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Nikon and The Brevard Nature Alliance present Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival November 16 - 20, 2005 in Brevard County, Florida A celebration of birds and wildlife. |
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Nikon and The Brevard Nature Alliance present Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival November 16 - 20, 2005 in Brevard County, Florida A celebration of birds and wildlife. |
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Here is Jeff's description of Austin's big event:
Austin is excited about going out birding with Dad, but now that he has friends on the street, it is (of course) harder to tear him away. He and I guided Nigel Marven (British Animal Planet personality, who has his own show [ala Corwin/Irwin], hosts Shark Week, and does the walking with Dinosaurs bit) out to Babcock Webb last week to see Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Bachman's Sparrow, Brown-headed Nuthatch, etc. Austin thought that was REALLY cool! Not only was Nigel some famous guy, but better yet he knew everything about dinosaurs. He got an earful from my little naturalist.... "Did you know dragonflies were around before the dinosaurs?"...He submitted his first photo for publication and we are awaiting the verdict.Austin shot this photo of the Screech Owl in our backyard. I had the scope on it showing some of the neighbor kids when Austin ran inside, got my digiscoping camera, and announced that he wanted to take a picture. I'd never instructed him on its use and started coaching him to which he replied, "No Dad, I got it!" His older friends were over so I stepped back and let him do his thing. He attached the camera, attached the cable release, turned the camera on, zoomed in, re-focused the scope and shot the pic below!
I was a proud Papa.
Austin Bouton tackles digiscoping for the very first time.
Austin's first digiscoped photo of an Eastern Screech Owl.
Jeff Bouton
Make sure you look for "Birding Adventures With Austin," a new feature column starting in the January issue of Wildbird magazine. The column is written by Austin's dad, Jeff Bouton, who is the Leica Sports Optics Product Specialist for Birding/Naturalist Markets, and a veteran Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival field trip leader and presenter. Jeff is perhaps best known for his popular Raptors Workshops and the knowledge and enthusiasm he imparts when leading field trips.
Wildbird's 13th Annual Birds of Prey Issue (July/August 2005) featured two of Jeff's articles. Rarer Raptors covered distinctive species with limited distribution (Snail kite, Swallow-tailed Kite, Crested Cara Cara, and Short-tailed hawk). I.D.Tips not in the Field Guides gave pointers by a self-described "Raptor Bum," some of the same tips Jeff loves to share in his festival workshops.
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