Hummingbird at La Selva

Hummingbird and Heliconia

La Selva, Costa Rica

July 13, 2009

I took this picture of a hummingbird feeding at a heliconia during my recent trip to Costa Rica during an OTS teachers course. This shot was a lucky snap taken while photographing the beautiful red-orange bracts of the heliconia plant. I was framing a shot of a nearby bract when this cute little hummingbird landed. I quickly and quietly panned over and fired off two shots. I was absolutely amazed at the diversity of the hummingbirds and their adaptations for feeding on different flowering plants.

Red Ti on Kauai

Ti plants (Cordyline sp.) are known to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. For this reason, they are often planted outside of homes. Though not native to Hawaii they were brought by early Polynesian settlers to the Islands. Leaves from the Ti plant are traditionally used to wrap food, thatch roofs, and woven into hula skirts and leis. I took this photograph at the Kauai Coffee Company on a vacation in January 2008.

Great Egret Taking Flight

Great Egret Taking Flight

February 15th, 2009

I caught this Egret taking flight early one Sunday morning during the Great Backyard Bird Count. I met up with a few students and one of their families to count birds near Marine Del Rey. I spent several hours, well okay about half the day, counting watching birds at the marina and later at the Ballona Wetlands. The weather was absolutely amazing and made for a great day, for the birds.

I never thought I would see a...

Blue Whale, Dana Point, CA
Affectionately named Delta

This summer I had the opportunity to observe a Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) off of Dana Point in southern california. It was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen or may ever see. Our boat observed it taking several breaths before it dove and stayed under for ten to fifteen minutes at a time, at which point it would come up for several minutes before diving again.

I am currently reading a book by E.O. Wilson in which he describes these brief interactions with spectacular and rare animals- like the Blue Whale- as the Grizzly Bear Effect of environmental ethics.

"We may never personally glimpse certain rare animals but we need them as symbols. They proclaim the mystery of the world. They are the jewels in the crown of the Creation. Just to know they are out there alive and well is important to the spirit, to the wholeness of our lives. If they live, then Nature lives. Surely our world will be secure, and we will be better for it." (The Creation p. 58)

Just knowing that the Blue Whale, the largest living animal, is out there swimming in our oceans alive and well keeps my spirits high. But having that ever so brief encounter rekindled my spirit and my desire to do what I can to help converse the beauty of Nature

Blue skies, dark clouds, and the man in the moon

Lately, when I’m in need of a little inspiration I look toward the sky. I grab my camera and step out to take pictures of skies, clouds and the moon. The moon has always intrigued me, no matter how many times I've observed the waxing and waning phases of the moon, I am still in awe every time I gaze at the night sky.