Aside from being an avid birder (view a gallery of bird images from around the United States) I have been involved in a variety of bird field including:

• night-lighting for northern gannets, surf scoters and red-throated loons,
• Open-water mist netting for scoters.
• Mist-netting passerines
• mist-netting saw-whet owls

A great part of being a photographer is capturing the process -the science- of bird field work. My work has extended into the open open and onto land. Many The collective effort of our team has lead to insightful information regarding the offshore movements of gannets, loons, and scoters and movement of eagles over wind farms, loons in the Gulf of Mexico, and at the banding station at River Point, Maine.

Loon surveys and work in Maine are key to understanding the threats this iconic species may face in the future.

This surf scoter has been equipped with a satellite transmitter to monitor its movements on the eastern sea-board.

The Loon crew! Photo Credit to Jonathan Fiely

Female Bufflehead

Black scoter during night capture work off of the coast of Delaware – Jonathan Fiely credit

Black Scoter

One of the ways to capture sea ducks is to decoy them into a mist-net. Here, the works on a net during morning capture

Scoter trapping keeps you on the water a lot waiting for things to happen. During a misty morning I captured this shot.

This surf scoter has been outfitted with a transmitter to better understand its movements up and down the Atlantic coast.

This surf scoter has been outfitted with a transmitter to better understand its movements up and down the Atlantic coast.

This surf scoter has been outfitted with a transmitter to better understand its movements up and down the Atlantic coast.

This surf red-throated loon has been outfitted with a transmitter to better understand its movements up and down the Atlantic coast.

This northern gannet has been outfitted with a transmitter to better understand its movements up and down the Atlantic coast.

One of the incredible things about a northern gannet their huge, blue-ringed eye. Really incredible!

Working at a banding station allows you to see a lot of birds up close. This tree swallow was captured at River Point Conservation Area, Maine

Working at a banding station allows you to see a lot of birds up close. This black-throated blue warbler was captured at River Point Conservation Area, Maine

Taking some standard measurements on a eaglet chick including the halix length

A wet day to be a biologist and eaglet chick! This bird has been outfitted with a GSM transmitter to better understand its movements

Working at a banding station allows you to see a lot of birds up close. This tree swallow was captured at River Point Conservation Area, Maine

This GSM transmitter is charged by solar power and transmits via cellular networks.

This eaglet chick is just about ready to head back home to its nest. Successful deployment of the GSM transmitter.

Female Baltimore Oriole, Riverpoint Conservation Area, West Falmouth, Maine

Black-billed Cuckoo Riverpoint Conservation Area, West Falmouth, Maine

Cedar Wax-wing, Riverpoint Conservation Area, West Falmouth, Maine

Mourning Warbler, Riverpoint Conservation Area, West Falmouth, Maine

Part of science is reaching out to kids and giving them the chance to do things they never would. Here, a girl gets to release a Gray Catbird at Riverpoint Conservation Area, West Falmouth, Maine

Heres a shot inside the banding station at Riverpoint Conservation Area, Maine

Kids learn about birds, birding and get great looks at birds at Riverpoint Conservation Area, West Falmouth, Maine

Northern saw-whet owls are TINY! These owls were captured in Maine to undestand their movements up and down the coast and, through banding, to track their island movements

Northern saw-whet owls are TINY! These owls were captured in Maine to undestand their movements up and down the coast and, through banding, to track their island movements

By carefully pulling the feathers back you can see the inside structure of an owls ear. No wonder they hear so well!

This re-captured saw-whet owl has some information to tell us once we find out where it was banded.

To age saw-whet owls a blacklight is shone onto its wing. The glow pattern will change based on the age class. Very cool!