Máistir Nádúraí: The Winter Woods

2.07.2008

The Winter Woods

Red-bellied Woodpecker

I ended up having enough time before work to go snowshoeing and birding at Pheasant Branch Conservancy. The stream corridor is always so spectacular right after a snowfall - it was nice to finally get out and breathe some fresh air to clear my brain. The dominant bird sounds belonged to Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Northern Cardinals and Black-capped Chickadees; heard so clearly through the calm woods. I didn't hear a Carolina Wren sing this morning (perhaps they were offended by so much new snow?), but I'm sure they're still around. I only had about an hour, so I used the time to enjoy views through my binoculars and also test a wide-angle lens I recently purchased for my Nikon Coolpix 8400.

Bio:

Mike McDowell has been documenting southern Wisconsin’s flora and fauna since 1987 and began leading field trips in 2002. Prolific at Pheasant Branch Conservancy, other highlighted natural areas include Pope Farm Conservancy, Spring Green Preserve, and the Baraboo Hills. His nature photography has appeared in various publications, newspapers, magazines and was even featured on a Wisconsin Endangered Resources license plate, a Capital Brewery beer label, and a National Geographic publication. He began journaling nature observations on this blog in 2005. He's the recipient of the 2012 Bronze Passenger Pigeon Award from the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their local communities or state to promote the field of ornithology. He was a finalist in Swarovski’s Digiscoper of the Year photography contest several times. His other interests include insect macro-photography (especially tiger beetles, treehoppers, and robber flies), fossil collecting, amateur astronomy, botany, natural history, and marksmanship with long-range rifles. Once a gigging musician, collecting Fender Stratocasters is a recently revived interest—most prized being a 1957 Vintage Custom Shop 'Mary Kaye' White Blonde. A former IT Professional, he's spent the last 24 years employed in the sport optics industry.