Riffing off my last post about places… here is a series of birds in their environments. If you’re ever caught out with a short lens or the birds are just too far away, you can still get good shots that tell the wider story. Above, a Burrowing Owl near the Salton Sea.


A Western Meadowlark floats near San Francisco Bay.


A Wilson’s Warbler in the reeds at a lake’s edge.


A Black Turnstone at the edge of the sea.


A Red-shouldered Hawk preens in a Eucalyptus tree.


Young Great Horned Owls await night in the woods.


A Red-tailed Hawk out for a sunset stroll on the beach.


A Varied Thrush ghostly through the trees.


Red-tailed Hawks in the countryside.


Northern Pintails are the perfect addition to any lagoon scene.


Almost done. Here are Cinnamon Teal in tucked into their chosen habitat.


A Eucalyptus tree frames a Red-shouldered Hawk keeping watch over its nest.


*Environmental Photo Bonus Round: Extra points if you can find the hawk in this picture.

Until next time…

Written by Walter
Walter Kitundu is an artist and designer, instrument builder and bird photographer. As an artist he has created hand built record players powered by the wind and rain, fire and earthquakes, birds, light, and the force of ocean waves. Walter has performed and been in residence at art centers and science museums internationally. He has performed with the renowned Kronos Quartet, bassist Meshell Ndegeocello, the electronic music duo Matmos, and the legendary Marshall Allen - in venues from Carnegie Hall to a high school library in Egilstaadir, Iceland. In 2008 Walter became a MacArthur Fellow. Walter loves photographing birds and is an ongoing volunteer with the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory. He was hooked when a Red-tailed Hawk landed at his side, ate a caterpillar, then refused to leave. He is a Senior Design Developer for the Studio Gallery at the Exploratorium in San Francisco where he designs and builds environments for learning. You can see more of his work on his blog, Bird Light Wind.