I am just getting comfortable in my new hometown, Vancouver, Washington and pretty much knew nothing about the place or the people, before recently moving here from San Francisco, California. I put my trust in finding community by going out and doing the things I love to do. Noticing on a map that just a few minutes away there's a place called Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, I decided to go there and take a walk. Immediately upon hitting the Gibbons Creek Wildlife Art Trail, I was bombarded with a cacophony of bird calls. It was May 2nd. The Spring ritual of finding mates and nest-building was in full swing.

So many birds to identify and so few of them familiar to me. I especially wanted to know what is that sound coming from the reeds, that guttural glunk glunk glunk? Along comes a couple of guys with binoculars, scopes and cameras with long lenses and I politely interrupt their quiet bird walk and ask what bird is making that sound. "That's the elusive Bittern. Often heard and rarely seen. Good luck with that. I hope you see one soon!" The birding men and I crossed paths twice more on the trail. I saw no Bitterns that day and later learned that each time I turned to walk away, they spotted one, but didn't want to make me feel badly by letting me know.

American Bittern // Photo Credit: Ken Pitts

On my second walk in the refuge (next day) I spotted a Bittern, flying low over the wetlands, just out of the corner of my eye and in an instant it was again hidden in the reeds, camouflaged perfectly. Elated by the sighting, I came back a third day in a row to the refuge, wanting to see and hear more, and on the fourth day, one of the guys with the scope and camera and binocs was leading a bird walk. Bingo. I was hoping to connect with him, in desperate need of direction, as far as learning how to identify the myriad of birds. As I came upon him and his bird walk participants, he gave out a hearty laugh and explained to the group that I was the woman he was telling them about, the one who as soon as she turned away, missed an elusive Bittern sighting, multiple times in one morning!

I got his name, Ken Pitts, and agreed to join his next walk in the refuge, at 7am on a Saturday. Meanwhile, per Ken's suggestion, I downloaded two apps, Sibley Birds and iNaturalist, which were both helpful right away. Then for Mother's Day my husband bought me a lightweight pair of binoculars, and boom! I am birding my way through the season, utterly delighted by my weekly increase of recognition, and the possibility of observing up to 70 species of birds at a time in the Steigerwald refuge.

Favorite birds so far...the plentiful Red-winged Blackbird with its cheerful, melodic song and Northern Harrier Hawks, which I have seen swoop down to catch rodents and then deftly deliver them mid-air to their mates. I also love watching ducklings explore the wetlands habitat, with mother trying to keep them all together and safe.

Mallard mother duck keeps a watchful eye while her ducklings nap in the sun with turtles   // Photo Credit:  Beth Marlin Lichter — Mallard mother duck keeps a watchful eye while her ducklings nap in the sun with turtles
// Photo Credit: Beth Marlin Lichter

As well as having deep knowledge of the natural landscape, Ken Pitts is also a wildlife photographer, who at Steigerwald National Wildlife Refuge, says he is over 95% sure of being able to identify the sounds of everything he hears. That's amazing and what's also amazing is his work:

Ken Pitts, Wildlife Photographer | View Portfolio

Steigerwald Lake - Clark County, WA

Who Is Ken Pitts?

Ken Pitts has a Masters of Science Education and three days a week teaches sustainability, including lessons on climate change and resource consumption. The other four days Ken Pitts practices his soul-defining occupation, that of wildlife photographer.

Raised on a dairy and wheat farm south of Booker, Texas, Ken says "I learned what every living thing was on our land, understood their behavior and where to find them. I was happiest as a kid wandering around, doing what it took to get close to animals on our farm." He even took other kids on hikes.

This is how he sums it up: "Walking in the presence of a myriad of other species four days a week, not disturbing them, hearing them, understanding the basics about them, being in rhythm with them, respecting their own stories and struggles, and fighting for them the other three days of the week feels good, right, and deeply satisfying. It also helps me to interact with other humans with a greater respect for their lives."

Ken is not a fan of sitting in one place, waiting for a photo to present itself. He likes to "go birding", listening and observing along the trail. What kind of shot is he hoping for? Close range shots are golden. "Eyes are pretty much everything. Shooting animals coming toward you versus away is a game changer. Those eyes have to be sharply in focus, or the picture is a throw away. And of course birds in flight make for spectacular photos."

How difficult is it, to get that iconic shot? It's a combination of knowing where and when to find wildlife activity, patience and a bit of luck. Then of course, you need not only skills but also the sensibility of a photographer. A great deal of elements must come together at the perfect moment to achieve a stellar wildlife photograph. Ken Pitts is on a perpetual quest for the next miraculous shot. "I average over 500 photos each day I go out. I am lucky to have 5 I want to show to the public. I get a truly outstanding photo not even monthly! Good ones, yes. Outstanding, not so much.