by Rachel Hill
Daily Lobo
Renowned nature photographer Jerry Goffe gave tips for stalking birds at the Open Space Visitor Center on Saturday.
Goffe's work has appeared in Smithsonian Magazine and National Geographic.
"Photography allows me to use my creative juices and be close to nature, and I find nature very spiritual," Goffe said.
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Goffe offered technical and creative advice to photography
enthusiasts who packed the room. Afterward, the crowd practiced their newfound knowledge by taking pictures of migratory birds, such as sandhill cranes and mallard ducks, which were grazing on the flooded field before sunset.
Bill Kent, who attended the event, called the nature spot "a hidden jewel."
"The fact that the area is open to the west means the birds are well-lit at sunset, when beautiful golden light is available,"
he said.
Goffe said the Open Space Visitor Center can control which bird species are attracted to the area by selecting which plants to maintain or cut down.
Cranes graze where fields have been trimmed because they are tall enough to see over the shortened plants and watch out for predators. Ducks, however, seek mown fields so they can be aware of predators, he said.
Goffe gave a tip for photographing roadrunners: "When it is cold out, look for them within half an hour after sunrise."
"The roadrunner will be statuesquely facing the west, warming himself in the sun and very reluctant to move - therefore, less camera-shy," he said.
The event emphasized Open Space's mission to provide a "wildlife habitat while offering opportunities for public enjoyment through outdoor education and low-impact recreation."
Joshua Willis, a visitor center's education coordinator, said Open Space began in the '70s. Thirty thousand acres are now under the agency's management. Willis said the visitor center opened in September and plans to add new features in the future, including a theater and original murals by local artists. The center is designed to be Open Space's educational hub and will host at least one public event every month,
Willis said.
Bill Pentler, a member of the Open Space Visitor Center staff, said his educational duties are fun and easy to be passionate about.
"Once people see how much beauty surrounds them, through hiking, horseback riding, biking, photography or painting, they are bound to appreciate it," he said.
Tracy Chao, who frequents the center, said she loved admiring the birds and mountains.
"It is so peaceful here,"
she said.
