Meet our Contributors!

Over the years, we’ve been impressed by the passion and talent behind backyard bird photographers across the USA and Canada. That's why we’ve brought together a terrific group of birders from beginners to aficionados to showcase their photos and videos along with our products. Meet the group, visit their pages and follow along on their journeys as they continue to share the rewarding experience of backyard birding. You may see their photos and videos featured on our website and social media pages!

Dawn Evans | @dawn_leee

I retired in 2021 after working for the federal government for 40 years and therefore I now have more time to spend doing the things I love! From a little girl, my parents (my dad especially) loved to feed the wild birds in the backyard. I have always fed the birds and have birdhouses but now that I am retired, I have more time to spend enjoying watching all the different birds that come and photographing them!

Your most proud birding moment in the last year was ____? Having at least 15-18 hummingbirds at a feeder at one time! Every year I feed the hummingbirds and always have your token “bully” but each year as I have increased my feeders, I have many many Anna’s and they have learned to share! This winter I’m sure there are 30 to 40 Anna hummingbirds in the yard. It was very exciting to see more than 3 at a feeder at a time!
What bird are you most looking forward to seeing in 2023? I love the little wrens (Bewick’s Wrens). I had a couple nest on my front porch two years ago and they were so fun to watch! I was fortunate enough to be at home when the babies flew out of their nest for the first time (catching it on video)! I also love when the swallows return. Love seeing them flying all around the backyard. They nest here every year.
If you could be a hummingbird or a cardinal, which would you be and why? I would be a hummingbird. They are my favourite birds and I have become quite fond of them and take good care of them especially over the winter (as you have to commit to winter feeding here in BC).
Do you have a favorite bird song or call? Which is it and why? I love the wren’s song. It is very pretty sounding.
What are your hobbies outside of birding? My hobbies include photography (just learning a new camera), gardening, fun projects around the house, and going for long walks to the beach with my dog. I also enjoy boating. We go up to Desolation Sound every year with our friends on our commercial fishing vessel. It’s so beautiful on the west coast. And finally, camping. We have travelled over five provinces for a month last year in our trailer - such an experience getting to see the countryside

Barbara Suggs | @photography_by_barbara_suggs

I got into backyard birding about 10 years ago after watching bluebirds in nesting boxes at my mother's house. Prior to backyard birding, I knew very little about photography. After seeing the variety of birds and not being very successful with capturing good photos (and with some encouragement from a dear friend), I started learning more about photography. I attended a beginner’s class at our local art guild, purchased better equipment and started reading and watching a lot of YouTube videos on photography. I love all wildlife, but birds are by far my favorite. Birdwatching is so relaxing and peaceful for me.

Your most proud birding moment in the last year was ____? Seeing my grandchildren take an interest in the birds and teaching them about the different species. It's something very special to share with them. I gave them a window feeder for Christmas and my grandson tells his mom what most species are. She asked how he knew the species and he said, "Nana told me." He was even able to tell her what was best to feed some species. In 2023, I am most looking forward to expanding the love of birds and nature with my grandchildren, as well as improving my photography skills.
What bird are you most looking forward to seeing in 2023? I saw my first Northern Flicker last year and was unable to get a good photo. This year, I am hoping to see him again and get a great shot.
If you could be a hummingbird or a cardinal, which would you be and why? I would definitely be a cardinal because they are vibrant and beautiful. They visit backyard feeders often and hang around a long time. They bring so much pleasure to birders.
Do you have a favorite bird song or call? Which is it and why? My favorite bird call is the Eastern Phoebe. It sounds like it is singing "phoe-be, phoe-be."
What are your hobbies outside of birding? Outside of birding, I enjoy spending time with family, fishing and traveling.

Laura Ceville | @birdhouse_love

I am an Air Force veteran and was stationed at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton. I fell in love with this wonderful state and stayed after I separated from the military. I am currently the Vice President of The Brubaker Company, a mortgage and retirement protection company based out of Eaton, Ohio. During the pandemic, my husband and I started birding. We were absolutely amazed at the number of birds that were living in our very own backyard. Birding encouraged us to spend more time outside experiencing nature and getting to know our surroundings and feathered neighbors. Birding was, and continues to be, a way to be more present and mindful of the world around us.

