Female Young Birder “Girls Who Click” photo workshop with National Geographic Explorer and Conservation Filmmaker Gunjan Menon
Female Young Birders in the Girls Who Click photo workshop with Gunjan Menon
On Sunday Aug 11-2024, Young Birder Program leader Melissa Hafting took part in and co-led a National Geographic and Girls Who Click photo workshop for Female identifying Young Birder/Wildlife photographers aged 13-18. Melissa co-led with National Geographic Explorer photographer Gunjan Menon. Gunjan made a famous film on Red Pandas called “The Firefox Guardian” and she discussed her ethical approach to conservation and wildlife photography. She taught the girls how to use their cameras most effectively, which was very helpful. The conservation photography field is mostly male dominated and that is why Gunjan created this workshop for females. The girls focused on one species of bird and told a story on each species by taking photos in different settings while following and respecting the bird's behavior.
Young Birders listening to Gunjan talk about photography at Stanley Park - Photo: Melissa Hafting
Young Birders checking their camera settings and photographing objects for practice during the workshop - Photo: Melissa Hafting
Gunjan Menon and the youth during the photo workshop - Photo: Melissa Hafting
At the end of the workshop each girl presented their story to the other girls attending, using only 7 of the photos they took during the day. For instance Naomi told the story of a Green Heron who was eating a dragonfly. With this technique, taught to us by Gunjan, we learned how to tell a conservation story and evoke a certain message with our photos. Gunjan is a wildlife conservation photographer and filmmaker who recently moved here (2 years ago) from India. Gunjan makes films that impact people and their emotions. She strives to help humans see why we must protect a certain endangered species and their habitat; so who better to learn from than her! Her films air on Disney, BBC Earth, Nat Geo and more! You can read her National Geographic Explorer bio HERE
Young Birders with Gunjan during the workshop
Gunjan Menon (National Geographic Explorer) teaching the youth how to take photos while making them laugh! - Photo: Melissa Hafting
Female young birders looking for birds and viewing a Bonaparte’s Gull on the lake - Photo: Melissa Hafting
We learned how to ethically photograph birds and wildlife and Melissa led the young female birders around Lost Lagoon. showing them the various birds during the bird walk. We saw a rare Northern Waterthrush at the stone bridge, which was a lifer for all the girls attending. The girls loved to see the bird bobbing its tail, as it foraged for food, and Melissa explained how they prefer the muddy areas with still water, when they forage for insects along the muddy banks.
Northern Waterthrush at Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park in Vancouver - Photo: Naomi Fota
Northern Waterthrush at Lost Lagoon - Photo: Naomi Fota
We also watched a Black-throated Gray Warbler that Anica pointed out to us that was bathing in Ceperley Creek. Anica and Sunny also spotted a Black Merlin. We saw Wood Ducks, Gadwalls and Mallards with ducklings. We also saw a lone Bonaparte’s Gull on the lagoon. We also watched a Western Flycatcher (the girls reminded me that it is no longer called a Pacific-Slope!) and Willow Flycatcher sparring and had both Pileated Woodpeckers and Northern Flickers. The youth loved to see the large flock of cute Bushtits and Chesnut-backed and Black-capped Chickadees do their cute calls. We listened to raspy Warbling Vireos and watched White-crowned Sparrows and American Crows feed their young.
Male Black-throated Gray Warbler at Lost Lagoon in Vancouver - Photo: Anica Gorlick
We also saw an immature Green Heron in Ceperley Creek which was a lifer for many in the group. We got to watch the heron catch and eat a frog as well! Melissa explained to the girls how these birds like to bait fish/prey like humans do for fish! They put out small twigs, feathers or insects to attract the fish and when the fish come up for the bait they grab and eat them!
Our goal today was not to see as many species as possible but to focus on photography and tell a story through our images. We still did well on the species count with 43 species of birds seen!
Immature Green Heron eating a frog at Stanley Park - Photo: Sunny Park
Immature Green Heron at Lost Lagoon - Photo: Naomi Fota
Close up of a Green Heron (a technique taught to us at the workshop) by Naomi Fota
Thanks to Gunjan, National Geographic and Girls Who Click for inviting Melissa and the girls to be part of this and for giving the girls such a wonderful and FREE opportunity.
A list of species can be found HERE
You can read the full trip report at the BC Young Birders website HERE
