Orange-chinned parakeets in Costa Rica. December 2020.
Cheryl Johnson thought she only had two bird species in her backyard until she started taking a closer look through the lens of her camera.
That was five years ago.
“Until you start looking, you do not realize the variety that we have here,” Johnson said.
Now, the self-proclaimed “Backyard Bird Nerd” or “Birdographer” has deepened her knowledge of and appreciation for birds and wildlife through a hobby that wasn’t easy to master.
Johnson has had an interest in photography since she was in high school, which she says took a backseat when she got married and had children. During a trip to Costa Rica a few years ago with local photographer couple Buddy and Jerra Lee, she rediscovered her love for image-making.
“Every morning, we would get up and wander around the jungle and take pictures and it