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 walked Washougal Waterfront Park, where we attempted to photograph Rufous Hummingbirds visiting Red Currants. On April 11th, we visited Catherine Creek, and got decent weather.
Next Meeting Where? Steigerwald Lake NWR
When: 8:00 am – 12:00 on Saturday, July 11th
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Steigerwald Lake NWR is a highly diverse place for bird species. Its many habitats include a lake for pelicans and cormorants, river for gulls moving up and down The Columbia, grasslands cut through by water channels with both harriers and bitterns, mud flats for shorebirds, plus forests with edges for an abundance of woodpecker species, chats, and Lazuli Buntings. This is one of the few locations where birders can find 70 or more species on the right day.
Future walks and events:
Photography Zoom session (Sunday July 12th, 6:45pm-7:45pm)
Sams Walker habitat restoration (July 28th, 8am-12pm)
Birdathon @ Steigerwald & Greenway Trail (Saturday Aug 15th, 8:00am-12:00pm)
Photography Zoom session (Saturday Aug 22nd, 6:45pm-7:45)
Sams Walker habitat restoration (Sep 5th, 8:00am-12:00pm)
Please check back to this page for updates. Sign up to receive updates by email with updated information as the time nears. If you have already signed up for Cameraderie, you do not need to sign up again.
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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