In 2004 I was comfortably entrenched in my retirement life of golf, gardening, and relaxation when a series of events conspired to change my life forever.
It was a cold, crisp, and sunny February morning, and my golf game was cancelled because the course was frozen.
Normally I would just put on another pot of coffee and catch up on some emails or other computer activities. Instead, I decided to take a drive to enjoy the sparkling winter landscape.
It was a magical wonderland. The trees glistening like millions of diamonds from the morning sun, reflecting off the frost-encrusted branches. I didn’t have a destination in mind and drove down a road I seldom used.
As I was passing some wetlands I was suddenly distracted by some movements between the willows and reeds. I stopped and watched. The birds looked a bit like Mallards, but there was something different – they had unusually large bills. I was mesmerized and perplexed.
After a few minutes I drove home and returned with my Pentax Spotmatic camera and 70-215 mm Vivitar zoom lens. It was difficult to get a clear shot through the tangle of willows and reeds, but I figured I could get enough partials of the ducks for my friend at Ducks Unlimited to identify.
Unfortunately, a quick trip to Walmart’s One-Hour photo service was a total disappointment. None of the photos turned out.
There were a few exposure problems, but most of the pictures were out of focus because of the reeds and weeds.
Undeterred, I trotted over to Chapters and bought Sibley’s Bird Guide and was delighted to find pictures that matched my ducks – they were Northern Shovelers.
When I woke up the next morning, I didn’t want breakfast. All I wanted to do was go out and look for birds. Right in my backyard I discovered a host of new feathered creatures like nuthatches, kinglets and creepers that I had never paid attention to before.
Once again, I tried to photograph the birds but ended up with the same disappointing results. None of the pictures were clear. I was never close enough and knew I had to get closer to the birds or get a bigger lens.
London Drugs was very helpful and lent me a 400 mm lens. After a week of stalking birds and another half dozen rolls of film wasted, I was getting some better results, but most of the images were still unacceptable.
As my frustration increased, I decided to do a deep dive into the internet to see what other photographers were using.
When I emerged, two factors were clarified. First, many were still using film but there was a strong movement to digital that was instantly appealing. It was expensive but a no-brainer. The emancipation from film would soon offset the cost of a digital camera and the software to process the images.
Second, everyone was using large 500 mm or 600 mm lenses.
The next week I was packing a Nikon D100 DSLR camera and a Sigma 300–800 mm zoom – the largest and newest lens on the market.
The results were instantaneous and amazing. I was soon capturing some of the best bird images on Vancouver Island and decided to use them to help educate the public.
I shared them with newspapers, bird websites, and anyone who was interested. I even started my own website and received compliments and requests for photos from around the world.
The interest in my photos inspired me to expand my range, and I was soon chasing birds south to Victoria, west to Tofino, and north to Campbell River.
By the end of the year I had accumulated a sizeable collection of images and decided that a book would be an excellent tool for bird education.
I actually received an offer from a publisher, but being independent and stubborn I decided to do it myself.
I agonized over the decision for weeks knowing it was an expensive gamble that could easily fail. I had already blown all my disposable savings on the new equipment, but still had a stash set aside for my daughter’s university tuition. Should I or shouldn’t I?
In a leap of faith I took the plunge, and in April 2005, 3,000 hardcovercopies ofVancouver Island Birds, Volume 1 landed on my doorstep.
Fortunately, all the apprehension of failure was for naught. The book was an instant success. Local direct sales took off like wildfire, and the book was soon in demand at most Vancouver Island bookstores.
Within a few months my daughter’s tuition was restored.
But, success comes with a price, and I was soon in demand as a speaker. I was anxious and reluctant at first but realized that if I were serious about educating the public I would have to speak for the birds. Before long I was delivering PowerPoint presentations to clubs and organizations from Victoria to Cortes Island.
The next 20 years flew by like birds in migration, and I was literally “gone with the birds.”
I was totally absorbed by the birds and constantly photographing, working on books, marketing, writing articles, and doing presentations.
In 2007 I was inspired by my photos of pelagic birds to produce Vancouver Island Birds, Volume 2and in 2010 the white ravens inspiredVancouver Island Birds, Volume 3.
I deviated slightly in 2011 to publish Denman & Hornby NATURE and in 2014 for Vancouver Island Butterflies.
Unfortunately, from 2015 on I was relegated to roadside and parking lot birding because of arthritic knees but still managed to continue presentations and publish Beginner’s Guide to Common Vancouver Island Birdsin 2020, and I just completed A YEAR OF EAGLES which I believe is my best work.
Looking back to my chance encounter with the Northern Shoveler ducks in 2004, I have no explanation for why they inspired the sudden change in my life. Previous to that, I had no interest in birds and didn’t know anyone who was.
Perhaps we all have an innate connection with nature just waiting to be ignited by the right situation, or perhaps there is no explanation and it was just destiny.
Regardless of the cause, I am grateful for the Shovelers and wouldn’t change a thing.
My interest in birds has given me direction and a real purpose in life. It has also provided substance for life-long enjoyment and learning and improved my skills as a photographer, presenter and publisher. As I enter my 80th decade my interest and passion for birds continues to motivate me every day, and I look forward to the next birding adventure and possibly the next book to publish.
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