By Dave Cowell

Birding, let alone bird photography, in South Kore Korea is not a popular past time, which is unfortunate. At about the half way point on the East Asian–Australasian Flyway it’s a wintering ground for several endangered and vulnerable cranes, a stopover for migrants and a permanent home for many of our feathered friends. During this presentation I’ll share a few of the birds I’ve photographed on the peninsula, including White-naped and Red-crowned Cranes and the conditions that have provided them their winter home. In conclusion, I’ll also discuss a little bit about what has become a somewhat controversial and contentious topic in recent years, bird photography ethics.

As a child, I spent much of my time exploring the woods and stream that ran behind our Upstate New York home. The time spent in those woods and on that little stream instilled in me a lifelong appreciation for wild spaces, especially riparian areas. 

Photography adds to that appreciation and has helped give me some insight into birds lives. It has nourished my soul and provided an outlet to help balance a sometimes confusing and chaotic daily life.  The challenge of trying to create compelling images of wildlife living their daily life is my goal. Connecting and sharing these images and stories with others is a bonus.  I’m especially grateful for the opportunity to share with like minded people who love, respect and depend upon these birds and natural places to enrich our lives.