May 2008: Doug Wechsler
We are a visual species. The entrance to our hearts and minds is through our eyes. Through my photography, writing, and presentations, I work to share the beauty and value I see in nature. Photography is one of my tools for teaching about nature and ecology and inspiring an interest in protecting our environment.
About Doug
In addition to being a photographer, Doug Wechsler is a naturalist, ornithologist, and author. He is Director of VIREO (Visual Resources for Ornithology), a part of The Academy of Natural Sciences and the world’s most comprehensive collection of bird photographs. VIREO now has 60,000 bird photographs online, including the work of several “Photographers of the Month” and other world-renowned bird photographers. Doug’s work takes him to tropical forests in Borneo, Ecuador, Cameroon and elsewhere around the world.
Doug has written 22 books for children, entirely or partly illustrated with his photographs. His most recent book, Frog Heaven: The Ecology of a Vernal Pool, was a finalist for the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru/SBF award and received the Green Earth Book Honor. His other books include Bizarre Bugs, Bizarre Birds, and The Really Wild Life series of books on birds of prey, snakes and frogs.
For his next book, Marvels in the Muck: Life in the Salt Marshes, Doug paddled into numerous tidal marshes with his wife, Debbie, and his camera, photographing diamondback terrapins, clapper rails, and hoards of fiddler crabs. The book will be published in November 2008. He is also developing the web site www.SaltMarshLife.com.
Doug’s photography can be seen in Audubon, National Wildlife, Natural History, in numerous other publications ranging from National Geographic to The National Enquirer, and in hundreds of books, exhibits, web sites, and calendars around the world. More of Doug’s work can be seen here. He also frequently gives presentations on a variety of natural history subjects to schools, birding clubs, and other venues.
