I started birding and taking pictures of birds right after I got out of college in the mid-80s. Living close to Brigantine NWR and Cape May, NJ meant I was fortunate enough to be around some great birders and some great birding.
In between starting a family, a very demanding career in Information Technology in the Casino Gaming industry and getting my MBA, I modernized and co-publish Atlantic Audubon’s newsletter for 5 years, I briefly got involved with CMBO and the Hawk and Owl banding program and spent as much time as possible chasing birds.
When Digital photography came along, it was time for a new challenge. I came up with a goal that will keep me busy for a while; to take pictures of at least 1,000 different bird species. Since there are less than 400 birds that I can get to around my house, this would also give me a reason to travel to birding hot spots around the world.
What started on January of 2002 at the ‘Brig’ in NJ, finished a little over 21 years later somewhere near Cali, Colombia. In between I posted updates to this site for many many years only to have my site crash in 2021 which resulted in loosing all of the site content. So, I am rebuilding the site from scratch – no better way to relive some of the fun I had over the years.
And there is more; I have been doing some painting in the past couple of years and want to get more into it. What better way to do that than setting a goal, right? So, here we go again… painting 1,000 species of birds should give me something to do for years to come. And in between, maybe I will get to see another 1,000 birds or see 1,000 birds in one continent or see 1,000 in a year at some point. Possibilities are endless!
Publications
My photos have been published in a number of books, magazines and other publications. Here is a sample list:
Books
Audubon North American Birdfeeder Guide. DK Publishing. Authors: Robert Burton and Stephen W. Kress. Publication Date: March 2005. ISBN: 0-7566-0850-3
National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Birds of North America (National Wildlife Federation Field Guide). Publisher: Sterling. Author: Edward S. Brinkley. Date published: 2007. ISBN-13: 978-1-4027-3874-6
The Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America (Stokes Field Guides). Publisher: Little Brown. Author: Donald and Lillian Stokes. Date published: Oct. 2010.
The Songs of Wild Birds by Lang Elliott. Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Trade & Reference Publishers. Pub. Date: October 2006. ISBN-13: 9780618663989
Parks and protected areas in Canada : planning and management / edited by Philip Dearden and Rick Rollins. — 3rd ed. — Don Mills, Ont. : Oxford University Press, 2008. ISBN 978-0-19-542734-9
Biological Globalization. Bio-invasions and their Impacts on Nature, the Economy, and Public Health. KNNV Publishing, Utrecht, the Netherlands, 2007.Authors: W. van der Weijden, R. Leewis, P. Bol. ISBN 978-90-5011-243-7
Magazines
Birds & Bloom – July 2010 – Journey to 1,000 birds
National Geographic Traveler – May 2010 – The Western Balkans – Big, Rare Birds in Quiet Places
ΦΩΤΟΓΡΑΦΟΣ – ΙΟΥΛΙΟΣ 2005 – PORTFOLIO ΝΙΚΟΣ ΚΟΝΤΟΝΙΚΟΛΑΣ
Nature Conservancy – Summer 2007 – Plover Patrol. Army Corps Restores Endangered Bird Habitat
Florida Monthly – November 2006 – Species Spotlight: Smooth-billed Ani
Cottage Life – May 2007 – Welcome to Hooterville. Make room for owls at your cottage – all it takes is one board, a few tools, and some imagination
Casino Conection – May 2007 – Back to Nature. Exploring South Jersey’s Wildlife
Wildlife Activist – Winter 2009, Spring 2006, Spring 2005 – Front Cover Image ISSN 0894-660
Newspapers
Park Rapids Enterprise – 2/17/07 – Outdoors
Carlton News – October 2006 – Wildlife Notes
Other Publications
Edwin B. Forsythe – Refuge Brochure
Edwin B. Forsythe – Junior Refuge Manager Activity Guide
Ecojustice Canada – 2007 Holiday Card