Your most proud birding moment in the last year was ____? I captured my very first eagle shot while at East Potomac Park in Washington, D.C.!
What bird are you most looking forward to seeing in 2023? Seeing rose-breasted grosbeaks return to our feeders this year.
If you could be a hummingbird or a cardinal, which would you be and why? I would be a cardinal. Cardinals are classic and beautiful birds. Their vibrant red is always a welcome sight and their bird songs are crisp, clear, and uplifting.
Do you have a favorite bird song or call? Which is it and why? My favorite bird call is the "cha cha cha" of a red-bellied woodpecker. They are my favorite woodpecker and when I hear their call I eagerly await seeing their red crowns/napes and finely barred back and wings in black and white.
What are your hobbies outside of birding? I am a mixed media and digital print artist, a children's author, an avid runner, and a sport stacker training for a world record (I currently hold a US record and several Ohio records!). I have also been taking piano lessons for almost 4 years now.

Kristen Teutonico | @wildbirbs

My name is Kristen and I'm a graphic designer and photographer from New Jersey. I got into backyard birding after setting up a single feeder in my yard years ago and saw a small group of House Finches enjoying it by the next day. I wasn't expecting to get any birds at all, but I was so surprised how easily they found it and knew I had to expand my feeder options and menu! 😅

Your most proud birding moment in the last year was ____? I was able to hand-feed a pair of Red Breasted Nuthatches! I wasn't even trying to hand feed them initially, but they flew close while I was about to fill my feeders one day and I held out my hand with some seed just to see what would happen -- and they landed on my hand one at a time and grabbed a seed! Now I go out every morning with a little handful and wait for them to show up. They are so curious and brave -- they don't even flinch!
What bird are you most looking forward to seeing in 2023? I'm excited to see if the pair of House Wrens that nested with us last summer will return this year! They were so much fun to watch as they built their nest and raised babies, I am really hoping they return to nest in our birdhouse again. I'm also looking forward to the Baltimore Orioles that visit every winter. 😊
If you could be a hummingbird or a cardinal, which would you be and why? Definitely a cardinal! They bring so much joy to my family with their bright color and beautiful morning songs.
Do you have a favorite bird song or call? Which is it and why? I think the black-capped chickadee has one of the most enjoyable calls in our yard -- we love to repeat it back whenever we hear the classic "chicka-dee-dee-dee"!
What are your hobbies outside of birding? I love photographing birds and wildlife, as well as hiking and biking.

Seth Vogel | @vogel.photography

I got into photography at an early age, shooting with an old Pentax K1000. I got into birding during the pandemic and started to spend time in my yard turning it into a little sanctuary. I decided to try my hand at birding, as I had a lot of bird activity with all the feeders in my yard, and I already owned a 300mm telephoto lens. Since then, I've gotten a bigger telephoto lens just for birding and gotten extenders to give me extra reach and am now at a whopping 840mm focal length!

Your most proud birding moment in the last year was ____? Sharing my love for birding with my kids. A fond moment in particular was refilling hummingbird feeders with my youngest daughter and watching her hold a feeder out as a hummingbird came and drank from it. Her face expressed what words couldn’t.
What bird are you most looking forward to seeing in 2023? I've had my eyes out for an Allen’s Hummingbird. They migrate through this area but are very rare. We are very accustomed to having Costa’s and Anna’s Hummingbirds year-round, so a little change of color and song would be nice.
If you could be a hummingbird or a cardinal, which would you be and why? As a hummingbird lover, I would have to choose hummingbirds. I’ve read so many interesting facts about hummingbirds from their flight capabilities to their feather growth, even the length of their tongues and how when retracted it wraps around their brain like a protective helmet! But most of all they are such vibrant and friendly birds.
Do you have a favorite bird song or call? Which is it and why? I like the bird song of a Costa’s Hummingbird. It is so faint that many people can’t hear it. It’s a simple song of a single tone that crescendos and then decrescendos, but it’s lovely to hear when you have an ear out for it.
What are your hobbies outside of birding? I love to hike. I live in the Southern California desert. Many think the desert is a harsh climate void of life but it’s such a joy to see the living creatures surviving in a landscape that seems uninhabitable. Despite the hot summers that we have, the weather is actually very nice. And because we live where most people won’t, our night skies in the desert are amazing.

Andrea Thames | @hummie_diaries

Your most proud birding moment in the last year was ____? Seeing an adult male Anna's hummingbird for the first time. It was magical!
What bird are you most looking forward to seeing in 2023? (Fingers crossed) a male Calliope hummingbird. They are in my range but are very difficult to find.
If you could be a hummingbird or a cardinal, which would you be and why? I would choose a hummingbird because the are so fast, beautifully iridescent in color, and their flight abilities cannot be matched.
Do you have a favorite bird song or call? Which is it and why? A Rufous hummingbird's chatter.
What are your hobbies outside of birding? Gardening, drawing, and painting.

Are you interested in becoming a Nature's Way contributor? Send us an email at info@natureswaybirds.com with examples of your photography and links to any websites or social media pages where you share your birding photography, and we may consider you for a future program!