Hi, I’m Mike – a birder and amateur photographer who loves capturing birds doing their thing in the wild. My photos aren’t perfect, but each one represents hours spent learning, failing, and occasionally getting lucky. I’ll admit I sometimes go overboard in Lightroom – photography is a constant learning process for me.
For fellow photography nerds, I include all the technical details with each shot – camera settings, location, and what I was trying (often failing) to accomplish. Maybe my trial-and-error can help others too. One caveat, all photos in albums and galleries taken are by me, however I sometimes use demonstration images and synthetic media for scientific and illustrative purposes on several pages. All photos not taken by me are licensed from Pixabay.
As a Harry Potter fan, I named this site after Fawkes the phoenix because birds amaze me with their resilience and spirit. These images are free to enjoy, but please respect the copyright – they’re my personal work, not stock photos. If you share them, credit is appreciated. Love the pics? Consider supporting bird conservation at Cornell Ornithology!
I write at least one article per day in my Birding Guide so check back often! If you need help identifying a bird you can also use my handy Bird ID App.
Happy birding,
-Mike
Bird Photography ⬇
Birding Articles
The water cycle keeps water moving around our planet, and condensation is a key part of how water returns from the air to the ground. As water vapor cools, it turns into tiny droplets, forming clouds that eventually bring rain or snow. Without condensation, the water cycle would stall and life would have a tough…
Continue Reading Water Cycle and Condensation Diagram: How Birds Interact with Earth’s Water System
Quick Facts FeatureDetailsScientific NameOtidiphaps insularisCommon NamesBlack-naped Pheasant-Pigeon, AuwoHabitatFergusson Island, D’Entrecasteaux Archipelago, Papua New GuineaFirst Described1882Rediscovered2022Conservation StatusCritically EndangeredKey FeaturesLarge, ground-dwelling, pheasant-like tail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o8jPd_kwrc Overview of the Black-naped Pheasant-Pigeon The Black-naped Pheasant-Pigeon, or Otidiphaps insularis, is a large, elusive ground-dwelling bird found only on Fergusson Island in Papua New Guinea. It’s about chicken-sized, with a broad, flattened…
Continue Reading Black-naped pheasant-pigeon rediscovery and conservation status
When the weather turns cold, you might catch yourself wondering where those hummingbirds from your summer garden disappear to. Most hummingbirds leave breeding grounds in the U.S. and Canada and head south to warmer spots like Mexico and Central America for winter. These little birds can fly hundreds or even thousands of miles during migration,…
Continue Reading Where Do Hummingbirds Go in the Winter? Migration Paths & Survival
Overview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqTwSO5BgnE You can spot a male scarlet tanager by its ridiculously vivid red body, set off by deep black wings and a black tail during the breeding season. Once that season ends, males trade in their red for a yellow-green look that’s pretty close to the female scarlet tanager, but they keep those black…
Continue Reading All About Scarlet Tanagers And Their Fascinating Habits
Cardinals stand out with their bold red color, but there’s more to them than just looks. When you see a red cardinal, it’s often seen as a powerful symbol of hope, messages from loved ones, and change in your life. Many people feel a special connection or even comfort when a cardinal shows up nearby.…
Continue Reading Red Cardinal Meaning: Symbolism and Spiritual Interpretations
Overview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9eODRw4kkU The Nuer people live as pastoralists in East Africa. They move seasonally between the Gambella region of western Ethiopia and the Sudd wetlands in South Sudan. Livestock, wetlands, and birds shape their lives in ways outsiders might not expect. In their language, they call many birds gaatkuoth – “sacred children of God” -…
