Birding, Fishing, or Photographing?

Last summer and fall Tommy would ask with a little bit of regularity which was my favorite activity between fly fishing, birding, and photography. I would explain to him in fairly simple terms: that photography was my favorite, followed closely by fly fishing, and then birding, but birding was something I could do while photographing, or fly fishing.

My longer answer is that three pursuits are perfectly compatible and complimentary: birding is something I can do while doing the other two, and as I’ve gotten more into birding, my time photographing and/or fly fishing has only been enriched. No longer is the birdsong I hear in the land or on the river only a pleasant sound, but in addition to that, those chirps, songs, and calls add another element with which I grow closer to and gain a deeper understanding of the earth and nature, and my place within it.

 Fly Fishing on the Little Bear River
Fly Fishing on the Little Bear River
 Western Meadowlark
Western Meadowlark
 Photographing Salt Creek
Photographing Salt Creek
← Departures MARCH 2025