this thread. Eastern AZ is a perfect destination for me. We spent a few days in Greer, AZ which sits at 8,000 feet. When Phoenix is 115, Greer is 80. We saw bald eagles, osprey, GBH and plenty of red-tailed hawks. Florida keeps coming up. Definitely want to check it out, including Blue Cypress Lake which is known for its great number of nesting osprey. Happy Holidays...Jim.
Hi Kurt, Point Reyes sounds terrific. This is getting added to my list. Sure hope the Tule Elk have survived the drought there. Thank you and Happy Holidays...Jim.
Actually was there a week ago and the elk were everywhere in the park. They did have some troubles but from the herds I saw, they will do just fine. Elephant seals were on Abbotts lagoon beach and DRakes Beach
Thank you for posting your terrific pics, Doug!
Some pics from Pt Reyes
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Originally from Milwaukee, where I am now. I was at the old Edgewood Arsenal area of Aberdeen Proving Ground, though I traveled about 30+ weeks a year doing environmental surveys at numerous Army facilities around the country, mostly depots and ammo plants where the wildlife was often quite abundant. Also had assignments at Fort Sam Houston and in Seoul Korea. Our kids were born in Milwaukee; Tooele UT; Baltimore, MD and at the 121 Evac Hospital Seoul. Also sppent Nov 2009- Apr 2021 in Saudi Arabia managing ecological restoration work from damages caused by the 1991 war (oil spill and desert damages).
Recentish collections from Colusa and Sacramento NWRs can be found at mrtk.smugmug.com
Roy
Well-known member
I know how you feel.Hi All,
Whether you are focused on wildlife or BIF, what location in the U.S. provides you with both diverse and abundant targets in natural settings? I totally understand if you focus on one kind of bird such as Osprey or Bald Eagles, but what if a photographer wants to photograph many species of birds or non-avian wildlife. Where does one go for this? I'm located in central Arizona and I venture out to the various hot spots like Gilbert Riparian Preserve and the Salt River. But lately I've been asking myself, "where have all the birds gone?". If I want to expand my horizons outside of central Arizona, and maybe even consider spending a season or half a year elsewhere in the US, is there anywhere I can go and be overwhelmed by the number and variety of birds or wildlife? I am aware of the special trips offered by Steve and other photographers, and these are on my list, but would I be missing out if I didn't check out your favorite location that fits these requirements (diversity and abundance)? Thanks!
I live 100metres from a lake reserve and 4km from a national park.
Every time i'm looking for the black swans to return without any luck.
I agree about Colusa. It doesn’t often get any better.
I take my Airboat to the Everglades in Feb. Match and April when water is low in most years, there are millions of wading birds of all species. I have one location which is a small island and it holds 7 different nesting birds with hundreds of Rosetta Spoonbills. I get up close.Hi All,
Whether you are focused on wildlife or BIF, what location in the U.S. provides you with both diverse and abundant targets in natural settings? I totally understand if you focus on one kind of bird such as Osprey or Bald Eagles, but what if a photographer wants to photograph many species of birds or non-avian wildlife. Where does one go for this? I'm located in central Arizona and I venture out to the various hot spots like Gilbert Riparian Preserve and the Salt River. But lately I've been asking myself, "where have all the birds gone?". If I want to expand my horizons outside of central Arizona, and maybe even consider spending a season or half a year elsewhere in the US, is there anywhere I can go and be overwhelmed by the number and variety of birds or wildlife? I am aware of the special trips offered by Steve and other photographers, and these are on my list, but would I be missing out if I didn't check out your favorite location that fits these requirements (diversity and abundance)? Thanks!
The airboat captain that I rented from was unable to get close. The airboat was too loud. However, a captain with a regular boat was able to do so.
Tom
Doug Herr
Well-known member
Re: Sacramento, Colusa, Merced & Yolo refuges, fall/winter are the best months.
In the summer I head up "the hill" to the Sierra Nevada where I have a few secret favorite locations. One of the well-known summertime locations in the Sierra Nevada is Sierra Valley, especially Marble Hot Springs Road. This is all private property but much can be seen from the roads. Nearby is Yuba Pass, another good well-known location.
In the summer I head up "the hill" to the Sierra Nevada where I have a few secret favorite locations. One of the well-known summertime locations in the Sierra Nevada is Sierra Valley, especially Marble Hot Springs Road. This is all private property but much can be seen from the roads. Nearby is Yuba Pass, another good well-known location.
When they're nesting getting close isn't a problem if you know what you're doing, but when they're feeding I locate them and if they fly I get good flying shots by cutting the motor and letting my boat slide to a stop, then I set there for a while because if there's lots of food there they will return if you sit still.