Adult Male Short-eared Owl on a postAdult Male Short-eared Owl on a post in Box Elder County, Utah

Today I am celebrating having published 2000 posts on birds, wildlife and nature at On The Wing Photography and sharing the stories behind the images along with the journeys I take to find my subjects. I started posting on this blog in January of 2010 but didn’t really become serious about it until later that year. It was 2012 when I started to publish posts daily.

Great Blue Heron with the Earth's ShadowGreat Blue Heron with the Earth’s Shadow at Fort De Soto County Park, Florida

I have shared the birds I photographed while I lived on the west coast of Florida from the tiny shorebirds to the larger wading birds. I have written about sand crawling and sitting in salt water lagoons while I captured images of the beautiful birds I saw and loved there.

Swainson's Hawk in flight over Beaverhead County, MontanaSwainson’s Hawk in flight over Beaverhead County, Montana

I’ve also shared the birds I have photographed in the wilderness of Idaho and Montana during the warmer months of the year. I have written about the towering mountains, the marshes, the sunrises and sunsets and hearing the calls of coyotes and Sandhill Cranes as day begins to break.

4 year old Bald Eagle close up4 year old Bald Eagle close up at Farmington Bay WMA, Utah

And I have written about how much patience is needed to be a bird photographer and how I sometimes sit in below freezing temperatures for hours to get the “shot”.

Coyote on the shore of the Great Salt LakeCoyote on the shore of the Great Salt Lake, Utah

I’ve also shared images of the furry creatures I feel deeply connected to including the coyotes I love, the bison, badgers, ground squirrels, weasels and so many more. I’ve photographed them from the heat of the summer through the bitter cold of winter.

Female Golden-silk Spider against a blue skyFemale Golden-silk Spider against a blue sky, Fort De Soto County Park, Florida

I’ve probably freaked out a few people with the spiders, insects and reptiles I find while I am out photographing too but they fascinate and delight me so they belong here on my site as much as the birds do because everything in nature is connected. Everything.

Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in springRed Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in spring, Montana

I have shared images of the wild and wonderful places I see and travel to and written about the need to protect these areas today for the future, for our children, for their children and for the rest of the world to enjoy. I shared how these locations touch me and how their beauty soothes and heals me and brings tears of joy to my eyes.

I’ve written over and over that “life is good” when I close my posts because I truly believe it is and nature and my photography is a huge part of that for me. Along the way I have met some of the most interesting and wonderful people all because of my photography and connection to nature.

My life is good, fulfilling and fascinating. I’m doing what I love. I hope I make it to 3000 posts!

Mia