Submitted by the Lopez Island Library
The Lopez Island Library proudly presents “Owl: a Year in the Lives of North American owls,” an evening program with international award-winning wildlife photographer Paul Bannick at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 23, at the Lopez Center.
Bannick’s writing and photographic work specializes in the natural history of North America with a focus on birds and habitat. Coupling his love of the outdoors with his skill as a photographer, he creates images that foster a connection between viewer and subject, inspiring education and conservation.
Bannick’s presentation will feature video, sound, stories from the field and several dozen remarkable photographs from his new book.
Bannick uses intimate yet dramatic images to follow owls in their distinct habitats through the course of one year. Each stage in an owl’s life is chronicled through rare documentation: courtship, mating and nesting in spring; fledging and feeding of young in summer; dispersal and gaining independence in fall; and, finally, winter’s migrations and competitions for food. His presentation will show how owls use the unique resources available to them in each habitat to face those challenges.
After graduating from the University of Washington, Bannick worked successfully for 15 years in the computer software industry beginning as one of the original 75 employees of the Aldus Corporation. He later served as a director for Adobe Systems, and also worked as a senior manager at Microsoft. Wishing to combine his passion for wilderness conservation with his career, Bannick turned his attention to nonprofit work and currently serves as the director of major gifts for Conservation Northwest, an organization dedicated to protecting and connecting wild areas and recovering native species from the Pacific Coast to the Canadian Rockies.
Bannick’s photography has won awards from several prestigious photography contests, including those hosted by Audubon Magazine and the International Conservation Photography Awards. His work can be found prominently in bird guides from Audubon, Peterson, The Smithsonian, Stokes, The National Wildlife Federation and in several volumes of the “Handbook of the Birds of the World.” His photography has been and continues to be a part of several North American traveling exhibits. A special exhibit at the Chi Mei Museum in Tainan, Taiwan, recently featured Paul’s work titled “Owls of North America: Spirit of the Lands.” He also received a Gold Medal in the 2017 Independent Publisher Book Awards in the “Animals/Pets” category.
“Owl” is a stunning follow-up to Bannick’s first book, “The Owl and the Woodpecker,” giving bird lovers yet another gorgeous photographic tribute, engaging natural history, and a compelling call to preserve the habitats that sustain these iconic birds. Nearly 10 years of working in some of the most remote parts of the continent, at the darkest hours of the day, tracking owls as they move through their lives, has rewarded Paul with striking images and engaging stories. The evening will be introduced by the Friends of the Lopez Library as part of its annual meeting. Bannick will be selling and signing books after his presentation.
All library programs are free and open to the public.
