George Catlin was born in Wyoming where the horrible Indian Massacre war had taken place. His father a lawyer, tried desperately to encourage him to take this same profession for himself. But after three years of practicing law, he sold his entire law library, took his rifle and fishing-tackle and traded in for brushes and paint-pots. He began the art of painting without the instructions of a teacher or adviser.

During his time of painting a delegation of some 10-15 noble and, dignified Indians arrived in the city wrapped in their robes and quills of the war-eagle, turning heads as they walked through the streets. It was this event in George’s life that influenced him greatly on the customs and costumes of the American Indians.

“Black and blue cloth and civilization are destined, not only to veil but to obliterate the grace and beauty of Nature. Man, in the simplicity and loftiness of his nature, unrestrained and unfettered by the disguises of art, is surely the most beautiful model for the painter, – and the country which he hails is unquestionably the best study or school of the arts in the work: such, I am sure, from the models I have seen, is the wilderness of North America. “

His mission was to preserve a pictorial illustration of the things he witnessed. He spent his life determined to reach every tribe of Indians in North America, to view their villages and costumes, to draw and preserve for future generations.

So is it, that I too have spent most of my life photographing the customs and lives of the many tribes of birdlife.

Sunday Mornings were always the best time for me. I would have my camera gear packed in the car the night before and leave before the sun was up come morning, Sunday’s were quiet and less traffic to deal with. I would run into the occasional photographer, we would share a few stories and be on our way.

My reasoning was to provide documented proof of their existence and the many encounters I had witnessed to what appeared to be a declining species.

I often wondered was I wasting my time being away from family so much on my long photographic adventures chasing another bird. Spending many hours and days inside the woodlands or a swamp in Florida watching from a distance as Nature went about her chores not paying attention to the failing ecosystem around them. 

I wondered to myself many times if I was the only one seeing the declines of our fine feathered friends due to their habitats being disrupted, chemicals being dumped in the waterways and not to mention the lack of education of just how valuable these species are to our own survival.

I am much older now and my days of trodding through the wetlands have come to a halt. But I was surprised to discover this past week in a National Geographic Magazine article that someone was actually keeping score.  A devastating report on all accounts, but I am glad to know someone is watching.

Three billion birds have been lost in North America since 1970

The article was published on Septemeber 19, 2019 

~ DK