The Belted Kingfisher
Ever since I really was aware of birds, the Belted Kingfisher was among my favorite species. I’ve always lived and recreated around water, which means I’ve always lived and recreated among lovely blue-gray Kingfishers. Once you hear them, you’ll never not be aware that you…
Short-Eared Owls
Almost 10 years ago, Short-Eared Owls were the first birds I intentionally set out to photograph. It was a windy, rainy day, and I never saw one of the storied winter owls of the Pacific Northwest. So I kept searching. Eventually, I found them, but…
The Great Blue Heron
I see Great Blue Herons just about anywhere and any time I go to photograph nature. They are sometimes so abundant, they’re easy to overlook. But I don’t. I find them fascinating. And I’m not alone: In Seattle, where I live, they are the city’s…
An American Journey
For as long as I can remember, I have struggled with fitting my identity into the complex puzzle of race and ethnicity in this country. My mother is from Japan, and I was also born there, though my family moved to the U.S. when I…
2021 Nature Calls
Wow, I’m not telling you anything new: 2020 has been … different. I managed to get out just enough to do another calendar. But I have to change the way I do things this year. * Because of social distancing, I will do all distribution…
Toppling Muir Not Enough
The last time I visited Yosemite National Park, I stood atop Glacier Point and gaped at the views of Half Dome, Yosemite Falls and the other geological baubles of Yosemite Valley. Lost in the almost hallucinatory beauty, I imagined myself in conversation with John Muir…