Open Season

This avid birder "hunts" year-round with his camera.

Story and photos by Richard Cronberg, Central Point, Oregon

I love to hunt birds, and I have the perfect tool to do it. Every day, I'm outdoors searching for feathered friends with my camera. I love the constant challenge of getting the perfect shot, and unlike other hunting seasons, mine is open year-round. Here I am with my camera.

I've been interested in photography since I was 10 years old. I still remember purchasing my first Brownie camera with money I had earned from mowing lawns. Our family was living in Nevada at the time, and I took pictures of everything I could.

These days, I work as a real estate broker in southern Oregon. I'm well over 60, but that doesn't stop me from going outside and photographing nature every chance I get.

Over the years, I've been able to give back to the community through my photos. I've donated photos to several local nonprofit groups, including the Audubon Society, schools and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their Web site and brochure.

For many years, I even conducted slide shows showcasing the birds of southern Oregon for local nonprofits, nursing homes and hospitals. I enjoy this because it allows me to share a little bit of nature with others.

My wife and I have spent many hours hiking back trails, sitting in photo blinds and bumping along backroads. We've traveled all over, searching for different photo opportunities, and exploring new and exciting locations. I simply love the chance to be out in nature.

I'll never get tired of taking nature photos. The spectacular scenery of this great country never ceases to amaze me. From the redwoods of the Pacific Northwest to the deserts of Arizona and the expanse of the Everglades, I have all the inspiration I need.

The wail of the loon, the call of a bald eagle, the howl of a coyote, and the peaceful song of an American robin at dusk in spring make me really appreciate what God has given us.

With my photography, I like to practice the motto of the Boy Scouts of America—be prepared. Great photos of wild birds present themselves at a moment's notice, so I'm always ready. I can't wait to discover what hunting season brings me in the year ahead.

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