Vancouver Audubon has started a wildlife photography group called CAMERADERIE. This idea came from conversations with talented teen winners of our Youth Nature Photo Contest, Shaunak Deshpande and John Mendoza. They had participated in both Vancouver Audubon’s guided bird walks and the photo contest and realized the benefits of doing both. When one understands the species present, that allows photographers to elevate their skills. They have taken leadership and will be present for the meetings.
The typical format for participation in the group is they schedule weekend or holidays off school walks into natural areas. Parents accompany the youth and also learn about the species they see from seasoned photographer and guides, John Pugmire and Ken Pitts.
A week or so later, the group gathers on a Zoom meeting and shares the edited photos taken on the outing. Feedback is given and received with the goal of increasing skills of both taking and editing wildlife/nature photographs.
Our field experiences have included Salmon Creek Greenway in October, Shillapoo Wildlife Area to shoot Short-eared Owls (read Isaac Lang’s blog about the experience) in November, and Ridgefield NWR to photograph small birds, swans, raptors that included Bald Eagles hunting ducks, Red-tailed Hawks, and Northern Harriers in December.
Our January outing was a trip to The Dalles Dam to photograph Bald Eagles snatching Shad from the frothy waters below the dam. We did not have luck seeing the 15 or so Bald Eagles present fish, so we drove to the Deschutes River and attempted to photographed Canyon and Rock Wrens. We ended up with shots of small birds, waterfowl, and had to settle with glimpses of both species of wrens. Seeing an unexpected Snow Goose taking off from the parking lot may have been our moment of the day.
In February we met at Portland’s Force Lake to shoot ducks in flight, and then extended the day to visiting Whitacker Ponds Nature Park. In March we walke Washougal Waterfront Park, where we attempted to photograph Rufous Hummingbirds visiting Red Currants. On April 11th, we visted Catherine Creek, and got decent weather.
Meet Where? Steigerwald Lake NWR to carpool to Conboy Lake NWR
When: 7:00 am on Saturday, May 30th
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Conboy Lake NWR is north and east of White Salmon, WA. It hosts many species of birds we don’t get to see on the west side of the Cascades, including White-headed Woodpeckers, Black-backed Woodpeckers, Pygmy Nuthatches, Western Kingbirds, Grey, Dusky, and Hammond’s Flycatchers, Gray Catbirds, Calliope Hummingbirds and Cassin’s Finches. Bring plenty of water snacks and a lunch to eat when we complete the three-mile loop trail. It’s a fairly easy grade trail, but it is dirt, rocks, gravel and has tree roots and small obstacles in it.
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“Cameraderie has been both a welcoming and inspiring group for me. Being able to get immediate feedback and hang out with other like minded people who enjoy photography just as much as I do only adds to the enjoyment. Being part of Cameraderie has pushed me to think more intentionally about my work and stay consistent and creative. It’s continued to push my skills and it’s exciting to see how much I’ve grown since joining!” –John Mendoza