Photo by Paul Bannick.
Snowy Owls lay eggs over many days, usually with a day or more between each, resulting in youngsters of various ages.
Award-winning author and wildlife photographer Paul Bannick will present a program featuring video, sound, stories from the field, and dozens of new images from his new book: Owl: A Year in the Lives of North American Owls at special presentations at J.N. “Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island. Two free programs on Friday, Feb. 15, take place at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., part of the 2019 “Ding” Darling Friday Lecture series.
Coupling his love of the outdoors with his skill as a photographer, Bannick creates images that foster the intimacy between viewer and subject, inspiring education and conservation. Owl: A Year received a Gold Medal in the 2017 Independent Publisher Book Awards “Animals/Pets” category. Bannick also authored The Owl and The Woodpecker, Encounters with North America’s Most Iconic Birds.
His work has been featured prominently in bird guides from Audubon, Peterson, The Smithsonian, Stokes, The National Wildlife Federation, and Birds of the World; and has appeared in a variety of publications from The New York Times and Birds and Blooms to American Way and the Seattle Times. Bannick has appeared on NBC Nightly News, Evening Magazine, and dozens of NPR stations and programs, including Travels with Rick Steves and BirdNote.
The author-photographer will sign copies of his books, available in the Refuge Nature Store, following the two lectures. Profits from Nature Store sales directly benefit refuge wildlife, education, and research.
Lectures take place in the admission-free “Ding” Darling Visitor & Education Center. Seating for the lectures is limited and available on a first-come basis. Early arrivals can save their seat and one extra with personal items and then can explore the Visitor & Education Center or Indigo Trail before the lecture starts. Saved seats must be filled 15 minutes before lecture time or they will be assigned to the next people waiting in line.
As usual, Wildlife Drive closes on Friday, but visitors are welcome to enjoy the Visitor & Education Center, Indigo Trail, Bailey Tract, and recreational opportunities at Tarpon Bay Explorers, the refuge’s official recreation concession located at its Tarpon Bay Recreation Area.
For more information, call 239-472-1100 ext. 241 or log on to dingdarlingsociety.org/articles/lecture-and-film-series.
